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- Path: sparky!uunet!spool.mu.edu!yale.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!torn!news.ccs.queensu.ca!qucdn!bahrir
- Organization: Queen's University at Kingston
- Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 22:00:44 EST
- From: <BAHRIR@QUCDN.QueensU.CA>
- Message-ID: <92358.220044BAHRIR@QUCDN.QueensU.CA>
- Newsgroups: misc.writing
- Subject: Darkside Magazine: Advice Wanted
- Lines: 61
-
- "Exhumed" is a darkside fiction magazine a co-op writers'
- group has started to publish.
-
- First issue was October 1992 and the upcoming issue will be
- published late January 1993.
-
- file
- We plan to stay with a print format for three main reasons:
-
- 1 So we can include graphic illustrations which add to the
- atmosphere of the fiction
-
- 2 To remain accessible to the widest possible audience.
-
- 3 "Exhumed" offers
- entertainment primarily, something to read in bed, take
- to the cottage or on a plane flight.
-
- Our first issue was complementary and was distributed through
- Kingston-area bookstores, at Queen's University and at St. Lawrence
- college.
-
- The next issue will have a lot sleeker appearance with a black and
- white glossy cover and saddlestiched stapling (i.e. like Time
- and Newsweek, staple goes through the fold
- on the spine).
-
- Problems we are encountering are mainly (can you guess!) $! $! $!
-
- The local periodical distributor advised us that if he distributed
- "Exhumed" it would likely get buried at the back of the bottom
- row on the magazine racks where it would not attract attention because of
- being only black and white.
-
- Local bookstores tend to be leery of taking magazines on consignment.
- I can see their point of view and know that there will likely be
- some pilfering .
-
- We have sold some ads to local businesses. By issue 3 we will have
- #2 to show to advertisers which will give us more credibility. But
- the darkside theme tends to seem either too controversial or too
- frivolous for some advertisers.
-
-
- Has anyone tried any kind of printed self-publishing like this?
- Any hints would be welcome.
-
- Any hints on how to locate subscribers would be especially welcome.
- Darkside fiction has a huge appeal so we know we have to broaden
- our reach geographically.
-
- We are also considering offering our editing / critiquing services
- (for a modest fee) to beginning writers of darkside fiction. Any
- comments on that one?
-
- Please e-mail me any comments, responses, hints, etc. and I will
- post a report of findings here when I have some!
-
- Thank you,
-
- Ruth Bahri
-