Gay-identified FTMs tend to have very low visibility: most attention goes to MTFs, then to straight FTMs, then, if at all, to us; therefore our brothers out there, especially in the Flyover, are still trying to figure out what they are, confused because 'I don't like girls, I like boys, but not as a girl, I see myself as a boy too.' This book is meant to tear the cloak of invisibility and break the silence.
Since we are the focus of the book the goal is to create a finished product which contains the primary voice of the first two groups identified above and a limited voice from gay men and SO's.
Suggested word length for articles and fiction is 750 - 5,000 words. Please contact us first about longer submissions. Reprints from previous publications considered, although original pieces preferred. All manuscripts should be typed, double-spaced and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) for return of submission. They can also be transmitted to us via e-mail or submitted on disk.
Photographs should be black and white and MUST be accompanied by model releases. The title of the photograph and your name, address and telephone number should be labeled on the back of EACH photo and a SASE provided for the return of the photographs.
Please don't send us one-of-a-kind artworks. Send photos, slides, or photocopies for us to evaluate first. If you need these returned, include a SASE.
Submissions that do not include an SASE will NOT be returned!
You don't need to wait until you have finished work to send to get in touch. If you have an idea for in mind, we would be happy to work with you from planning stage to develop your vision. Both of us are writers (fiction and non) and Julian is an artist and photographer.
We DO want us to respect each other and treat each other with empathy and consideration even when we disagree.
We DO want diversity.
We DO want us to have fun, be creative, care more about self-expression and growth than the end product. Concentrate on the process and let the beautiful product emerge on its own. Respect the wisdom that allows the flower to bloom without the slightest effort because that is its nature.
We DO want us to deal with the spiritual and imaginal dimensions of our condition, such as personal mythology, karma, being 'two-spirited.'
We DO want to break taboos. Wild, erotic, exotic is good. If you want to write about the glory hole circuit in Timbuktu, go for it. Let's talk about sex.
We DON'T want the focus of THIS book to be "the FTM phenomenon as part of the butch lesbian community". The goal here is to have a book which celebrates being a trans/FAG as a separate and unique group with our own issues and concerns as opposed to an variant or extension of another community.
We DON'T want to include articles by observers of our scene such as academics and treatment providers. This doesn't mean our articles can't cite academic studies, positively or critically, that have meaning for us.
We DON'T want articles solely dealing in disembodied, intellectualized abstractions such as "Is gender real or a construct?" If how YOU answer that question affects how you feel about yourself and how you live your daily life, write about it, but don't forget to personalize it.
We DON'T want to focus on political rants. If being a political activist is part of your life, write about it, but don't forget to personalize it. For example we don't want "Employment Discrimination Against The Transgendered". We DO WANT "How I got canned when I told my boss I was transsexual".
We DON'T want someone to feel intimidated to write or create something because s/he isn't a professional published writer or a professional artist who's been shown in galleries. Each of our stories is important and deserves to be heard.
Email to:
Julian Msjulian @aol.com
Michael lbear@crl.com