Timitius Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder |
Tim you are using that familiars article that I submitted (but wasn't used) for 5 right?
Also Tim I think you've made some great choices thus far, any slow down in the stream of submissions isn't your fault, but I suspect that the even numbered zines are getting less interest because they're not being printed and not being handed out at paizoCon.
I will need to review that article again. I need to give articles that stick to the theme a first-shot, and then fill with non-theme articles. I will be adding "the leftovers" from #5 to my stack to consider for #6.
And thanks for the kind words...I certainly try to make good choices that can improve Wayfinder. Increased advertising is one. Better web presence is another. I have lots of ideas, and I am always looking for more...
As for the popularity of the odd issues over the even ones...I don't really get it. Those PaizoCon issues only see 500 printed copies. This is quite a bit less than the number of downloads Paizo.com sees for each issue. And usually every person who gets a hardcopy ALSO downloads the PDF. I guess it's the thrill of being printed in a limited run?
(shrug)
Snorter |
I think the problem is that a lot of stuff goes down, between the Paizocon issue, and the deadline for the winter issue.
I certainly had it on my todo list, as soon as I saw the advert in the pdf, but then came Paizocon UK, and school holidays, and it pushes the thought to the back of your mind.
In my case I also had family holiday, my birthday, wedding anniversary, wife's birthday, in addition to some decorating, finding workmen to fix my roof, on top of the normal day-to-day stuff.
Ask A Succubus Journalist |
So, the deadline has passed, and it is time to see what this batch looks like!
I have to say this, however...we made this call for submissions back in JUNE, when PaizoCon started. I truly thought that by getting the word out early, I'd have a nice stack of submissions by the deadline. But....I did not.
Now, I DO have a nice stack right now, BUT, it's largely due to a small group of fans who took it upon themselves to answer the call when I mentioned that I really wasn't getting any submissions to make the 'zine. That small group submitted upwards of 3-4 articles each.
SO, MANY BIG THANK YOUS to those prolific writing fans!
But that also requires me to question if making the early call for submission is even worth the effort....comments on that?
IMO, it has become painfully obvious that Wayfinder NEEDS a website. And our call for submissions NEEDS to be put out there on more gaming and writing websites, blogs, forums, and Shelyn knows wherever else, so that we aren't begging for articles.
(edited, artistically rearranged)
Disclaimer:The following constitutes the view of a CE aligned demonic journalist at the end of a long hard day. It has been toned down several notches. Lucy Fury isn't available to comment since Ask A Succubus Censor has suppressed her on the grounds of probable fire-hazard.
Dear Mr. Evil Editor,
It would be insincere of a succubus to apologise, so I'll save us both the bother and won't, but shouldn't you have perhaps been more vigorous in promoting your efforts? Between the 23rd June and the 26th September, you made one post (on the 12th September), which is Sloth of almost Runelordic proportions (although obviously much short of what can be ironically referred to as demonic 'standards').
A new website is an absolutely fantastic idea from a state-of-splendid-isolation point of view. Mini private-kingdoms where you make the rules and can do whatever you want are all tremendous fun, but (to sound a note of caution) why do you think so many tycoons (and villains of other shades) have villa retreats on remote islands? It's not because they want to make themselves more prominent.
I'll skip over the manifesto regarding fiction writers you sketch out in your second post of this thread. I quite understand and approve.
However, if you are commonly given to muddling the name of the patron of the arts, Shelyn, I am unsurprised if you meet with only limited success. Even her legendary tolerance and patience have some limits. I had to correct your post quoted above to avoid risking offending her by proxy.
Trusting that this post has given you some food for thought.
Yours,
Ask A Succubus Journalist.
Further Disclaimer:
Oh, what's the point? If you saw the first one, you should have realised by now exactly How Seriously The Views of A Quite Important tanar'ri media temptress Must Be Taken. ;)
Shadowborn |
And usually every person who gets a hardcopy ALSO downloads the PDF. I guess it's the thrill of being printed in a limited run?
(shrug)
Well, there's always the chance that the print copy meets an unfortunate demise (a chance that grows significantly with pets and/or small children in residence). Best to have the pdf as a back-up, just in case.
Boxhead Contributor |
I know I definitely had the seed planted in June, but just had too much on my plate for the summer, so everything fell to August/September for me to work on this. Putting the word out in the last issue of Wayfinder was a great idea, I hope it helps the quality, if not the quantity, of articles.
I agree that you will see more interest in the dead-tree versions, there's just something satisfying in printed matter. I think a seperate website could work, but you would need more than a twice-a-year fanzine to draw interest to the site. Far better (IMO), would be a subsection of the Paizo boards (maybe for Paizo Fans United and include the Chronicler folks too).
Definitely poke the folks at Paizo a week or two before the deadline to drum up attention. I suspect they'd be happy to help with a blog post for you.
