Muslim Men on Love, Sex & Intimacy
SUPPLEMENTAL CALL FOR STORIES: Muslim Men on Love, Sex & Intimacy

You heard from the ladies in Love, InshAllah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women, now it’s time to hear from the men! Announcing a call for non-fiction, personal stories by American Muslim men on love & loss, sex & intimacy for publication by Beacon Press, February 2014.

This is our extended call for stories – in response to requests, we’ve opened this up to American Muslim men of all ethnic/racial backgrounds and perspectives.

NEW SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MAY 6, 2013 



WHY MUSLIM MEN?

For every stereotype about Muslim women, there are as many about Muslim men, lacking nuance, reflection or celebration. The search for romantic love impacts men’s lives deeply and yet there is little space for men to address these issues, share their experiences, or feel less isolated when it comes to affairs of the heart.

In the wake of Love InshAllah’s global success, continuing scrutiny of Muslims, and growing recognition in both the American and Muslim communities of the need to address the critical role of love, sex and relationships in men’s lives, it is the right time for Muslim men to share their intimate insights.

What does it mean to be a man? To love well? To be faithful and constant? What do you do if you fail at love? How do you move forward after you’ve broken someone’s heart or had yours broken? This anthology will explore the human heart and these universal and imperative questions from a Muslim perspective.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Stories must be autobiographical and written by men who identify as both American and Muslim. We are looking for contributors who reflect a broad range of religious practice and perspectives, from orthodox to cultural to secular.

Write about a transformative episode that defined your dating/relationship/marital experience. Did factors such as religion, ethnicity, race, class, family, etc., play a role in your story? We want compelling real-life storytelling with dialogue and self-reflection, not essay-like commentary.

We prefer that authors write under their real names, but recognize that some topics are sensitive, so we are accepting a limited number of submissions under pen names.

DIVERSITY

Contributions are welcome from American Muslim men of all racial, ethnic, sectarian backgrounds, sexual orientation, ages, born and convert Muslims, disabled, single, engaged, married, divorced, or widowed.

DETAILS

Submissions should be between 1,500 – 4,000 words, double-spaced and paginated. Please send your submission as a Microsoft Word document attachment to stories@loveinshallah.com by May 6, 2013

Also include:

*Your full name & contact information

*Age

*Your geographic location

*Ethnic/racial background

*Sect

*Whether Muslim by birth or conversion

Stories will be selected for inclusion based on literary merit. You already know what makes good writing: humor, drama, irony, triumph, and focus. Bring your anecdote to life with vivid characterization, plot, and surprising real-life details.

PAYMENT

In accordance with publishing industry standards, writers selected for the anthology will be offered a TBD payment, 2 free copies of the book and the copyright of their story will revert to them one year after the book’s release to develop as they wish.

CONTACT

Feel free to email the editors, Ayesha & Nura at stories@loveinshallah.com with questions.