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Kerrie
Registered User
(12/27/01 9:53:12 am)
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Periodical....
I've been thinking lately (quite dangerous) about creating a periodical that has a bent towards fairy tales, folklore, mythology, and the like, but am open to other topics. I just thought I'd check in to see what others opinions were. Below are questions M. Pepper wrote to me in an email, and then a few additional thoughts from me.
"If you were looking at a magazine rack in a store, what might cause you to pick up one? Design/color? Topic? What kind(s) of magazines do you feel we have too many of? Not enough of? Is there a kind of magazine you would especially like to see? What kind(s) of magazines do you like? What attracts you to those magazines?" (M. Pepper Langlinais)
Academic, opinion essays, poetry, short stories, novellas, art, other directions? Reviews, previews of upcoming work, testing ground for future projects?
Any and all opinions welcome!
Sugarplum dreams,
Kerrie
Edited by: Kerrie at: 12/28/01 11:38:44 am
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erzebet
Registered User
(12/27/01 10:40:33 am)
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Re: Periodical....
Kerrie,
Why not all of what you've listed?
I've been thinking the same thing, although I would have little idea as to how go about putting together such a thing. All I know how to do is write stories, make websites, paint and bind books, but I would be happy to lend you any of that expertise in such an endeavor. I have to admit that I'd like to see something like with a feminist slant, but whatever it is, it is something I would definitely be interested in.
Erzebet
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ZMethos
Registered User
(12/27/01 11:25:00 am)
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Re: Periodical....
I read exactly two magazines on a regular basis: Publisher's Weekly and Entertainment Weekly. What I like about PW is the reviews and previews. What I like about EW are all the cool little boxes. No, really, they have all kinds of things going on. Forget the articles, give me the snippets!
However, when it comes to creative endeavors, well, that's something else. Sadly enough, I don't read any regular journals (like, say, "Poetry" or "Paris Review"). I know as a writer I probably *should,* but most of the time I find those kinds of things stuffy and full of themselves. I like to read things the same way I like to eat things--because I like them, not because some literary says they're good for me.
~M. Pepper
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Jess
Unregistered User
(12/27/01 2:00:12 pm)
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Marketing
Kerrie,
I am not one to quash a great idea, which I believe this is, but you must decide and research a couple of things before you progress: Who is your target market going to be, how will you intend to "reach" them, and how will you finance this project. More magazines have both started and ended in the last decade than ever before. Most magazines are financed not by circulation, but by advertisements. As those of us who depended upon advertising for our dot.com endeavors know, advertising is very scarce these days. You may have to charge for your periodical so that it covers at least your costs - Kerrie, you don't want to lose your shirt on this one.
Are you talking limited circulation - or are you hoping to mass market? If you are talking limited circulation, then you may not be so worried about what attracts the magazine buyer to a new magazine. You may not want to go 4-color for instance on the first few issues.
I take it you are not going to produce a solely academic journal. You want one more targeted to the non-academic audience interested in fantasy/fairytales? Then, I suppose you have a very good focus group here to find out what they want and how much they are willing to pay.
My own interests are more research oriented, but I also love to see new works and book, film and other media reviews.
More later.
Jess
Hey - I finally discovered the spell checker. lol
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Kerrie
Registered User
(12/28/01 11:25:00 am)
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To market and grandmother's house I go...
Jess,
Thank you for your comments and concerns. I have been researching
into magazines/literary journals for another project I've been working
on, so I understand about the cost part. I would probably start
out with limited runs- local stores plus anyone from this board
who is interested and/or thinks their local book stores may want
to sell issues. This is how I've been selling my books so far, though
I hope, with contributors other than myself, the audience may be
larger. My target market is people like us- those who frequent this
board. That is why I'm asking for all opinions here. I'm not sure
about content yet, either, another reason I thought to ask for thoughts.
With original fiction, I'm sure it is easier maintaining permissions,
as opposed to academic papers where permission might be needed to
quote or mention another text. It could be a combination, it could
be strictly academic, it could be strictly original works. I'm open
to all suggestions before jumping into things. (Though I do love
to jump into lots, I admit.)
One arena I was looking into is a company called Gordon and Breach. They currently publish Mythospere. For more info on Mythosphere, here's a link:
www.tandf.co.uk/journals/...73670.html
G&B in turn is owned by Taylor & Francis Journals, who are open to new ideas for journals. I think this may be one option to look at and I have been looking through their site carefully.
What do others think? I'd love to hear more feedback, and to have
all of you as contributors if desired. What would be your dream
writing job? Is that a good place to start?