Snorter |
I do believe there's confusion over whether one is allowed to submit early, and get the chance to make changes, or whether your submission is a one-time-only deal (like RPG Superstar).
So people hang onto their idea for as long as they can, to make it perfect, then miss the chance to submit it at all.
If there were a place to post your work in progress, get feedback, and tweak to make it better, while still naming and claiming the initial pitch as your own baby, that would help some people, but it could ruin the surprise of the final product.
Timitius Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder |
By no means is it ever a one-shot submission like RPG Superstar. You can submit your article at any time up until the deadline. If you submit early, and then discover that you really want to tweak it, then you can resubmit it up until that final week. Also, by submitting it earlier, you have a better chance of getting feedback from an editor...so if it needs significant work, there is a very good chance that I will send it back to you with some comments. So, instead of getting it rejected outright after the deadline, you have a very good chance to turn it around and make it better!
When I hit the last week until the deadline, I start pulling up the submissions to get an early start on them, and get them off to editors ahead of schedule.
Also, there IS a place to post your FICTION work, get feedback, and tweak it to improve it...Pathfinder Chroniclers. THAT is why the Chronicler group is going to be the place that Wayfinder gets its fiction for Wayfinder #7 and on. I WANT people to write and have fun, and get that important feedback to become better writers. We are building a community here, folks. ;-)
I am often finding that not all fans know to check the messageboards for the Wayfinder threads. Yes, having a separate sub-forum would be handy, but I suspect there is some trickiness involved with that...it probably isn't as easy as we expect.
Also, how many of you were aware that we have a Facebook page, where we regularly post our announcements? That was sort of our "quick fix" for not having a website, since FB has...oh, a couple million people on it. If the Facebook page could sort of become the best place to follow Wayfinder updates, then I'd be happy.
And then, a Wayfinder website with a forum for discussions would be awfully nice, wouldn't it? Gee, if I only knew people who would be willing to help set that sort of thing up.....
However, that would be yet ANOTHER messageboard/forum to log in to and keep checking....if people don't do that with Paizo's messageboard, or with our FB page, then why would we expect them to do it at a Wayfinder forum?
Stuff to think about....
Timitius Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder |
Timitius I was wondering when the next Wayfinder submission would start.
Wayfinder #7 call for submissions will likely start when Wayfinder #6 is released. So, mid-December. Deadline will tentatively be mid-March, giving approx. 3 months for people to writing (and draw).
Snorter |
By no means is it ever a one-shot submission like RPG Superstar. You can submit your article at any time up until the deadline. If you submit early, and then discover that you really want to tweak it, then you can resubmit it up until that final week. Also, by submitting it earlier, you have a better chance of getting feedback from an editor...
Then I think that needs to be made more prominent; I've talked to my home group about it, for years, but only one person has submitted.
The rest don't consider themselves experienced enough, in the rules or in writing, to consider applying.I'm sure there's lots of good articles out there, that don't get to be seen, as their owners think they're in competition with 'thousands' of other entrants (no, don't laugh), or can't match the skills of some imagined hard core of messageboard regulars.
I've explained that you probably get, at best, twice as many entries as finished articles, and that every one of those experts (whether that be professional writers, like Kevin, or those that made the jump to Paizo staff, like Liz), that they suppose are out of their league, started as a fan sat round their gaming table, thinking "What if...?".
Kevin Andrew Murphy Contributor |
Timitius wrote:By no means is it ever a one-shot submission like RPG Superstar. You can submit your article at any time up until the deadline. If you submit early, and then discover that you really want to tweak it, then you can resubmit it up until that final week. Also, by submitting it earlier, you have a better chance of getting feedback from an editor...Then I think that needs to be made more prominent; I've talked to my home group about it, for years, but only one person has submitted.
The rest don't consider themselves experienced enough, in the rules or in writing, to consider applying.I'm sure there's lots of good articles out there, that don't get to be seen, as their owners think they're in competition with 'thousands' of other entrants (no, don't laugh), or can't match the skills of some imagined hard core of messageboard regulars.
I've explained that you probably get, at best, twice as many entries as finished articles, and that every one of those experts (whether that be professional writers, like Kevin, or those that made the jump to Paizo staff, like Liz), that they suppose are out of their league, started as a fan sat round their gaming table, thinking "What if...?".
Correct.
I remember years ago, when I was in college, I submitted an article to Dragon. Not counting my handwritten manuscript when I was fifteen (which was returned with an explanation that they only took typewritten manuscripts), this was my first submission.
I remember being at DunDraCon, talking with Larry DiTillio, and mentioned how I didn't have any credits, etc., but the editors didn't know I was eighteen so I decided I would impersonate a professional and send things in properly typed and--
He then cut me off and corrected me, saying, "No, you were a professional."
