ABCtales Online Monthly Magazine

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Mon, 2006-07-03 09:31

Anonymous

ABCtales Online Monthly Magazine

I'm pleased to announce that the Magazine idea proposed on the forums a short while ago has been given the nod by Tony.

The plan is to produce a monthly downloadable (and printable) publication showcasing the best of the writing we have on ABCtales. It will most likely be twelve to fourteen pages in length and contain two or three stories, and about half a dozen poems (set to vary depending on the pieces' length). It will also feature a 'writer of the month' each issue, and provide useful writing web links.

The first issue (August 2006), will include the very best work ever seen on ABCtales, as voted by its members. Everyone can nominate up to five pieces (any mixture of stories, poetry, etc.) either by posting them on this thread, or by emailing me at ben@abctales.com or through the contact tab of my profile.

The writers of the pieces voted into the magazine will be contacted and asked for permission and a (voluntary) short bio. For this reason, I'd like to receive all suggestions for issue one by 14 July in order that it can all be put together in time for an August launch.

A few other things:

Cover art required!

If any of you ABCtalers are also artists / photographers, and wish to submit some original work for cover art, please email it to me.

Payment!

Not at this stage, I'm afraid. However, as you know, ABCtales is a large website that's growing all the time. Stories / poems of the week frequently get hundreds and hundreds of reads, and the magazine will provide even more exposure for those included.

Objectivity!

I am determined that the content of this magazine will not be based on who's friends with who; who's been around the longest; or any other such nonsense. ABCtales members will nominate pieces and everyone has an equal opportunity to do so.

Cheers
Ben..

Mon, 2006-07-03 09:58

camus

Magazine sounds like it is going to be great, (and hard work) Ok, picking up to 5 favs was not easy, but I chose these from my bookmarks (in no particular order) http://www.abctales.com/tanis/a-typical_love_story http://www.abctales.com/node/506960 http://www.abctales.com/node/510264 http://www.abctales.com/node/502666 My number 5 is sadly no longer on so just 4 for me.

Mon, 2006-07-03 12:06

poetjude

I would like to second Camus' choice - this is my favourite Enzo story http://www.abctales.com/node/502666 I was horrified to see Fergal has taken her work from the site as 'Holy Night' would have been my second story nomination. I'd like to recommend Styxbroox ... http://www.abctales.com/node/500693 ...pure brilliance Now to poetry. As this is really issue 1 - I think we can forgive ourselves for delving into the past, but I guess as the magazine moves along the contents will become more current. My first nomination http://www.abctales.com/story/chant/nathaniel But many others 'Camden Cemetary' by Ely Whitely or 'Moth' by Fish or ' 'Werner Herzog Helped Joaquin Phoenix From a Car Wreck' by Rokkitnite have been showcased elsewhere ('London at Dawn', Fish's Chapbook and ABC PoTW respectively) and I'm chewing over which pieces I think deserve a second airing... watch this space ...

Mon, 2006-07-03 13:26

mykle

I second Jude's choice of http://www.abctales.com/node/500693 - inspired!

Mon, 2006-07-03 14:02

maddan

These have always stuck in my head: http://www.abctales.com/node/508922 http://www.abctales.com/node/501378 http://www.abctales.com/node/520356 and there were some others, but they've been removed.

Mon, 2006-07-03 14:20

poetjude

My penultimate choice is this beaut by Challen http://www.abctales.com/story/challen/the-growth-of-malcolm I think the child's voice is genuine, convincing and the poem narrates a childhood story of warmth... Like much interesting and original work this went by on discuss ABCTales writing forum with just a couple of comments on the flag which I thought a bit insulting. My only hesitation is the lineation. We need this magazine to be full of indisputably top quality pieces and I feel this needs one more revision before inclusion... Challen, are you out there?

