QUEER SPORTS PROJECT: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The Queer Sports Project (working title) is a full-color comics anthology featuring stories about LGBTQ+ athletes and their love of the sports they participate in. The editors on this project are Megan Praz and Meghan Kemp-Gee (creators of One More Year). The Queer Sports Project will be published by award-winning comics publisher Stacked Deck Press.
Please include the following in your submissions
- The names and email addresses of all creators involved in the story
- A working title for the proposed story
- A summary of the proposed story, which includes the beginning, the middle, and the end. Please be succinct. More is not necessarily better.
- A predicted page count. Estimates are fine. There will be time to settle on a final page count as we go through the publishing process.
- Sample artwork or a link to a portfolio. Completed comics pages are strongly preferred.
- Stories should be 10 pages or less in length.
WHAT WE WANT:
If your submission is accepted, the final art must be designed to fit standard American graphic novel dimensions: 6.625” x 10.25”. This is a full color publication, and color artwork is strongly preferred. However, grayscale and black and white artwork will be considered, if it meets with editorial approval. Each story will be the product of LGBTQ+ comics creators. We’re looking for creativity, honesty, and authenticity in these stories. We strongly prefer stories to be between 4 and 10 pages in length, though shorter stories will be considered if they meet with editorial approval.
We are accepting proposals from solo creators (those who create the entire comic by themselves) or creative teams (a group of artists and writers who collaborate on a finished story). You are responsible for forming and managing your own team. Stacked Deck Press will not match writers with artists. Editorial assistance with some aspects of your storycraft may be provided by editors, pending editorial approval.
WHAT WE DON’T WANT:
Excessively graphic content:
This anthology is intended for the adult reader, but we also want it to be appropriate for younger readers who may be discovering the world of queer sports for the first time. As such, we ask that creators refrain from explicit depictions of full nudity, sexual situations, and extremely graphic violence. We wish and expect to include romantic aspects in these stories, but we insist that we keep their depiction appropriate for readers of all ages. Please take this into consideration when making your proposal.
Fanfic or fan art:
Please don’t submit stories using intellectual property you don’t own. This is your opportunity to develop something new and unique. Stacked Deck Press will not publish work including characters and situations that are owned by other publishers or creators.
CREATOR RIGHTS, COMPENSATION, AND PERKS:
Creators will retain full publication rights to their work, as well as the characters and situations therein. Creators or creative teams will receive $50.00 per page and two complimentary copies of the Queer Sports Project. Creators are welcome to buy further copies at 50% of cover price to sell on their websites or at conventions, conferences, or other venues.
Stacked Deck Press makes regular convention appearances throughout the continental United States, often with our friends at Prism Comics. We can be found at venues ranging from small queer-focused events to major shows such as San Diego Comic-Con. If you wish, you can join us as a featured creator at these conventions, and if you like the spotlight, we might even be able to feature you on a panel discussion or other programming event. Your own work can be consigned with Prism Comics at its sales booth at these shows as well, providing creators with some exposure and some revenue from sales of their own books and merchandise.
Stacked Deck Press will notify those whose proposals have been accepted for The Queer Sports Project by August 2024.
WHERE TO SEND YOUR PITCH AND DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION:
If you would like to submit your pitch for a story for The Queer Sports Project, please send it to [email protected]. We are accepting pitch submissions until July 1st, 2024. The Queer Sports Project editors will inform you whether your pitch has been accepted for the book in August 2024.
