Guidelines for story submission:

I've stopped updating the site. The guidelines below remain only for general interest. Please don't bother sending me submissions.

Punch Editor in chief

• Try to make sure it actually has some elements of pulp fiction, like danger, guns, secrecy, sex, shame, money, and tough-talkin', hard-drinkin' dames and dopes. Did I mention sex? Seriously. It should have some sex in it. If all it has is sex, ask yourself, "Wouldn't this story be better if someone shot someone else?"
• Please set the story back in the era of pulp or exploitation, at least before 1980 and preferably before 1970 (no cell phones, microwave ovens, or answering machines!). Do make reference to telephone operators, elevator operators, automat diners, and coat check girls.
• Include the year and location (New York City, 1940). In the wider world, most stories are set in the present time, but that's not true at Pulp Erotica, so it really helps the reader to make clear the era your story takes place in.
• Keep in mind my policy that all sex partners be at least 16 years old. Prior to the 1980s, 16 was plenty young enough for virginal ingenues and timid boy toys.
• Please review the general standards for writing fiction. If you aren't a regular writer, pick up a book and look at how professionals use quotation marks and punctuation. Keep your story in the past tense, not present tense. Be creative in your story, not in your punctuation. (That said, I am a big fan of simplified spelling, so I use thru, tho, altho, thoro, and similar words all the time; I won't change these spellings in your story, tho.)
• Specify the name you want the story published under (your real name, nickname, online name, nom de plume, criminal alias, whatever).
• The story should be between 3 and 15 pages long. Nine pages is ideal. If the story is longer than 8 pages, get to a little sex early on, then add a little more later.

E-mail your story (preferably in plain text or MS Word format) to the webmaster. I like to edit what I publish, but just enough to ensure the spelling and punctuation are right and it's easy to tell which character is talking. Let me know if you're willing to also let me punch it up a little.

I'll post your story with my revisions (but not link to it, so no one can find it without the URL I send you) and ask for your approval. After that, I'll publish it under your preferred pen name. You can include your e-mail address in the story or I can forward any messages for you about how great your story is. Despite the feedback form on every page, I don't get a lot of responses.

If you want some advice, check out the How to page.