posted
I've played around with this idea from time to time and recently my husband got on board with the idea...starting my own webzine. I haven't made any decisions yet but I do feel that I should do some significant research before starting something like this. Many such ventures have come and gone, even some with big money behind them. (Mine woud come out of my own pocket and pay very little at first...maybe five dollars a story or something.)
I know some people who frequent this site have done this very thing and I'd like to know how you got started, what worked for you and what didn't. I'm particularly interested in figuring out how to make this a profitable venture. Advertising space? Charging for the issues? (My husband suggested making the first issue free to try to hook people and then charging something like $1 per issue for .pdf format.) I've even seen some work with donations or tip buckets, although I'm not sure how well this works when it does, nor how to make it work for me.
posted
For me, putting your own stories in a webzine is bad editorial policy. It implies that you started the webzine just so you could publish your work (even if it's not true, it's what people will think).
Posts: 1075 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
It is going to be significantly more work than you think, regardless of how much work you currently think it's going to be; launching a magazine is not usually something new mothers have time to do! You should also consider how much time it's going to take away from your writing (answer: a lot.) and if that's a tradeoff you want to make.
Personally I consider small-press publications running their own stuff to be a particularly tacky form of self-publishing. To me it says: I couldn't get this past editorial scrutiny anywhere else. It says: I am using this magazine primarily to promote my own work. It says: I couldn't get enough content from other authors. It says: odds of publication are rigged against other authors. If you are, say, Card, the rules are somewhat different; that he publishes his fiction is one of the significant drawing points of his magazine. But short of that, I consider it highly tacky. Other people no doubt have different opinions.
I must say again: it is going to be significantly more work than you think. You probably won't believe me but you'll see.
As for making it profitable - well, small-press publishing is even less profitable than writing fiction. You will find people are unlikely to pay for online content, so you will most likely need to either a) offer free content supported by ads (which will require diligent attention to driving hits to your web site in order to justify ad revenues); b) free content supported by donations; c) go print, which adds significant complexity to the undertaking. Again, if you are, say, Card, you will have a better chance of convincing people to pay for online content, but it is pretty tricky. Or maybe you are some kind of marketing genius and could pull it off.
Again: this is significantly more work than you think.
Why do you want to do it? Be very clear on your motivations, and what you hope to achieve.
I recommend trying to find another publication to work on for a while to see if you like it and to see what you can learn. Strange Horizons has a number of staff positions open right now, maybe one's right for you, but you might also just send e-mail to a number of your favorite publications and ask if they need a volunteer.
[This message has been edited by Beth (edited February 23, 2006).]
posted
oh and did I mention? It's a lot of work. It can be very fun but don't underestimate the work.
Posts: 1750 | Registered: Oct 2004
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What format are you looking at? Electronic Magazine format to be sold by the issue? A regularly updated website?
There is a lot of work that goes into it, but if you want to do it, do it. If you are willing to put the work into it, it can be a relatively inexpensive (money wise) hobby and might develop into a profitable small business.
Publishing your own stories is self publication and is something that will make it harder for you to get published elsewhere. It will also reduce the credibility of your publication. People will see the zine as a way for you to publish your stories. The fact that you are an excellent writer and that the stories are worthy of publication will be irrelevant. In the worst case, it will get your name out there with a bad connotation. As is true with all writers, self publication is an absolute last resort.
And if you do go through with this, and offer even small payment for publication, you will not lack for new reading material.
You already have an in to network to start building a reader base in these writers forums so the cards are not unduly stacked against you. Do some research, ask some people who know, draw up some plans, some concepts and weigh the idea. If you still like it, there is always more room on the internet. The real trick is getting people to find your room.
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I'm sure you're both right about not putting my own work there. I hatd the idea when my husband brought it up but I couldn't figure out how to tell him why. I know a good part of it is the same reason I don't wan to self-publish a novel...legitimacy.
I'd love to get started by getting on with another established publication but I haven't had any luck finding openings. I looked on Strange Horizon's web site and couldn't find any indication that they were looking for help. Beth, where did you see this?
I want to be a writer. But I also want to be a part of the speculative fiction world. I've loved science fiction and fantasy for as long as I can remember and I want to be a part of it. Writing is great, but getting published is slow, difficult work and as long as stories are only sitting on my computer I don't feel like I'm a real participant. I also don't feel like I've really creatd anything. I don't really care about making money. Honestly, putting up a web site and paying authors five dollars a story doesn't cost me much. The point of making it profitable also goes to legitimacy...to creating something.
As to being a new mom...well, yes that keeps me quite busy. But as important as that is, if I don't find something to feed my own identity and dreams then I'm going to go crazy. I've joined a group for mothers of pre-schoolers and many of the women there run businesses out of their homes. I'm learning to multi-task...actually, I've learned I didn't used to know what that word meant!
Anyway, that's probably more information than you needed. I don't expect anything worth doing to be easy, but what's the worst thing that could happen by doing some research and figuring out if this is really the thing for me?
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I know nothing about starting an ezine. But I agree with Beth about a writer publishing in their own magazine and it would be a turn off to me as a writer seeking publication. In fact I think the editors of Shimmer are to be commended on the fact that they have managed to focus on their jobs as editors--namely attracting fine stories--rather than promoting their own writing. Christine, I know you are a good writer and are published, but if I were you, I'd think long and hard before you do this--unless you have several experienced friends who are willing to help you for no pay.
Posts: 397 | Registered: Mar 2004
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All right, me putting stories in the thing is off the table. Dumb idea. I even convinced my husband that it was a dumb idea and he now agrees with me.
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oh and kickle's right about how you'll probably want several talented and experienced friends to help out - but another thing that you will have to learn the hard way is that not all friends are well-suited to work together, and that not all friendships can stand the strain.
You know how cross-country road trips are a huge strain on a relationship? Or buying a house? It's sort of like that.
Going into this I thought sales and marketing would be the most difficult part; but no, it's the relationships. That can also be one of the most rewarding parts.
posted
If you want to dabble, you could use the web-comic model. Yeah, I know, you're a writer, not an illustrator. But that's no reason not to try it out. A lot of web comics get by on their writing more than their drawing.
But don't try to start a major enterprise with money flowing in various directions unless you know a lot about it.
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