Mike C

There has been a discussion recently about launching a WF e-zine not only to showcase some of the talent here, but to enable members to cut their teeth in the world of publishing and editorialisation (new word - I just made it up) albeit in an initially small way.

With that in mind I'd like to sound out members. Is anyone interested in a staff position on fledgling magazine?

We would need:

Slushers - foot soldiers to winnow out the wheat from the chaff amongst submissions.
Editors - to sort the good, the bad and the ugly from what the slushers pass through.
Copy Editors - the grammar/spelling nazis who will ruthlessly hunt down typos, spelling mistakes and errant commas, load them onto cattle trucks and send them to their demise.
A poetry editor - probably someone who owns a beret.

Managing editor will initially be a moderator or mentor. Jobs will be available to all members on a merit basis - no nepotism, no favoritism. Passion and professionalism are prime requirements.

The final product will be a PDF magazine so we'll also need a designer to give us a unique and pleasing look, and someone to take care of the final layout.

This will be a 'shit or bust' production - no half measures. If we can't produce a slick, professional, good looking and eminently readable publication, the plug will be pulled.

Feel free to discuss/put yourself forward/throw rocks here.

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Sam Winchester

Sounds very interesting, Mike. The position of Editor or Copy Editor sounds intriguing to me. I'm already a spelling/grammar nazi, but I don't know what level of work or time would be required in that field. There would probably be numerous submissions daily, so I'd have to be dedicated to the website, would I not?

Nonetheless, I'm definitely interested. Count me in.

Sam.

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Mike C

There will hopefully be a small deluge of submissions. At NFG we got 10,000 in 2 years, though that was more upmarket, and paid writers, so attracted more attention.

The idea is to have sufficient staff so that nobody gets overworked; it's easy, espacially for slushers, to burn out and lose interest. It'll be structured like a pyramid, if you like: slushers have to read everything, so there would be a number of those. A smaller number of editors to sift and sort what the slushers pass upstairs, a smaller number of copy editors to fix the stories we plan to publish, way up to the managing editor at the pinnacle who has final say on all editorial decisions.

Positions will be granted on merit so there will be a selection process. In the meantime, I'll add you to the list.

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Sam Winchester

Okay. So how does the selection process work, and how do you decide who merits each position?

Thanks for the add.

Sam.

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To those who live by and never stray from the creedo of "show, don't tell," here's a thought - it's called storytelling not storyshowing.

Mike C

Still working on that. Off the top of my head for all staff we'd want to see examples of writing, then probably give you a dozen shorts to read and appraise. In the initial stages we might require everyone to start out in slush, then editors will be selected from among them.

Copy editors will be given works to correct, as one might expect, and anyone involved in the design will need to submit some ideas for appraisal. As for who decides... that job falls to the managing editor, whoever that might be.

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Sam Winchester

Okay, that clears it up somewhat. Keep us apprised of any new details please, Mike. Hopefully we can make it work.

Sam.

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To those who live by and never stray from the creedo of "show, don't tell," here's a thought - it's called storytelling not storyshowing.

NightOwl

*Self-confessed grammar geek tentatively raises hand.*

'Tentatively' only because I am a fairly new addition to the forum. Will that be a factor in your decision making? I would understand if a demonstrable commitment to the forum was a pre-requisite, but it definitely sounds like something I would enjoy, so I figured, 'what the hell!'

[I also have some experience in graphic design (mainly using Photoshop and QuarkXPress) although I wasn't sure whether to mention that because I don't think it would be appropriate for me to take responsibility for the creative design aspect. (Not that it is being offered to me, but if it was...) I know how time consuming it can be and as my main interest is with writing nowadays, and I also work full-time, I could not in good conscience commit to it. I would, however, be happy to take on some artworking if whoever does fill the role gets overworked and feels the need to delegate!]

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Mike C

Hi Nightowl

No, length of service isn't a prerequisite. Feel free to mention your strengths - you never know when they may be called upon!

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NightOwl

That's what worries me! Hehe.

Just kidding. I think I have been clear about what I can and can't (or am prepared to) offer, which is only fair. I don't want to make promises I can't keep.

I have a 'cunning plan' to try and break into the publishing industry later this year, so this seems like a perfect way to 'cut my teeth', as you put it. (I'm sure that sounds more painful than it is!) Copy-editing appeals the most, but I understand that you might want people to prove themselves before handing over too many red pens!

Good luck with setting this up - seems like a great idea to me.

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Mike C

Very clear, and it's appreciated. There's nothing guaranteed to turn staff off than to be overworked, and there's precious few of us who have so much spare time we can let something like this rule our lives.

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Non Serviam

I'll stand up and help out with layout & formatting (i.e. be the bloke who turns the edited document into a .pdf magazine/e-book/whatever).

I think that if we go ahead with this, then at a later stage, two sub-discussions will be necessary.

1) US English/Commonwealth English: Do we translate one to the other, or leave it in the original dialect? If the latter, we'll need proofreaders from both groups.

2) Can someone withdraw a submission? I think "yes", up to a certain point, but once the material's actually published and released, withdrawing it can't be an option (because we'd have to pull down the whole magazine/e-book to sort it out, which is unfair on the other writers).

There are probably others too.

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lin

Is there a slot for somebody to write the rejection notices?

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Mike C

Noted.

Staff discussions will, most likely, be moved off-site.

My personal preference is to retain the original author's form, which may or may not require two proof-readers; I know several who can operate just as efficiently in US and British English. Chances are, though, there'll be at least two, and maybe a two-tier copy edit process. All is in flux.

Yes, up to the point of a contract being issued/agreed. From that point first rights are legally ours, not theirs. That doesn't inetefere with their copyright ownership or their ability to resell elsewhere.

Indeed.

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Mike C

Leave that one to ol' Loose Canon Lin? I like the idea, but there'd be tears before bedtime. My recommendation is for form, anonymous rejections.

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PrisonerOfPrey

Is this only going to be for stories, or will it also include poetry? Personally I think poetry would be a wonderful and colorful addition. Of course, I'm a poet myself so I'm sure I'm biased. If this will also include poetry I'd like to be an editor for that section. Cheers!

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