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tadkil
(Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Tales, GameMastery Maps Subscriber; Planet Stories Subscriber)
Show of hands folks.
How many people would subscribe to a monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly Planet Stories short fiction magazine? I envision classic pulp style and feel with a sprinkling of reprints and some new authors.
This might also be a place to begin fictional explorations of Korvosa. I'd love to see that world through the lens of fiction.
Anybody else like this idea?
Show of hands folks.
How many people would subscribe to a monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly Planet Stories short fiction magazine? I envision classic pulp style and feel with a sprinkling of reprints and some new authors.
This might also be a place to begin fictional explorations of Korvosa. I'd love to see that world through the lens of fiction.
Anybody else like this idea?
I think that it would be an excellent idea. I think it would be a great jumping off for new writers and an excellent platform for some classic reprints. The 3 big SF magaines that are still in business don't print much in this direction. During the early 70's there were a few re-print mags on the shelves. I have no idea how well they did though. I read a few years ago that SF-Literature is in HUGE trouble because there are less and less new readers. Young people can now get their SF and Fantasy fix through so many other outlet that readership has taken a huge down turn and the average SF Fan/Reader is now over 40 years old. so as much as I would love to see something in this direction, it would need to be made appealing to a younger target group for it to be financialy successful (I think.)
Take care.Doug
Didn't Paizo try that when they published Amazing Stories? It looks like they broadened the format toward the end, but for a lot of the run it was a fiction magazine.
They've also said they don't want to do magazines, because it is so hard to make a profit. IN addition to the challenges of selling them, retailers can return them, unlike books, and that can be really financially punishing.
Sorry to be a wet blanket. :(
tadkil
(Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Tales, GameMastery Maps Subscriber; Planet Stories Subscriber)
Didn't Paizo try that when they published Amazing Stories? It looks like they broadened the format toward the end, but for a lot of the run it was a fiction magazine.
They've also said they don't want to do magazines, because it is so hard to make a profit. IN addition to the challenges of selling them, retailers can return them, unlike books, and that can be really financially punishing.
Sorry to be a wet blanket. :(
I work in print media on the marketing/circulation side. I know the business model fairly well. Amazing was glossy and that directly impacts expense. Pulp is cheaper. Lower frequency is safer. Another approach might be a semi-annual anthology.
It will all depend on how successful Planet Stories is, and how well Paizo can ramp up the brand.
Didn't Paizo try that when they published Amazing Stories? It looks like they broadened the format toward the end, but for a lot of the run it was a fiction magazine.
They've also said they don't want to do magazines, because it is so hard to make a profit. IN addition to the challenges of selling them, retailers can return them, unlike books, and that can be really financially punishing.
Sorry to be a wet blanket. :(
Launching a new magazine is the worst business ever ever ever ever. Ever.
My advice to anyone thinking of doing so: Don't. (Ever.)
tadkil
(Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Tales, GameMastery Maps Subscriber; Planet Stories Subscriber)
Didn't Paizo try that when they published Amazing Stories? It looks like they broadened the format toward the end, but for a lot of the run it was a fiction magazine.
They've also said they don't want to do magazines, because it is so hard to make a profit. IN addition to the challenges of selling them, retailers can return them, unlike books, and that can be really financially punishing.
Sorry to be a wet blanket. :(
Launching a new magazine is the worst business ever ever ever ever. Ever.
My advice to anyone thinking of doing so: Don't. (Ever.)
We have nine glossy magazines in our local portfolio as well as our newspaper and websites. Our most profitable magazines are glossy wrap and newsprint core and are 90% classified style agate and some articles. I have the advantage of local markets and an effective distribution system to make certain I deliver my margin to my company.
If you are piggybacking on local or national wholesalers, the bar of entry would be pretty high for a niche publication. Your current subscription model works pretty well. Might be durable with other products. Could be another way to monetize your brand.
This was the last start up I was involved in, although I have moved on to another market since its launch.
My $.02 from the mass market side of media management. Bummer about Amazing!
I would love it (my life schedule is such that I can fit in short fiction better than full novels unless it's an audiobook), but I fully realize that on the practical side, it ain't gonna happen.
Maybe it could be done online - reading fiction online isn't wonderful, but shorter fiction might not be as bad, or as audiobook podcasts. Again, on the practical side it's most likely not worth it, but some new serialized sword and planet stuff, as well as short stories, would be really fun. Being forced to only get a story in installments (if done well) can really be a fun community experience. Ah well, I can dream, can't I? :)
tadkil
(Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Tales, GameMastery Maps Subscriber; Planet Stories Subscriber)
I would love it (my life schedule is such that I can fit in short fiction better than full novels unless it's an audiobook), but I fully realize that on the practical side, it ain't gonna happen.
Maybe it could be done online - reading fiction online isn't wonderful, but shorter fiction might not be as bad, or as audiobook podcasts. Again, on the practical side it's most likely not worth it, but some new serialized sword and planet stuff, as well as short stories, would be really fun. Being forced to only get a story in installments (if done well) can really be a fun community experience. Ah well, I can dream, can't I? :)
You know, I would subscribe to this. I think this management team has its hands full for a bit though.
PFRPG must be a huge project.
I certainly respect their frank honesty with us on this topic though. Its one of the things I love about Paizo--integrity.
If some sort of short fiction publication were possible, I'd be chomping at the bit to work on it. Unfortunately, though, it just doesn't mesh with our current business model. (That model being: "make things + sell things = stay in business"... short fiction magazines have a lot of trouble with that one. : P). That said, we do have the Pathfinder's Journal in Pathfinder, which is serialized fiction, and you can expect to see some short story anthologies with various themes in Planet Stories' future. For now, if you want short fiction, I highly recommend checking out Black God's Kiss, Elak of Atlantis, or Northwest of Earth... and stay tuned!
tadkil
(Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Tales, GameMastery Maps Subscriber; Planet Stories Subscriber)
If some sort of short fiction publication were possible, I'd be chomping at the bit to work on it. Unfortunately, though, it just doesn't mesh with our current business model. (That model being: "make things + sell things = stay in business"... short fiction magazines have a lot of trouble with that one. : P). That said, we do have the Pathfinder's Journal in Pathfinder, which is serialized fiction, and you can expect to see some short story anthologies with various themes in Planet Stories' future. For now, if you want short fiction, I highly recommend checking out Black God's Kiss, Elak of Atlantis, or Northwest of Earth... and stay tuned!
U rock. Tuned in.