Submissions are currently closed

SUBMISSIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED.

All of the submissions we received for 5x5 Fiction: Issue Five are under review.

A blog post announcement will be made when we are once again accepting work for the next issue.

AN EROTIC UPDATE: 5x5 Fiction Issue Five and Submission Call

I’m on the tail end of reviewing submissions for our special erotic fiction issue. Writers, expect a response by this weekend.

All-in-all, submissions were few and slow in coming (forgive the pun), but the quality was stellar. That said, I’m still short on word count. Each issue of 5x5 contains exactly 25 stories = 625 words total . Right now, I’m coming up short. In order to give you more bang for your buck (don’t worry, I’m still giving it away for free)… I’m going to re-open submissions for a period of one week.

What am I looking for?

You have one week to create either a 50-, 75-, or 100-word erotic story. I’m loosely dubbing these double, triple, and quadruple 5x5’s.

Rules?

Disregard the 5 word, 5 sentence structure and send in your best 50-, 75-, or 100-word erotic story. That’s it. The only catch? It must be exactly one of the aforementioned word count lengths and it must be your very best. That’s it. Write it, proofread it, and send it in the body of your e-mail to loudandclearfiction (at) yahoo (dot) com.

I’ll be closing this call either a week from today, June 11th, 2012 or the moment I reach my 625 word issue total.

Let’s do it, people. And please Facebook, tweet, blog about this. Hell, scribble the website address on bathroom stalls. Whatever you can do.


To be clear: I'm looking for erotic fiction not porn or smut. My 100-word story, The Robotics of Sex, which appeared in Erotica Quarterly last year may help to provide an example.

The Robotics of Sex

By Angel Zapata

Felicia tells me that all men are robots.

I slide my fingertip against the touch screen of my heart and launch a more suitable program.

She tells me that once, while away in college, she shared software with a girl in her science class. “Her character was of no particular font,” she recollects. “And she was a control freak. I quickly pushed escape.”

I remind her I was created for pleasure, nothing more.

“I know,” she says sadly, stroking my keys. “I do possess such a passion for hardware.” She removes her clothes.

As I lean forward, she hits enter.

Copyright © 2011 Angel Zapata

Call for Submissions: 5x5 Erotica

I’ve reviewed all the work recieved for this quarter, but was unable to glean twenty-five stories from the pool of submissions. So, rather than extend the deadline and ask for writers to send in more work, I’m going to do something different. I’m going to provide a theme ahead of time for Issue Five. Drum roll, if you please.

5x5 Fiction Issue Five
Theme: Erotica

That’s right, I’m looking for 25-word stories of erotica told in five sentences of five words each. Oh, and please read the guidelines (pretty please, with sugar on top), and the past four issues. Remember, I want complete stories, not poems or a bunch a feelings without substance.

Notice I said “erotica,” not porn. I’m not looking for a string of filthy words or throbbing members (at least not here and now). Give me the suggestive, the emotive; let me slip inside (so to speak) the characters and experience their desires.

I’m so excited. You know, in a non-sexual way.

Deadline is June 1st, 2012.

Please spread the word on all those Facebook and Twitter accounts.

-Angel
3/7/12

5x5 Issue Five UPDATE

I'm in the process of reviewing submissions. I think my editor eye has slowly grown more critical. Thus far, very few acceptances.

I may have to opt for a Plan B on this issue...

Stay tuned.

5x5 Fiction Presents ISSUE FOUR: Smoke

Issue Four is live! The theme is Smoke...

Smoke \'smōk\ n
“Something insubstantial, unreal, or transitory;
Something used to conceal or obscure;
To detect and bring to public view; expose or reveal;
Slang: To kill; murder.”
-The American Heritage® Dictionary

ISSUE FOUR: Smoke

Please do take the time to provide feedback here. As always, I want to know what you do and don’t like. At the very least, let these amazing writers, artists/designers know how much you appreciate their work.

-Angel Zapata
1.8.12

5x5 Fiction Issue Four Update

Wow... a huge, huge thanks to all the folks who answered my call for help regarding cover art, additional stories, and the like. Jesse Campbell has provided a smoking hot cover design and I can't be more pleased! You are going to love it!

At this point, responses have been sent out to all writers included in Issue Four. If you haven't heard back from me yet, your work will be considered for Issue Five.