Larry's right. Being a professional isn't a list of sales and publications. It's submitting a good manuscript in proper manuscript form with whatever other requirements the editors want. (Tim, for example, wants electronic manuscripts in MS Word. I personally can't stand Word, but WordPerfect can save a final draft in that format, so that's what I submit.)
By the way, I ended up selling that article to Dragon too.
Charles Evans 25 |
Correct.
I remember years ago, when I was in college, I submitted an article to Dragon. Not counting my handwritten manuscript when I was fifteen (which was returned with an explanation that they only took typewritten manuscripts), this was my first submission.
I remember being at DunDraCon, talking with Larry DiTillio, and mentioned how I didn't have any credits, etc., but the editors didn't know I was eighteen so I decided I would impersonate a professional and send things in properly typed and--
He then cut me off and corrected me, saying, "No, you were a professional."
Larry's right. Being a professional isn't a list of sales and publications. It's submitting a good manuscript in proper manuscript form with whatever other requirements the editors want. (Tim, for example, wants electronic manuscripts in MS Word. I personally can't stand Word, but WordPerfect can save a final draft in that format, so that's what I submit.)
By the way, I ended up selling that article to Dragon too.
Hah! You remind me of Neil Spicer in that like him you apparently can't see just how good and how so much better than just about everyone else you actually are. I'm pretty certain that if I'd submitted something to Dragon I wouldn't have been accepted the first time I tried it in the appropriate format... :D
However, I salute both your skill and your (however unwitting) modesty. :)Snorter |
I'm pretty certain that if I'd submitted something to Dragon I wouldn't have been accepted the first time I tried it in the appropriate format... :D
However, I salute both your skill and your (however unwitting) modesty. :)
I wonder how many people's letters got fed to 'The No SASE Ogre'?
(And who's willing to show their age, that they know what I'm talking about?)Auziark the Mad |
Stamped envelopes?
Hmmph. We used pteradactyls to deliver our mail (and that was real air mail, let me tell you), and counted ourselves lucky if one in three deliveries didn't get mistaken for fish and eaten. And we had to put up with them folks as thought trilobites were the cutting edge of 'respond please' mail delivery looking down their snouts at us, considering us dangerous young fools toying with things which the supreme being had not ever intended to be used to deliver mail.
You young whipper-snappers with your fancy stamped envelopes have it easy.
Timitius Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder |
Timitius Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder |
Just wanted to bump this thread to the top, and let people know a few things about Wayfinder #6.
1) We are sitting on approximately 41 submissions for the issue. Yes, that's right....41. There are a couple others that are in the "maybe" pile, and those are looking like we'll use them, as well. Only a small number of the submissions were placed in the "no thanks" pile.
Best thing about submitting something to the winter issues? NO. PAGE. LIMIT. We can accept quite a lot of stuff, with no extra printing costs. That's how PDFs work! Think about that for Wayfinder #8, OK?
2) We are still accepting Advertisements. Many 3PP companies have contacted us expressing interest in placing an ad. Thank YOU! I will be following up on those offers here in the first part of November!
And...if you are a 3PP that hasn't contacted Wayfinder, but would still like to get an ad into #6, you still have time. Just contact us!
BTW, all the revenue raised for Wayfinder goes to fund the printing of the odd-numbered issues that are distributed at PaizoCon. Our costs for printing are going to increase quite a bit, because we won't be getting them printed in Mexico anymore. So, everyone's support is GREATLY appreciated!
3) The call for ART submissions is still open, folks. We are looking for ANY of your Pathfinder-inspired art. Got something great on DeviantArt? As long as it hasn't been published in a product (see the guidelines), we're interested in displaying your art in an art gallery type article for Wayfinder #6. So....send in your art!!!
4) We are doing a little change-up in "staffing", so to speak. Due to the HIGH demands for his time and talents, Hugo Solis will not be art wrangling for this issue. Instead, Liz Courts has agreed to step in and herd the art! This leaves a gap in the layout duties, so we are currently following up with some interested parties/new people. So, sort of like musical chairs...except I'm not playing. I will remain seated throughout the game. ;-)
Thanks for reading!
Timitius Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder |
UPDATE: Wayfinder Issue 6 is nearing the finish line! We have 40 accepted submissions, art to go with most of them, and a goodly number of ads from third party publishers. It's all gone to layout, where the magic happens, and out comes a great looking fanzine!
We are aiming to have it up and available before Christmas, so stay tuned.....
Thomas LeBlanc RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 |
Timitius Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder |
UPDATE:
First draft of the layout is done, and now we must review it, proofread, and then make changes. This does mean, however, that we will not be releasing it before Christmas. We made that decision because we'd rather take the extra time to get it juuuuust right, than to rush it through too quickly.
SO....we are now aiming for an "end of the year" release!
I do need to say, though, that this issue is pretty darned impressive. Lots of Ulfden goodness in here! And quite a bit o' fey, too.
Kevin Andrew Murphy Contributor |