徵稿《新加坡華文同志主題文選》| Open Call: Anthology of Singapore Chinese Comrade Writing
（English Below）
親愛的朋友們 ：
您好，新文潮出版社誠邀您投稿《新加坡華文同志主題文選》（書名暫定，以下簡稱《同》）。
性別教育和啟蒙，一直是國際關心的重要人文課題之一，而最近這個思潮經歷了新加坡多代人的努力也開始萌芽，並引起熱烈討論——同時，新加坡也正式廢除了刑事法典377A條文，不少人因此備受鼓舞。
新加坡有不少以英文書寫「同志」（泛指所有性別群體、認同，在此不作學術定義）、性別題材的出版與作品，但華文卻一直未能開啟一本《同》的序幕，偶爾確實有一兩位作家零零散散地在一些平台裡書寫同志傾向／情節，但多半隱晦不明，無法引起更熱烈的討論；若以個人散文集來說，目前只有洪肯（Ken Ang）的《同類》（新加坡：Oogachaga，2009）最集中、明顯書寫同志認同與課題。因此，新加坡整體以華文書寫與討論同志、性別課題者，少之又少。
有鑑於此，為了鼓勵以「華文」開啟更多性別課題的討論空間，並更有意義地挖掘、探索新加坡的同志發展史、生活、文化等，我社發出邀請函，向作家、文化人、同志朋友們，以及關心同志課題的「非同志」朋友們徵稿。希望能獲得大家的支持！
祝 開年鴻運
《同》編輯部全體同仁 誠邀
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《同》的徵稿細節／考量如下：
截稿日期
- 2023年5月10日，2359前。
文類：
- 散文（3000字內）
- 小說（4500字內）（希望能收錄大約20-25篇左右）
稿費
- 目前我社正籌集出版經費中，若資金許可，會立即安排薄酬答謝；若無補助／贊助，將以2冊贈予作家／投稿者。
來稿格式
- MS Word（作品、姓名、作者簡介、郵寄地址、電郵）
- 投稿電郵：manuscript@trendlitpublishing.com
備註
- 編輯保留編選與修改的權力，若留用貴作會第一時間給予通知。
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常見問題（FAQs）：
1. 可否匿名投稿？
投稿時，請提供真實姓名，以便後續作業（例如寄書、行政等）；若須以筆名刊登者，請在投稿時著名即可（對外時，您的身份絕對保密）。入選後，在排版前會提供您做最後校對與確認。
2. 一定要寫關於「新加坡」？（我一定要是新加坡人嗎？）
場景、生活發生在新加坡為佳，若無法的話，內容需要和「新加坡」沾邊。例如從新加坡移民海外的過程，例如現在在國外回望新加坡等皆可。若不確定可否，歡迎隨時發電郵詢問。
3. 我用英文寫可以嗎？
可以的，我們這裡會翻譯。不過因為是華文選集的關係，希望華英的比例佔六四。
4. 我不會寫，口述可以嗎？
關於新加坡同志文化、歷史、故事、個人境遇等，我們也非常希望能收錄這樣的「訪談」。若因為選集篇幅無法容納，我們將於網上刊登，或將配合出版物提供電子版下載。
5. 什麼性別群體、認同都歡迎嗎？
LGBTQIA+（乃至非此群體者、異性戀者）本來就是個很多元和豐富的群體，我社僅以內容、真實度、有趣度等標準選稿，對投稿者屬於哪一個性別群體、認同，並不影響編輯選稿。
6. BDSM等有爭議的課題可以嗎？
可以的，無任歡迎。
7. 詩、報導文學、學術論文等，為什麼不收錄？
我們想先嘗試第一冊的反應。若下一回有機會，肯定會做其他嘗試。
8. 舊稿可以嗎？
以尚未刊登為佳，若有傑出舊稿也歡迎，我社均納入編選考量中。
9. 一定要很直接（explicit and directly）跟同志課題有關係嗎？
得按照個別情況和內容而定，例如一個正在探索自己性向的少年，不一定需要很直接或explicit，例如白先勇的《寂寞的十七歲》。編者當然希望內容能比較明顯看到跟性別／同志有直接能聯繫起來，這樣作為第一本「新加坡華文同志文選」比較有魄力與說服力——也更能引起大家的討論。
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Dear Friends & Comrades,
Hello, this is an invitation from TrendLit Publishing (新文潮出版社).
The need for greater awareness, equality and freedom from prejudice in matters of gender and sexuality have long been among the most important of humanitarian concerns. In recent years, these causes have also taken root in Singapore, following generations of advocacy and patient effort. Hearteningly, Singapore officially abolished Section 377A of the Penal Code in 2022, in the face of heated public debate.