Sugarplum dreams,
Kerrie
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Karen
Unregistered User
(12/30/01 4:51:06 pm)
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re: periodical
Kerrie,
It's a risky idea, but you are most certainly capable of making a goer of it! Of course, it will consume a great deal of your time....
I would probably suggest that you take a more populist approach- I think a combination of creative and scholarly pieces is nice. Incidentally, there really isn't that much rigamarole with academic articles, not unless you're quoting something *very* extensively, beyond the limits of fair use.
I would suggest that, in addition to local bookshops, you try to
get some copies into a few libraries, which will at least build
up reader awareness of your existence! My father tried to do this
with a journal he produced, although it was about carnivorous plants,
so there weren't many takers.... :P
Karen
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omarmorales
Registered User
(1/8/02 11:48:13 am)
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Re: Periodical....
Would it be like a periodical or more like a magazine.
I think having a couple of issues a month would be great... I would buy it. I think a good cover to bring people to it....
of course it has to be backed up by mighty words..
-Omar
PS. (whispering) get some of the people here to help out...
I know I would.
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Helen
Registered User
(1/8/02 1:28:59 pm)
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Re: Periodical....
I know that I'd certainly love to be involved ...
Is there anything that a complete ignoramous in the field of publishing could do to help?
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Jess
Unregistered User
(1/8/02 5:06:39 pm)
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Count me in
Kerrie,
I would love to help, too. Let me know what, if anything, I could do.
Jess
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Kerrie
Registered User
(1/8/02 5:37:46 pm)
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Folklore Periodical Planning List
For those interested in developing this idea to fruition, I just created an email group at :
groups.yahoo.com/group/Fo...ning_List/
That's the name for now, as generic as can be. I've added a table and some bookmarks so far. More ideas to come!
Sugarplum dreams,
Kerrie
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alina
Registered User
(3/12/02 10:40:43 am)
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Re: Folklore Periodical Planning List
Hello Kerrie,
I was just wondering if you could give us all an update on your folklore periodical. Is there anything in the works? I see that you have had many offers of help and I would love to help too. I'm not an expert at anything, but I would be happy to be put to work.
Cheers,
Alina
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JaNell
Registered User
(3/12/02 12:47:25 pm)
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Update us
I'll help, too.
But hey, <wheedling tone>, there's still a need for original fairy tales & the like...
I do have a degree in Ad Art, which includes layout and such, and some experience doing program books for ConCat.
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Kerrie
Registered User
(3/12/02 3:33:57 pm)
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Quick recap...
Hi Alina and JaNell- thanks for your interest!
I'll be brief here, but you can check out the group at this site:
groups.yahoo.com/group/Fo...ning_List/
I've been a bit quiet lately as I'm preparing for a trip and trying not to endanger the life of my darling fiance (curse him!) who is recently unemployed.
I wanted to create a new literary journal, relating particularly to fairy tales, folklore, mythology, etc. The list so far has helped to find willing participants for the creation (little do they know! j/k), their skills and interests, as the general audience of the SurLaLune board would be the general audience the journal would be aimed at.
*Under Polls, there's a poll querying which topics there is strong interest in.
*Under Databases, there are the following:
Dream publication
What are the qualities of your dream publication in regards
to folklore and related studies?
Roles
What role(s) would you like to play in the creation of this
publication proposal?
Topics
A more in-depth look at the topic poll: please list any
comments on each of these topics- primary focus, topics to
avoid, aspects under topics you think would be good
directions to go in, etc. All comments welcome!
Contact List
Group Contact List
*Under bookmarks, there are the following:
Folders...
Conferences
Conferences related to folklore, fairy tales,
mythology, etc.
Members' sites
Sites for the members of this list.
Publisher research...
Publishers that offer services for journal proposals, such as printing, distribution, funds, etc.
Sample publications
Sites for publications that are similar in content
General Sites...
Let me know if you want any more info!
Sugarplum dreams,
Kerrie
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RuthS
Unregistered User
(3/12/02 8:39:13 pm)
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Periodical
Kerrie,
I can't seem to sign in to Yahoo to get to your forum there............. So, anyway, I wanted to give moral support and an offer of free reprint rights of any of my artwork you'd like to use in your first magazine, when you get it off the ground.
I also wanted to mention that I love the articles on folklore that Terri has done for Realms of Fantasy. Mixing the fiction with more 'scholarly' articles like hers would be a good approach, I think.
Ruth
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Kerrie
Registered User
(3/14/02 2:55:42 pm)
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Re: Periodical
If anyone else has any problems joining, let me know. I'll send
you an invitation with a link to join and instructions.
Sugarplum dreams,
Kerrie
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