What do we want???...
If you have read this issue, you will already have a fairly clear idea that BOLBM is not really
in the market for the more conventional style of horror story. There are plenty enough markets for those (Write and ask, we
shall direct you towards a few;) no offense implied in that, it's just not what we are looking for in our zine.
POETRY: There is no length limit- We like them short and we like them long as well. (A note of warning, sad
does not equal dark with us, and anything without at least some sort of supernatural element... Well, ... lets
just say the overly hormonal couple doing the birds and bees tour in a Friday the 13th movie has a better chance of survival,
and leave it at that). Narrative and experimental forms accepted. We are both (Cree & I) poets, we love the
stuff.
STORIES/PROSE: A rich imagination is vital here, and serious lack thereof would most likely be just and/or probable
cause for any story to get poo-pooed here. We have no actual size/length limits; though for obvious reasons, there
are limits implied. If your story is longer, have it already broken into installments that we can use to implace and
run in consective issues. The number of these types of submissions are also limited (Which is a rather tricky way of saying
you really have to WOW us to be considered for a serial length story) Innovative styles of story-telling and plots
that are unpredictable, plausible characterizations & dialogue; wholly new slants- Dark fantasy throws the doors wide
open to whatever may come. Our formula for formula- styled plots/writes is X=trash canned. (i.e. The resolve
of the conflict in the story does not necessarily mean everyone lives happily ever after. Well done, and that is all
fine and well. If it requires that the protagonist suddenly becomes Super-dog- peace, truth, justice and all that inclusive
with the benefits of a long list of unlikely circumstances/chain of events- Our cyber-space monster likes to eat superhero
types, especially with a side of fries).
Some examples ...
-Psychic sleuths on the trail of serial killers
-Ex-Army Commandoes, complete with super-dooper "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" killer moves
- The good cop that lost his/her nose in a bottle, and doesn't even get a shiver as the he/she needs to sober up
for a really-really tough case that will require all of his/her superior investigative prowess to hunt down blah-blah-blah.
-Psycho-intellectuals are a definite no-no. (Hint-hint: they drink Chianti)
Straight up, if your characters are human, please keep them that way. Merely because someone is psychotic does not make
them superhuman in any way, shape, or form. The same for all human characters therein- We don't really care if they
are the hero or not.
I. BLOOD Section: This is where the more conventional sorts of horror stories are most likely to appear, which
isn't to imply that we want conventional stories. Vampires, werewolves, pacts with Satan, serial killers (maybe). Nothing
is really set in stone here, and the writer doesn't have to sweat what section we might choose for their
contribution- this is merely to try to give some basic guidelines before you submit a story to us. If we have trouble
trying to figure out where to use your story, we are just twisted enough to like that sort of thing. A well- written,
imaginative story is what we truly enjoy.
II. OLD LIPSTICK: Romantique & romantica (not necessarily love stories, per se). Settings & romantic
sorts of elements (even if they are really kinda icky). We will later be adding a seperate (kiddie-proof) section
of the magazine for dark erotica; yet even in that we expect a sound storyline. We're hardly prudes, we're a horror/dark
fantasy zine. Sensuality is more encouraged than open sexuality, especially in as it adds "spice" (an element) to
a story. Graphic sexuality for no sound rationale to the story itself; not interested. We want MATURE stories. Our
definitions of good taste mightn't be your own, and vice versa. Some subjects get the automatic poo-poo veto. (This would
seem to be common sense sort of things, no need to spell them out- We just will not publish them- period!)
As for the Old Lipstick section for the zine-proper, it being an open site and accessible to all- We won't
be able to use anything with any open sexuality. (Strong R is the worst we will get, and only for a very good story/poem.)
III. BLACK MAGICK: This is for the dark fantasy submissions. Only thing that couldn't go here would be the
more conventional sort of reality writes. No holds barred, as far as the imagination can see sort of writing.
The last misnomer that we would like to clarify is that despite the fact that we use the term "dark",
the story needn't necessarily be dark, in and of itself. Yes, there should assuredly be a dark element there within somewhere, and
we are not really looking for sword & sorcery types of high fantasy stories. (Not entirely poo-pooed, just not
quite so likely to be of use for our zine. We both actually like those as well (I'm a major Michael Moorcock fan,
myself.) Sci-fi is also a fairly risky submission for us (speculative fic over deep-space techy sf) However, something
like W. Burroughs or H. Ellison style is a wholly other matter.
We try to be clear so as you don't waste your time waiting for us, when there was really not a very good chance
of us using the story in the first place. We were both writers/poets way before we thought of starting an ezine.
How we would like to see it ...
Unfortunately, we are only able to accept email submissions at this point, and prefer you not send attachments unless
contacting us prior to sending them, to confirm availablity of file space. Therefore, we ask, if you would like to send
us a submission(s) for consideration in upcoming issues...
Please copy and paste your submission within the body of your email, and in the subject line- type the word "SUBMISSION".
So if you think you got the ink, start writing, or get together that which you have already 'writ'...and send it to us!
Use the convenient super-quick link below to submit, and thank you for considering BOLBM magazine!