Singapore has seen the publication of many literary works in English engaging with LGBTQIA+ issues and themes (defined broadly; no precise academic definition is being asserted here). However, there has yet to be a similar anthology, in the Chinese language, of what has come to be termed “Comrade” (同志) literature - 同志 in this context, broadly refers to all genders and sexual preferences. From time to time, individuals, authors would touch on “Comrade” themes on various platforms, but these have been too scattered and obscure to arouse much public attention or even controversy. To date, Ken Ang’s 《同類》 (Tong Lei) (Singapore: Oogachaga, 2009), is the only Singaporean Chinese (essay) publication to have focused extensively on LGBTQIA+ and gender issues. There are otherwise very few authors in Singapore who deal with these concerns in the Chinese language—in contrast to the lively literary exchanges elsewhere in the literary Sinosphere.
This is why we are curating this new anthology, 《新加坡華文同志主題文選》(Anthology of Singapore Chinese Comrade Writing – this is a working title). We want to open up discourse, in the Chinese language, on gender and LGBTQIA+ issues. We want to explore the lives, histories and cultures of the queer community in Singapore in meaningful ways.
We invite all writers and cultural practitioners, queer/non-queer and allies alike of all colours and stripes, who care about these issues, to send us your contributions towards this anthology.
And we wish you all the very best in the new year!
The editorial team of “Singapore Chinese Language Queer Anthology”
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Submission Guidelines
Deadline
- 10 May 2023, before 2359 hours.
Genres accepted
- Fiction (up to 4500 characters)
- Non-fiction / essays (up to 3000 characters)
(We hope to feature a total of 20-25 pieces in the anthology.)
Submission format
- MS Word doc.
- Please include a title, along with your name, a brief author bio, as well as your email and mailing address.
- Please email your submission to: manuscript@trendlitpublishing.com
Fee/Honorarium
- At present, our agency is raising funds for publication. If funding allows, we hope to offer all selected contributors a small honorarium. If not, we will offer two complimentary copies of the anthology to each published contributor.
- We will notify you as soon as possible if your work has been selected for publication.
- The editors reserve the right to edit your work for publication. You’ll be able to proofread and approve the final draft of your work before it goes to typesetting.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. Can I contribute anonymously?
When submitting a manuscript, please provide your real name so that we can follow up with you on administrative details such as payment or contributor copies. If you wish to publish under a pseudonym, please indicate this when sending us your draft submission. Your identity will be kept strictly confidential to the public.
2. Do you have to write about "Singapore"?
We prefer works that are set in Singapore or related to Singapore in some meaningful way. For instance, these might include accounts of migrating abroad from Singapore and looking back from elsewhere. If you’re not sure whether your intended submission is suitable, do drop us an email to discuss it!
3. Can I write in English?
Yes, we will translate any accepted contributions into Chinese for publication.
4. I can't write, but can I dictate a contribution, e.g., through a voice recording?
Yes, we very much hope to include “interviews” and other personal accounts of Singaporean LGBTQIA+ / Comrade culture, history and experiences.
If we cannot accommodate these accounts in print due to space constraints, we will ask your permission to publish this material online, or as an electronic version to go with the print anthology.
5. Why are poems, reportage, academic papers, etc. not included?
We want to gauge the response based on this first anthology, focusing on prose works. We certainly hope to consider other kinds of writing in future projects!
6. Can I submit previously published works?
We prefer contributions that have not yet been published. However, we are also open to considering outstanding pieces of writing that have been previously published.
7. Are controversial subjects such as BDSM okay?
We will consider all manner of content.
8. Must it be explicitly and directly related to LGBTQIA+ / “Comrade” issues?
This depends on the context of your writing. For example, a story about a teenager exploring their own sexuality need not be very direct or explicit—a good subtle example is Bai Xianyong's (白先勇) "Lonely Seventeen" (寂寞的十七歲). However, the editors do also hope to include more open and direct explorations of the theme, so we can present a range of persuasive, thought-provoking and authentic works in Singapore’s first anthology of “Comrade” Writing in the Chinese language.
9. Are all gender groups welcome? If I am straight, or don’t identify as LGBTQIA+, can I still contribute?
LGBTQIA+ / Comrade communities are rich and diverse. We aim to select contributions based solely on the quality of content, regardless of which group(s) the author belongs to or identifies with. As long as the submission fits the "Comrade" theme, any contributor is welcome.
