[Luya Sevrein]

Hello everyone,

If this counts as advertising, please, slap me down. I don't mean to do that. I know Kat will get me. xD) It's more than I need to carry out a survey with an audiance interested in science-fiction and fantasy.

A software-designer friend and I were thinking of making an E-zine. Okay, I hate the term - It's tacky - Let's go again - an online publication dedicated to the literature and artwork of science-fiction and fantasy. The site would be mostly a Reader's disgest-esque anthology of prose, poetry, art and graphical novels/comics published by authors, guest authors, competitions winners, etc. As well as genre-based articles, news/events, reviews and interviews.

We aim to create a site based on quality and care. As in, people are giving us money they work for, they obviously have passion for our content, so we're going to keep it top notch for them.

What I'm wanting to know is -

Would you pay a subscription fee monthly?
The fee would be £5 a month, or $7.87 (at the moment).

For this fee you would be able to view all published stories, poetry, comics and artwork, you would be able to post on forums and leave comments - therefore being able to communicate the authors or artists, you would have entry without fee to every competition, have a say in the cover art and content (from the published works) of the annual anthology and recieve a free copy.

Non-members can view forums, view the top rated story, poem and artwork but nothing else, and if they wish to enter a competition they will have to pay the fee. They could also buy the anthology.

We're hoping to establish links with conventions and other websites, such as SFF itself for example.

I will also promise to never rant about Firefly being cancelled on the site. ;D

Would anyone be interested in this type of thing?

[KatG]

I don't think it would be a proper e-zine without ranting about the untimely demise of Firefly:

http://www.millionaireplayboy.com/mpb/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/6xbu.jpeg


But my answer would be no, I wouldn't be interested. First off, because I personally probably wouldn't get around to reading the stuff, which is why I don't have subscriptions to print magazines anymore or go to e-zines, and second because there is so much free stuff on the Web, including e-zines that get their revenue from advertising, sponsorship and so on. I'm not saying a subscription zine is not a workable proposition, but I'd suggest talking with people who are running these online magazines, subscription and free, and web comics and what have you about what they've encountered and how they've done things before trying to launch it. Everybody is sort of working it out. And since you are doing art, you might even eventually want to have a POD component if you make a go of it.

And I'm afraid I don't know anything about that. I can tell you that the Flash Fiction stories here are terrific though.

[Luya Sevrein]

Heh. I suppose, so. But I'll let someone else have a rant about it. ;D

Thanks for your opinion, Kat, it's basically the general reason I expected from anyone who would say no.

I'm hoping it can be something part-way between an e-zine and an anthology. So, for example, there would be a graphic novel, erm, I know many people who've expressed interest in publishing there. That would be updated once a week, for example, so only those with membership could read it, or wait a year and buy the thing. xD

Of course, I have other revenue streams. The advertising is only worth it if we get popular, otherwise it will generate no income in return for time involved. There is competition entry fees and selling publications, though. So hopefully if I find someone to discuss it with I can see which is better workable.

I guess it'll be one of those things, like Digispy, no one will be willing to pay until a bunch of people have paid and I can get some discussion going.

Of course, I'd need to offer some people freedom so they can moderate and start discussion on the forums and publish things if they wish - How does that get you? xD

[PeteMC]

I've got to say no as well, for much the same reasons as Kat. There is a lot of good stuff on the web for free, and to be honest if I'm paying for something (like a book or a film) I want to be able to choose what it is for myself, not pay up front and hope I get something good in return. This is the same reason I don't buy subscriptions to print magazines or books clubs or those DVD rental things that send you a random film every weekend.

What you propose does sound good in itself though, and if it was free I would almost certainly read it and probably participate with forum discussion (and content, if you'd have me!) like I do here but I wouldn't pay to do it, the same way I don't have to pay to do it here. If I liked the stuff on the site though I probably would buy a regular print anthology as I'm old fashioned and I like real books. :)

[Sterling13]

Luya:

All other e'zines that I know of have their content available for free. And I'm talking the 'top of the heap' publications, so to speak. Now, I'm not saying that your 'zine couldn't be a big time player as well, but, especially for one just starting out, I doubt you'll get many (if any) people to pay for content, when they can get it for free elsewhere.

It seems as though the way that e'zines make money (or, at least attempt to break even):

- Ads (it doesn't have to be anything overbearing. See Flash Fiction Online, Fantasy Magazine, etc)
- Donate buttons
- Print anthologies / versions (I know Clarkesworld sells chapbooks, Strange Horizons sells 'best of year X' anthologies)
- Hand Knit Mustaches (Oh yes. Courtesy of those at Brain Harvest)

I think an upfront subscription, not knowing what you're getting, is going to be an extremely tough sell. You're better off hooking them with free content, and, if its good enough, they'll support you.

If you are set on some sort of payment, how about for separate 'premium' content? For example, say you publish 4 short stories per month for free, and subscribers get a bonus novella to read. I could see that as something I'd go for (provided the free content drew me in, obviously). Though, even then, I doubt I'd go $7.87/month, given that I could get a subscription to a print mag (F&SF) for cheaper than that.

[Luya Sevrein]

I do kind of see where you're coming from, perhaps if we had a name for ourselves the subscription would have meaning but especailly at first, who knows what to expect?

Your idea about premium content, though, is something I tried to describe above - free graphic novels, novellas, etc. x3

But the pay-off is just to fund everything. I'm more happy that everyone seems interested in the idea itself despite there being alot out there.

I was thinking of creating an anthology with a few other authors and artists, maybe one or two before I work on the site so we'd have something to say 'This is what we offer.' etc.

We'd have to work out publication and everything which will be difficult to do online but I've not have much of a response locally. I've got one of those towns where nothing goes on.

So, if anyone would be interested in that please let me know.

[tmso]

Hey Luya,

Interested in what...exactly? Your initial post asked if we would be interested in paying for a content rich online magazine. My answer to that question is no for all the same reasons already mentioned. Your latest post seems to be asking for collaborators in setting up this online magazine. Is that the case? If so, I may be interested, but only if you would entertain a business structure that did not include subscriptions. At least, not at first. PM me if that is what you meant.

Either way, good luck with your effort. Not easy how ever you decide to pursue it, but I'm sure it will be well worth it. :)

[Ramirez]

I'd be interested in submitting writing or art.