Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums - View Single Post - Anyone with magazine publishing experience?

Teresa Edgerton · 14th April 2007, 08:35 PM

So far as I know, the only way that it counts as a "real" publishing credit is if you pay professional rates.

But if you can't afford to do that, there are plenty of other online magazines that don't pay for stories, so that would hardly make you unique. And since you won't be making money either (at least, I don't think that's what you are planning to do), it's not like you would be taking advantage of anyone.

But be aware that you're unlikely to be receiving much (or any) high quality writing. You may, with luck, get some stories that are pretty good though rough around the edges, but (and I speak from experience, having worked briefly for a magazine that paid 1/2¢ a word) be prepared to wade through a lot of really horrible writing before you even come to those diamonds in the rough.

You may increase the quantity of good stories you receive if you're open to reprints.

I believe that anyone who thinks projects like yours will be the industry standard in the future is deluding themselves. They're simply the equivalent of all those small press magazines produced on somebody's offset press in the basement, which have come and gone over the years. Except that more people can do them because the start-up costs are nil.

But there is nothing essentially wrong with these amateur publications, in print or online. The word amateur does, after all, come from a root-word meaning love. So long as you are producing your magazine for the love and joy of it, and the writers who contribute are doing the same thing, then why shouldn't you? It's only when the people involved pretend that they are offering writers a chance to be professionally published, or a great way to advance their careers, that these enterprises become shady.

14th April 2007, 08:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Teresa Edgerton Ink-stained Wretch Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 4,611	Re: Anyone with magazine publishing experience? So far as I know, the only way that it counts as a "real" publishing credit is if you pay professional rates. But if you can't afford to do that, there are plenty of other online magazines that don't pay for stories, so that would hardly make you unique. And since you won't be making money either (at least, I don't think that's what you are planning to do), it's not like you would be taking advantage of anyone. But be aware that you're unlikely to be receiving much (or any) high quality writing. You may, with luck, get some stories that are pretty good though rough around the edges, but (and I speak from experience, having worked briefly for a magazine that paid 1/2¢ a word) be prepared to wade through a lot of really horrible writing before you even come to those diamonds in the rough. You may increase the quantity of good stories you receive if you're open to reprints. I believe that anyone who thinks projects like yours will be the industry standard in the future is deluding themselves. They're simply the equivalent of all those small press magazines produced on somebody's offset press in the basement, which have come and gone over the years. Except that more people can do them because the start-up costs are nil. But there is nothing essentially wrong with these amateur publications, in print or online. The word amateur does, after all, come from a root-word meaning love. So long as you are producing your magazine for the love and joy of it, and the writers who contribute are doing the same thing, then why shouldn't you? It's only when the people involved pretend that they are offering writers a chance to be professionally published, or a great way to advance their careers, that these enterprises become shady.