Mon, 2006-07-03 14:35

poetjude

My fifth and final nomination is by Gilbert (I just MUST buy his book) http://www.abctales.com/story/gilbert/ouroboros I think Gilbert's poetry is enduring, probably because it is the craft of a talented wordsmith rather than a flashy fashionista. His poetry always keeps you reading, searching for more and panning the river for those golden nuggets you might have missed at the first sitting. He manages to acomplish this without resorting to forced imagery that sounds 'gobby' or uses trendy shibboleths. This one is my favourite on the site 'abacus of days' is an image with an incredibly high visual impact. The whole poem has a lovely flow to it....seems to pull the reader along in a kind of inevitable sadness.

Mon, 2006-07-03 14:52

poetjude

I know that I've had my 5 noiminations but this is a nomination for an editorial piece rather than a creative inclusion http://www.abctales.com/node/552245 I think this essay on poetry by Jack Cade is exactly the kind of thing that folk who read poetry/short story mags would be interested in!

Mon, 2006-07-03 19:40

camus

Ohhh, Maddan you picked Satchel, I knew I was forgetting something!

Wed, 2006-07-05 11:25

#10

Juliet OC

My nominations for the magazine The Hole by Maddan http://www.abctales.com/node/550978 I second or third not sure In English by Purple Haze I second the growth of Malcolm by Challen I wanted to nominate The Bench by Fergal but page not found so i will come back later with my other 2. Juliet

Juliet

Wed, 2006-07-05 11:27

#11

Juliet OC

I second Maddan's choice Her London bed Juliet

Juliet

Thu, 2006-07-06 02:05

#12

fergal

I'm thinking properly about this one. Satchel by Andrew Pack and That's what an owl would do by Enzo are two of my favourites... and Dan's one he read out at the last reading = was it 'Holes'...? The one about the professor killed by a shark. My own stuff hasn't been taken off forever. Just having a tidy up and edit as lots of it didn't survive the upgrade and needed perfecting. Will post most up over this week. Any of Span's poems also are my favourite. But will look over stuff to find my favouites.

Thu, 2006-07-06 10:04

#13

Enzo v2.0

This is the Dan story Fergal was referring to: http://www.abctales.com/story/maddan/statistics Many thanks to all who habve nominated so far, both here and by email. Keep 'em coming!

Thu, 2006-07-06 23:46

#14

maddan

It's been fun trying and remember old stories, I would have nominated Hitchaiku's Ana Dali, Liana's prague diaries, or d.beserthwick's Click Beetles, but they've all been removed. I've got two left so I think Drew's Bodily Parts deserves a nomination http://www.abctales.com/node/508923 although I notice the formating's gone to buggery also, maybe someone else can remember, at the first abctales event I went to, a bloke who's name I have shamefully forgotten read a story that opened with the line "there are no fish in the canal" (or something very like that). I'll nominate that if anyone can remember what it is.

Fri, 2006-07-07 18:22

#15

Brooklands

I tried to find D. Beswetherick Click Beetles too. But to no avail... And where's Fergal's stuff! Joe

Fri, 2006-07-07 19:53

#16

maddan

I have changed my mind anyway, I want to nominate phase2's gorgeous diary piece August 9th http://www.abctales.com/node/530289 and that's my five.

Fri, 2006-07-07 20:52

#17

neilmc

http://www.abctales.com/node/515800 I have to nominate something by D.Beswetherick, unfortunaely the choice is now rather limited.

Fri, 2006-07-07 21:02

#18

2Lou

Just realised that I'm off in a few hours for two weeks and haven't nominated anything... erm erm erm... Def. Just a Girl on Fire's Moth and Enzo's What an Owl would Do There was one that always stuck in my mind about a husband in a wheelchair and his wife's dinner party that no-one showed up to. Can't think what it's called or who it was by, does that help? Ah, no. Thought not. Gotta dash..... byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

~
www.fabulousmother.co.uk

Tue, 2006-07-11 18:13

#19

Enzo v2.0

Big thanks to all who have nominated so far on this thread and by email. You've got till the end of Friday (14th) if you haven't nominated already. Ben

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