lin

Man, that is so, "Last week and I still don't think I should have been arrested for it just because the kids in the mall had never seen a naked silver man before."

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HippoHead

=O !

I can do everything there except poetry - which i just can't seem to grasp.

Seriously, give me a trial period ;P

Katastrof

I'd give a go at a being a slusher or being an editor. Don't have much experience but I'm good at spotting things that sound good/bad/amazing in other people's work. Sounds pretty sick to be honest.

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blackthorn

I'd really like to get in on this! Is it too late to sign up?? I'm a huge grammar/punctuation nerd so I think I'd be sweet as an editor!

smilinghelps

Well Mike, since everyone on the site will be working for the e-zine, I'll just offer to submit stories and occasional poetry.

LOL! This sounds really cool, don't know if I have the time to dedicate to the inner-workings but if you need slushers and are shorthanded, let me know.

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Mike C

Not too late!

We're currently gathering names and guaging interest. Next step, applicants will be asked to jump through a few carefully selected hoops before selection.

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Lorlie

Oooh I would love a go.

I know I am not here so often as others, but if I had a purpose I would be I promise.

I think I am honest, ehh honestly, and my history will show that I don't curry favor, so I am not bribeable (Shhh MONEY SPEAKS),.

Anyway, I would love a go, shot, bash, whatever.

Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee

Lorlie

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Malone

I'll read if you end up needing me, or whatever else. I imagine readers will be in the most demand, though. Either the first or second tier reader. I'll be honest and say that if I slush, I'll reject most of the stories after the first or second paragraph.

PM me if this takes off and you need me to help.

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kidstaple

I'm most interested. I think I would be best put into the Slush category, but I would also really like to try my hand at Editing. I've been told before that I have the eye for editing, and that I should do something with it... figured this might be a really good place to start!

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Remedy

I would enjoy being a slusher actually, as weird as it may sound, but I'm also ok with being a copy editor (I am a grammar nazi). If needed, I could even do editor, but that would be my last choice.

Mike C

Thanks all.

Any questions or suggestions welcomed at this point, this is a WF thing, not a me thing!

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Pete_C

I've exchanged a few PMs with Mike about this, and was interested in some feedback about some ideas regarding this project. Having given it some thought, I figured that it could one of two ways. The first is that it could be a PDF-based document roughly resembling a printed document, including works from WF members, that generally gets read by other WF members and a few outsiders. It's easy to do, and cheap, but (in my own opinion, and I stress it's only my opinion) a bit of a waste of effort. Then a comment Mike made got me thinking...

There is a possibility to create what could possibly be a unique proposition, standing head and shoulders above many of the other "e-publishing" schemes out there. I am very confident that it could also attract funding (from private entities, I am not talking about grants) and be distributed via some very credible and high profile sources. There would also be scope to ensure that those who participate, whether that be volunteers or contributors, receive some sort of tangible reward for their work.

Now, that might sound pie-in-the-sky to some, especially with no details (I won't be showing my full hand until there's some feedback and Mike and the Mods have their conflab over the idea). However, many of the ideas are ones I've used in my working life in Publishing, others are borrowed from people I know, and it's all held together with basic business sense. It is achievable, but there is a cost. That cost is that the enterprise would need to be run more akin to a business than a creative venture.

The first step would be to define what the publication (for want of a better word) is, how it will be targeted, how it will be delivered, and what it's USPs are. I have a few ideas that can be built in to the original proposition that make it more focused, and in turn that will make it more attractive to potential investors, more beneficial for those involved, and a better "product" for the reader.

Also, do not fear that this turns the entire scheme into a labour-heavy obligation. It will initially require no more effort or input than the original idea. It will, however, require a few people to adopt other less creative roles, especially in the early days. Also, should the thing end up growing legs to the point where it needs to be run like a business, it could be a nice venture for some people to take forward. There is an exit strategy to ensure that if it gets out of hand and is too big for WF members to continue with, or is taken on by a few individuals, everyone involved gets something back.

I think some feedback is essential before taking this any further, because there are some critical areas here to consider.

1: Let's cut through the bullshit here and make an obvious point. In order to be a success (and by success, I am talking about creating a credible publication which receives the genuine respect of the mainstream publishing sector), this has to be about creating a "product". The contributors can have all the creativity they want; however, the project has to be a cold hard-nosed business venture. It's all about selling the product for real dirty cash. How do people feel about that?

2: In order to be worthwhile, the publication needs to really showcase the very best out there. That having been said, it also needs to be bold, forward-thinking, innovative and challenging. It needs to make people who think they've read it all sit up and take notice. It will need careful marketing, but it has to deliver what is promised. A bunch of stories and poems isn't going to cut the mustard. This will naturally mean that the editorial position has to be uncompromising. Any thoughts on that?

3: In order to make it work, those involved will need to court some of the major corporations out there. This doesn't mean the project makes any compromise, but it WILL need to appreciate commercial interests and the role they play in making this a success. Now, I accept that some people might cry "sell out", but would you cry the same thing if a multinational publisher offered you a big fat cheque? Business is business; does anyone feel that is unacceptable?

4: Putting out a bunch of PDFs with some words and pictures is safe. It will work, so long as you accept that working means a few nondescript people, maybe a few friends and relatives and the occasional forum-buddy will download it and read some of it. Trying something different and ambitious is a risk. There is a chance it will succeed. There is a chance it will fail. It could fail spectacularly. However, we won't know unless we try, and we won't succeed unless we try with a positive attitude. Do you think it's worthwhile, or is it a case of biting off more than we can chew?

I'd be interested in some feedback on those few points. Also, please note that this only represents my thoughts. If people disagree, so be it, I don't mind. I don't want to be seen as railroading the thing, so I won't be offended if people think it's a step too far.

Malone

Well if you can build up the initial investment funds, isn't it obvious which way to go?

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dwellerofthedeep

If people are still getting in on this I'd like to. I think I could do any of those jobs but I'd prefer slusher or editor.

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Mike C

Food for thought, Pete, food for thought.

My initial observations:

This thing will either pan out as a fun project for the membership (get published! Be an editor!) or a business. The level of commitment is entirely different for both and we've yet to see if we have the right level of commitment here (not just in time, but in the drive to make things happen) for the latter.

What little funding is required currently is being provided by me. Getting others to fund is attractive, especially if it means being able to pay contributors (which brings in better quality submissions), but I'm hazy as to how you're suggesting that happens. Are we talking corporate sponsorship, advertising? I'm open to both, but I'm aware that selling advertising in a lit mag is difficult, to say the very least.

"bold, forward-thinking, innovative and challenging"

Words I like.

"A bunch of stories and poems isn't going to cut the mustard."

This is where you're losing me, conceptually. You also used the word 'multimedia' earlier. Can you elucidate?

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