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.
What do you think?
[This message has been edited by Christine (edited February 23, 2006).]
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).]
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.
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?
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.
But don't try to start a major enterprise with money flowing in various directions unless you know a lot about it.
So you want to start a magazine?
The discussion on Nightshade that convinced Shimmer to go print instead of strictly electronic.