Any writers?

[Fading Fast]

I started in sf. My first mystery was published in 1990 and was nominated for the best paperback original, so it was up for the 1991 awards. My avatar might give you a hint.

Thanks for the welcome, Amateisgal. I'm right with you about the magazines. I guess e-pub is taking up the slack there now, but it just isn't the same.

"I guess e-pub is taking up the slack there now, but it just isn't the same."

Unfortunately, the compensation has dropped dramatically. I would love to write as a compliment to what I do for a living - trade and manage money - but the compensation just doesn't work as writing compensation has continued come down with the internet as so many are willing to write for free.

 

[AmateisGal]

I started in sf. My first mystery was published in 1990 and was nominated for the best paperback original, so it was up for the 1991 awards. My avatar might give you a hint.

Thanks for the welcome, Amateisgal. I'm right with you about the magazines. I guess e-pub is taking up the slack there now, but it just isn't the same.

Yeah, I think those glory days are forever behind us. However, if I had lots of extra cash taking up space (ha!), I would love to start a print magazine with nothing but Golden Era-themed short stories or even serialized novels. How fun would that be?

 

[Tiki Tom]

Yeah, I think those glory days are forever behind us. However, if I had lots of extra cash taking up space (ha!), I would love to start a print magazine with nothing but Golden Era-themed short stories or even serialized novels. How fun would that be?

Hey, Amateisgal, that is a great idea. I would write for you. I've actually got an outline for a 10 story series set in Paris (and the world) in the 1930s. Perhaps you (we all?) could crowd source such a magazine. What would we name it? How about "The Fedora Files"? Aw, isn't it pretty to think about?

On a more real note, I think I have made the decision to self-publish my most recent effort. It is a travelogue about my adopted city of Vienna. Never mind that I can't get it published via the "traditional" route, I can't even get an agent to look at it. Anyway... Reminds me how ---a long time ago--- it was considered unsavory to look for dates on-line. Now (I gather) it is commonly accepted practice and no one bats an eye. Similarly, I think self-publishing used to be viewed as the last refuge of talentless losers... but now I get the impression that self-publishing too has become acceptable and common. Please correct me if you think my impression is off the mark. Anyway, my college student daughter is now editing my manuscript. I'll keep you posted about the whole experience.

But I do love your magazine idea. I need something to read as I take the night train to Berlin, wearing my fedora. There is microfilm sewn into the hem of my trench coat and, needless to say, the fate of the world hangs in the balance. My briefcase has nothing in it but a bottle of scotch and a .38. I shoulda packed a magazine, but I couldn't find a classy rag about the golden era.

 

[Inkstainedwretch]

Yeah, I think those glory days are forever behind us. However, if I had lots of extra cash taking up space (ha!), I would love to start a print magazine with nothing but Golden Era-themed short stories or even serialized novels. How fun would that be?

That's a great idea! Look at Charles Ardai's "Hard Case Crime" imprint. The idea sounded goofy: Let's start a paperback imprint that reprints classic crime novels plus modern noirs by name authors and give them vintage-style covers like the originals. It turned into a huge success. I'm working on a novel to submit to Hard Case just to get one of those covers.

 

[AmateisGal]

Hey, Amateisgal, that is a great idea. I would write for you. I've actually got an outline for a 10 story series set in Paris (and the world) in the 1930s. Perhaps you (we all?) could crowd source such a magazine. What would we name it? How about "The Fedora Files"? Aw, isn't it pretty to think about?

On a more real note, I think I have made the decision to self-publish my most recent effort. It is a travelogue about my adopted city of Vienna. Never mind that I can't get it published via the "traditional" route, I can't even get an agent to look at it. Anyway... Reminds me how ---a long time ago--- it was considered unsavory to look for dates on-line. Now (I gather) it is commonly accepted practice and no one bats an eye. Similarly, I think self-publishing used to be viewed as the last refuge of talentless losers... but now I get the impression that self-publishing too has become acceptable and common. Please correct me if you think my impression is off the mark. Anyway, my college student daughter is now editing my manuscript. I'll keep you posted about the whole experience.

But I do love your magazine idea. I need something to read as I take the night train to Berlin, wearing my fedora. There is microfilm sewn into the hem of my trench coat and, needless to say, the fate of the world hangs in the balance. My briefcase has nothing in it but a bottle of scotch and a .38. I shoulda packed a magazine, but I couldn't find a classy rag about the golden era.

Oh, if we could get an idea like this to go, I would be absolutely ecstatic!

