Lesbian Stories/Writing
Lesbian Stories (Thematic Issue):
What are lesbian stories in the twenty-first century? A new generation is choosing the term “lesbian,” sometimes alongside other terms, including queer, sapphic, nonbinary, and more. At the same time, established authors firmly grounded in their lesbian identities have for decades created work that deepens our understanding of what it means to be lesbian.
For this issue, we’re seeking work that shows how younger writers are building on and challenging work that came before—as well as how established lesbian writers have grown or changed their work. We also want to see how writers may be addressing a broader community—queer, bisexual, pansexual, trans, nonbinary, genderfluid, and more—while also including all the elements “lesbian” has meant historically. Authors are invited to submit a brief statement accompanying their work that can include their influences and hopes for the lesbian community of the twenty-first century.
We’re seeking short fiction and creative nonfiction lesbian stories up to 4000 words in length. A variety of genres are welcome, including realist, memoir, speculative, science fiction, fantasy, mystery and romance. We strongly welcome diverse writers and themes, including those related to race/ethnicity, class, gender identity, religion, disability, and neurodivergence. Please label your submission as LESBIAN STORIES to distinguish it from the general writing category.
Deadline for submissions: April 1, 2024
Any questions can be sent to sinisterwisdom@gmail.com
About the Editors:
Katherine V. Forrest’s seventeen works of fiction include her ten-volume Kate Delafield mystery series and the lesbian classics Curious Wine and Daughters of a Coral Dawn. Her awards and honors include five Lambda Literary Awards, a Lifetime Achievement from the Publishing Triangle, the Trailblazer Award from the Golden Crown Literary Society, and the Pioneer Award from Lambda Literary. Senior editor at the storied Naiad Press for ten years, she is currently editor-at-large at Bella Books.
Penny Mickelbury is the author of fifteen novels and a collection of short stories, and she is a contributor to half a dozen short story collections. She is a Lammy and Goldie finalist. She is the 2020 recipient of the Alice B Medal. The former journalist was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame in 2019.
Judith Katz is the author of Running Fiercely Toward a High Thin Sound, which won a 1992 Lambda Literary Award for Best Lesbian Fiction, and The Escape Artist. She has been an advocate for lesbian stories and lesbian storytellers since the 1970s and probably even before that.
Rachel Gold (they/she) is the author of multiple award-winning queer and trans young adult novels. Currently an English professor at Macalester College, Rachel has a diverse writing career from journalism to marketing. Rachel is a nonbinary lesbian, all-around nerd, and avid gamer. For more information, visit: www.rachelgold.com.
Barbie (Thematic Issue):
Truthfully, you had me at "Margot Robbie" (as in Harley Quinn). I had no prior experience with Barbie Doll. But I do have a lifetime of what Billie Eilish sings about in "What Was I Made For?": "I don't know how to feel." I feel it all.
My feelings change all the time, except about women and waving. Women and girls deserve everything in this world that the Barbies feel: strength, pride, gratitude, confidence, safety, agency, belonging, joy, dancing, the presidency. You're welcome, let's deprogram the patriarchy! And I feel if change is for the better, we can and do make lesbian lives better, one action at a time every day.
I felt that way on October 27, 2023, when "my people" came together at the Oracle Baseball park (home of the San Francisco Giants) for a big screen Barbie Movie Night. We saw each other and we laughed and sparkled and cheered; every age, race, size, gender, and food and clothing choice. Supported by the MLB, for goodness' sakes! That's my dream world that came true because of Barbie.
In this special issue, Sinister Wisdom will explore lesbians' reactions to Barbie: The Movie. How do we voice the joy and gratitude of this cultural moment where lesbian lives and lesbian culture is expressed in the movie with a major musical plotline from the Indigo Girls and two out dykes with major roles in this movie, now the highest grossing movie in Warner Brothers' history? What else do we think and feel about this cultural moment?
Were you expecting to feel deeply personally touched by Barbie? What was a special scene that reflects your dyke life? Were you surprised or shocked by your reaction to the film? How do we understand Barbie's continuing life and its relationship to lesbians and lesbian culture?
I am looking for work that moves me to tears. A description of your own parallel universe from a scene in the movie that made you cry. All forms of engagement with Barbie: The Movie and our contemporary culture are welcome.
Submit to Sinister Wisdom and label your submission as BARBIE.
Deadline for submissions: TBD
Any questions can be sent to sinisterwisdom@gmail.com
About the Editor: Irene Dick-Endrizzi is a joiner. Now her passion is volunteer firefighting. Before developing a love of the Barbie Movie, her last major feelings change came when she became a dog-lover after a lifetime of dog disdain.
Lesbian Writing (General):
Material may be in any style or form, or combination of forms.
Maximum: five poems, two short stories or essays, OR one longer piece of up to 5,000 words.
Please proofread your work carefully; do not send us changes after the deadline.
Please send a short contributor biography between 25 and 125 words with your submission.
Sinister Wisdom acquires first North American serial rights for all work that we publish. By acquiring first North American serial rights, authors guarantee that publication in Sinister Wisdom will be the first publication in North America. That is, the work has not appeared previously in another journal, in a book, online, or in other forms of publication. In rare instances, Sinister Wisdom will reprint work that has been previously published. Authors should discuss with the editor and publisher PRIOR to submission.
Many questions about rights are answered here: https://www.pw.org/content/copyright
Upon publication, all rights revert to the author.