Due to my hectic schedule, I was unable to release Issue Four during the holiday season. I'm really sorry. And although publication release is now slated for the second week of January, I promise it'll be worth the wait.

Get ready for another smashing issue!

Issue Four submissions closed! and in need of Cover Artist or Graphic Designer

My thanks to all the writers who sent in those last minute submissions. Issue Four now has its 25 stories. All writers have been contacted. If you haven't recieved an acceptance or rejection from me yet, your submission will be considered for Issue Five.

Also, we are in need of a cover artist, graphic designer, or photographer for the Issue Four cover. And although we don't have money to pay you, we will promote the heck out of you and your work to the best of our ability. If you have the talent, time and desire to provide the help, we can sure use it.

Contact us at loudandclearfiction (at) yahoo.com.

We're still accepting submissions for Issue Four!

Write 'em and send 'em to me people! Got a handful of open spots for 5x5 Fiction: Issue Four. There's no set theme, so let your muse loose!

And for the love of Mike, read the guidelines...

5x5 Fiction is the Answer to the Short Attention Span

Have a short attention span? No problem. 5x5 Fiction stories are only 25 words long. Stop by Trestle Press and read my article.

5x5 Fiction: Skillfully Shortening the Short Story

Issue Four Submission Deadline Reminder and More News

Thursday, December 1st is the deadline for Issue Four of 5x5 Fiction. Get moving, people! And read the guidelines...

Also, this Thursday, I will have a Trestle Press guest blog post entitled, 5x5 Fiction: Skillfully Shortening the Short Story. I'll be blogging, in general, about the short fiction form, a bit about the so-called origin of the 6-word story, and sharing several 5x5 Fiction works that have appeared in our pages from authors: Simon Kewin, Scott Cole, Kevin G. Bufton, Debbi Antebi, and L. Muñoz.

And, as I'm a guest author on Giovanni Gelati's GZone Radio Show on this same day, I'm sure I'll be making mention of 5x5 Fiction as well.

I'll post a link on Thursday.

ADDENDUM (11/30/11):

My 5x5 Fiction blog post will definitely be up at Trestle Press on Thursday, December 1st, but I won't be a guest on GZone until late December or early next year. I was reading from the wrong schedule posting. My bad.

5x5 Fiction Presents ISSUE THREE: Avoidance, Allowance, and Animosity

Issue Three of 5x5 Fiction is live! Another twenty-five outstanding stories await your eager eyes. You have the option to view the issue online or download the pdf file. If you’ve missed any of our earlier issues, just click the links to your right.

ISSUE THREE: Avoidance, Allowance, and Animosity

Please do take the time to provide feedback here. As always, I want to know what you do and don’t like. At the very least, let these amazing writers know how much you appreciate their work.

-Angel Zapata
9.25.11

ISSUE THREE Update

At this point, all submission responses have been sent out to authors. Check those inboxes.

Issue Three should be complete and made available within the next two weeks. Get ready for some more outstanding micro goodness!

-Angel

ISSUE THREE Deadline is midnight tonight!

You have until midnight tonight to submit work for 5x5 Fiction: Issue Three consideration. Get those pens moving!! And be sure to read the guidelines...

5x5 Fiction ISSUE THREE reminder

Don't forget, 5x5 Fiction is always open to submissions. Quarterly deadlines are March 1st, June 1st, September 1st, and December 1st. Work accepted after deadline dates will appear in the following issue.

Also, please read the guidelines, ISSUE ONE and ISSUE TWO to truly understand what I'm looking for. Surprisingly, I still get submissions that are not exactly 25 words or 5 sentences or 5 words per sentence.

On a positive note, I'm receiving some powerful little gems from some ridiculously talented authors. ISSUE THREE is gonna be a knock-out.

-Angel

5x5 Fiction presents ISSUE TWO: Secrets, Scuffles and Surprises

Once again it’s my pleasure to present you with another spectacular issue of 5x5 Fiction. Get ready for some familiar names alongside some new blood. You have the option to view the issue online or download the pdf file.

ISSUE TWO: Secrets, Scuffles and Surprises

Please do take the time to provide feedback here. I want to know what you do and don’t like. At the very least, let these amazing writers know how much you appreciate their work.

-Angel Zapata
6.11.11