Regarding self-publishing...yes. It's a much more accepted practice now than it used to be. I actually used to work for iUniverse, a self-publishing company (before it was bought by the snake-in-the-grass Author Solutions) and saw first-hand how the whole thing worked. Unfortunately, there was a lot of crap that people wanted to publish. I wrote the back cover copy for books (I've done well over 1,000 of them if not more) which meant I was able to look at entire manuscripts. There is some awful stuff out there. However, I did find some really great stuff and I often wondered why people chose to go the self-publishing route instead of the traditional. But the whole traditional publishing paradigm has shifted so dramatically and is so numbers-based that I understand why they, and others, choose not to go that route. Self-published works can really take off. The biggest issue is getting it noticed. Traditional publishers have more ways to market an individual's work, though that is changing a lot, too. Most authors I know end up doing most of their marketing.

I could probably write a very lengthy post on the whole traditional vs. self-publishing debate, but I won't bore anyone.

GO FOR IT on the self-publishing of your travelogue! Do let me know if you need advice/help with anything.

 

[AmateisGal]

That's a great idea! Look at Charles Ardai's "Hard Case Crime" imprint. The idea sounded goofy: Let's start a paperback imprint that reprints classic crime novels plus modern noirs by name authors and give them vintage-style covers like the originals. It turned into a huge success. I'm working on a novel to submit to Hard Case just to get one of those covers.

That is awesome!!! Good luck on submitting to them.

Y'know, I've been noodling around with this idea for awhile (the magazine). I'd love to make a serious go of it someday. The cynical side of me doesn't think we'd have a snowball's chance in heck, but the optimistic side says, "Try it. You never know what will happen."

 

[AmateisGal]

Ok...I've noodled on this all morning. Would it be worth me putting up a poll on the Facebook page and on the Lounge here in the Observation Bar to see if people would even be interested in a magazine like this? Thoughts?

I wouldn't do this until I've returned from my UK vacation (and have recovered from jet lag!).

 

[AmateisGal]

*bump*

Anyone have some feedback on my post (above)? Now that I'm back from England, I'm ready to tackle some projects!

 

[Tiki Tom]

If such a magazine existed, I would read it. I'd also write for it, if they'd have me. That having been said, I suspect that starting a magazine (in the digital age no less!) is like the old joke says: To make a small fortune, first you have to start with a big fortune. Wouldn't it be easier to see if the Fedora Lounge would consider adding a page where contributors could post the Golden Era fiction (or non-fiction) that they've written? Perhaps folks (from this thread?) could volunteer to serve as editors, design-layout experts, etc. Sounds like fun. I don't know a thing about publishing (obviously. See my track record) but it sounds like an incredible amount of work and you would really need to throw your whole body, soul, heart, and wallet into it to make a new magazine last past the first year and gain a paying readership. As with any start-up, I guess the first thing you need is to do some research on costs, likely readership, etc., and then come up with a realistic business plan. Ugh. Still, I can't help but like the idea of writing for a Golden Era magazine. It's the romantic in me.

 

[AmateisGal]

If such a magazine existed, I would read it. I'd also write for it, if they'd have me. That having been said, I suspect that starting a magazine (in the digital age no less!) is like the old joke says: To make a small fortune, first you have to start with a big fortune. Wouldn't it be easier to see if the Fedora Lounge would consider adding a page where contributors could post the Golden Era fiction (or non-fiction) that they've written? Perhaps folks (from this thread?) could volunteer to serve as editors, design-layout experts, etc. Sounds like fun. I don't know a thing about publishing (obviously. See my track record) but it sounds like an incredible amount of work and you would really need to throw your whole body, soul, heart, and wallet into it to make a new magazine last past the first year and gain a paying readership. As with any start-up, I guess the first thing you need is to do some research on costs, likely readership, etc., and then come up with a realistic business plan. Ugh. Still, I can't help but like the idea of writing for a Golden Era magazine. It's the romantic in me.

I think you're right. Honestly, I can't devote 100% of my time to such an endeavor, and as far as costs? I would have zero money to invest in it. BUT, I do like what you suggested, starting a page here at the Fedora Lounge and see what we could get going.

 

[scotrace]

I got a piece published in the regional edition of my church's synod magazine. My work is published in four newspapers weekly, but this was something I dropped my 'no work unless $$' rule for.

 

[scotrace]

I think you're right. Honestly, I can't devote 100% of my time to such an endeavor, and as far as costs? I would have zero money to invest in it. BUT, I do like what you suggested, starting a page here at the Fedora Lounge and see what we could get going.

Just for kicks... http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/het-gang-lets-write-a-story-together.3076/

 

[Harp]

I've dabbled, been paid, and published. A girl was excited that I was an author-a minor piece about fencing-but more that I fenced in college.
She was into the Errol Flynn stuff....