Workshopping and ABCtales

"As has been thrashed out in the other forum, highlighting quality does not make for elitism it gives the site credibility." 'Elitism' and 'highlighting quality' go hand-in-hand - they're just variants on 'paying special attention to what/who we think is best'. You can't fully reconcile the twin aims of promoting ABC as a podium of excellence and, at the same time, as a Mecca for writers of all abilites, because there'll always be those who take umbrage to certain things being overrated. I'm not saying that's a reason or rationale against the magazine idea, but it is something to keep in mind - the more the site seems, to the newcomer, like a purveyor of top drawer literature, the less inviting it is to beginners. The more it seems like a 'come one, come all' site, the less attractive it will be to those with high standards. Which suggests to me that you might want to use the site front page itself as the draw for new writers, and publicise the magazine through a separate outlet - say, give it its own site, which can be linked to through ABC, and vice versa, but which would be presented, on Google and elsewhere, as an elitist/quality online publication. Yah? Not sure I agree about 'responsible flagging'. I flag work I think more people should read, as well as work I want to discuss - I doubt everyone reads through every piece, and I often use the discuss writing forum to lead me to pieces. The only fault I'd pick on with the magazine idea is this: there are a few writers here who plainly can't fail to make repeated appearances in any such compilation. That *is* gonna look like a case of 'publishing your mates' to outsiders with a critical eye - like any magazine with mainstay contributors. Other than that - and it's not a big criticism - I think it can only be good for ABC.

Making a repeated appearance in a magazine is a good thing. I practice it religiously. Most periodicals have a regular set of contributers/columnists. To get a regular spot in a magazine is the goal. For any legitimate publication, it's not about "publishing your mates", it's about consistency and quality. People have favorite writers and expect to see what they are on about in the next issue. Visit me http://www.radiodenver.org/

Ah now, Mykle. You did say we should be realistic didn't you. Monthly would be ample I'm sure. Yes and I do volunteer to help. I think it's a fine idea.

:O)

http://www.freewebs.com/michaeljamestreacy/index.htm Just giving out cherries must get so boring for the giverouterers. They should have the option of awarding different types of fruit. For instance... a top-rated erotic story could be awarded a stonking, big banana or a pair of juicy pears.

Things are coming together on this front. Watch this space - or at least, not this space, but some space on this site which is not currently filled.

"To get a regular spot in a magazine is the goal." Eh? It's not mine. "For any legitimate publication, it's not about "publishing your mates", it's about consistency and quality." This is true, though it's funny how most legitimate publications find, to their great surprise, no doubt, that the two involve pretty much the same practice. Or maybe I'm wrong and it's just that editors and writers tend to become friends *after* publication. "People have favorite writers and expect to see what they are on about in the next issue." You're using the term 'writers' to mean journalists again, aren't you? Apples and oranges. I can't think of many writing magazines with readers who buy it for the contributions of a particular poet. And I do think if a name turns up in every issue of a magazine, the tendency is to think that this person has skipped the editorial process. If several names turn up every time, it begins to look like a cabal of self-promoters. Of course, it's hard to help this if you're a small magazine, and happen to know a lot of people whose write consistently well, but an editor should at least *pursue* variety.

It's always a good thing for the writers and editors involved with a publication to be on good terms. Writers tend to get fired if they aren't. I don't know what magazines you read, but a quick glance at the magazine rack at the local drug store will show you that virtually every publication has a staff of writers. Unless the writer is top-shelf with god-like status, they answer to the editors. Many magazines take freelance work, but even then, many freelance writers float from publication to publication. We're not just talking journalism, we're talking commercial publishing. Try cracking that nut and not having your act together as a writer...you'll be a reader and that's all. Visit me http://www.radiodenver.org/

Journalism, commerical publishing, whatever - you're still not talking about writing magazines. These are a whole different kettle of fish. Most of the small ones only have *one* continuous contributor - the editor. The bigger ones have a small staff of editors and designers. The writers who make up the content of the magazine are nearly always a completely different batch to last month. But then again, few of them have actually 'cracked the nut' of commerical publishing, and instead rely on art council grants - so maybe they should listen to you and publish the same writers each time.

Writing is writing. Pick a subject, any subject.... Visit me http://www.radiodenver.org/

No. There's writing and there's creative writing. After all, I'm paid to 'write' customers' details onto an application form and to 'write' relevant information about them on file. That doesn't make me a professional writer. In any case, that's beside the point. Writing magazines don't have a regular staff of writers. People don't buy them to read the same person's work each time. Sorry.

Well Jon, as usual, you talk like you know, but you don't. Ever hear of The Saturday Evening Post? Probably the most significant writers magazine I can think of. Ever hear of Richard Armour? Probably not. How about Charlotte Armstrong? Very successful writers, appeared numerous times in The Saturday Evening Post. I'm talking "creative writing" I could dredge up about 400 writers that have appeared in many magazines as regulars...but somehow, I think with your limited understanding of the world, you'd rather just argue with me. Did you learn anything in school? Visit me http://www.radiodenver.org/