SBS Magazine: Discussion Thread

[Shaun]

Well, the official title of the YWO magazine is "Survival By Storytelling". That means we're getting closer to really getting this thing going. Here is where you can discuss the magazine. Have questions? Concerns? Requests? Tell us!

Also, we'll have our checklist of things that have to be done for you all the peruse at your leisure.

--Title (COMPLETE)
--Logo
--Guidelines (Partially Complete: http://www.youngwritersonline.net/showthread.php?t=936)
--Open Submissions
--Get Artwork For First Cover
--Figure Out Printing Process
--Figure Out How to Convert to PDF Properly
--Set Up Contests For First Issue
--Other Ideas Coming Later

[Nyx]

I think it'd be good to have a chat discussion too? Maybe you could set a time for everyone to come to the chatroom and discuss it. ^^

[Shaun]

Saturdays are the best days :P. We could just do it in the normal chat time.

[Nyx]

Oh yea, I forgot about those chats:blush:

[Zombified]

I sure as hell am sending my work in.

Hell I'll send in three different stories if you let me.

[Rafael Domination]

Are series alright?

[Shaun]

Already answer that Raf :P.
Only one story at a time and stories that are connected are fine, but nothing that would need to be broken up in multiple issues. I think we need to get through a few issues before we start doing that.

[Rafael Domination]

so....'no to be continued' stories that are meant to make the audience buy the next mag to find out what happened next?

[Shaun]

Not at this time, sorry.

[blue phoenix]

Oh Shaun,
I had an Idea for the cover! We should combined everyones avatars it might look plain but cool:cool: !

[Imelda]

That would be quite a good idea, Blue, but we're only printing in b+w for now.

I'm on the printing process, but it's tough, so if anyone knows how to easily print a booklet, let me know. :p

I think converting to PDF should be easy. I have a free program that does it, I'll send it to you tonight, Shaun.

[Shaun]

It's a good idea, blue phoenix, but we can't legally do that. A lot of you have avatars from TV shows, etc. and we don't own the copyrights. Since we don't own the copyrights or have permission to use those images for commercial purposes we can't put it on the cover without getting sued.

[Lykaios]

We could all draw our own avatars that represent ourselves/stories maybe?

[Shaun]

That's a possibility.

[jordanisonfire]

Or maybe not. Consider that less than half the people on this site can do art.

[Shaun]

Well I think it would be interesting for the first issue to be someone's interpretation of a whole bunch of us all together. You know? Something cartoony and fun.

[Starry]

Maybe you could use that caricatures thing that you're trying to get going as the picture as well?

[Carraka]

Cover:

Pick a submission and illustrate it?

[Shaun]

That's what I was thinking starryskyes. Then for future covers we could just have people submit stuff for it. The logo will be the only thing that probably stays steady, although I don't see why we can have a couple logos to work with and switch it up.

[Shaun]

Alright, so here are some new ideas I've been thinking about. Since it was brought up in the chat that a contest for SF is too specific, I figure we can have two contests instead of one for the first issue.
One contest could be a very open one with maybe some sort of basic prompt (write a story about dogs, for example) and the other could be more genre specific (i.e. write a sf, fantasy, or horror story about a such and such theme, or prompt...though perhaps not genre specific, but maybe something more theme specific...like "technology gone wrong", which doesn't necessarily require any specific genre if you think about it).
Then we'd have a poetry contest, since that's only fair for you poets out there.

Any objections or thoughts?

[GeorgeMichael]

That sounds good Shaun :)

Any ideas yet on what the contest might be about, or are we going to discuss that maybe next Saturday in the chat?

Also, what's our estimate goal for the first issue.

I think if we had a date that we could pretend that we're attempting to reach it could give us some oomph to increase productivity on stuff like the logo, and stuff like that. Maybe I'm sounding like some horrible motivational speaker but I really think dates and a little push help people :)

[Shaun]

Well I'd like to have to logo in the next couple weeks. I think I'll open up submissions for the magazine in the second week of June. The reason being I'm in the middle of one of the worst quarters I've ever had right now and I just can't handle reading anything else.
I might not be here on Saturday so I don't know if I can do the chat, but Imelda will likely handle it for me because she's freaking awesome. I don't know what themes yet. I sort of like that idea for "technology gone wrong", provided I premise it by saying that technology can mean ANY technology, even ancient stuff like the aqueducts, or maybe the dawn of the automobile, or even future technology, whatever it may be. It sounds like an interesting premise if people really take it on.
So I'll set some dates I guess:

5/25/08 -- All submissions of logos must be in.
6/8/08 -- Submission open for poetry and fiction. Also is open for artwork for the first cover.


Any other deadlines I need? I don't have a deadline for when submissions should be in or when the issue will come out because it all depends on what is sent. If you all send me really bad stories we won't fill it at all :P (I doubt all the writing will be bad...there are always a few gems in there :P)

[Shaun]

Just an update to you all, there are now two threads up. One is for suggesting prompt ideas for the contests and the other is for the logo contest. So get to it!

[Lykaios]

Can I steal my name (Spattered Ink) back please? I have something I could use it for. :)

[Shaun]

Umm, no. I want it.

PM me. I was sort of joking, but I'd like to talk to you about it anyway :P.

[Imelda]

I'd like to register a complaint. I was working on a logo, but the contest closed while I didn't have net access. Which sucks. :)

[Shaun]

Is anyone in the same position? I only gave one week for the contest, so if anyone else is nearly finished with a logo I will consider allowing it in on the poll if you can get it to me by the end of the week.

[Crocolyle]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b370/gammaraypartyhat/Bottle.jpg

I drew this, but I'm not entering it--inability to draw and an inability to scan :(

Though it's odd how there's a quill or a bottle of ink in all the logos submitted. I think it's very distressing.

[Shaun]

Not all the logos and quills or ink bottles. Carr's doesn't. Hers is like a weird meat stamp :P, which is really cool to me, and I think George or Guessed or someone has this weird School of Rock thing going on. I get why there are quills and ink bottles though.

[Carraka]

What could that weird jagged thing behind SBS in my logo possibly be? Could it be ... a quill? Oh my ...

In an unrelated topic:

I'm pretty sure this would be okay, but I'll just ask here anyway. If I fail to come up with some short story ideas, would it be possible for me to submit something based on the world in which I've already written EC, or would I run into publishing problems (if I want the actual novel to be published)?

[Shaun]

No, there are no publishing issues if you write something set in the same world.

[Majyk]

Okay, I've got a question. I don't really know if I'll submit or be able to submit anything (got to talk to my mom about it if I decide to :P), but I've just been wondering and've finally remembered to post my question:

Do you have to write something specifically for the YWO mag., or can it be something you already have? And can it have been read by people on other sites and stuff?

[Shaun]

It does NOT have to be anything you specifically wrote to post on YWO or specifically wrote to submit to the magazine. It can be ANYTHING you've written so long as it has not been published in any other magazine or print/electronic medium that counts as a publication credit. You can use stuff that is on other sites provided you make sure it is deleted. This is important. It HAS to be removed from any other site to be considered. Okay? Don't think we won't find it neither :P.

And if you mom has any questions please let me know. I'd be happy to discuss things with her. She gets to read the contract too, after all, and can help make the decision if it's right for you. The good news is that if you got accepted you could use the SBS Mag as an actual publication credit :P.

[Majyk]

Thanks :). I most definitely would delete it. It's sitting collecting cyber dust on the 3rd page in TW, so not doing much good for me there :P.

I'm pretty sure my mom'd let me. I've already mentioned it to her, I'd just have to fill her in more completely I think, but thanks for offering :).

[Shaun]

No problem! I do wish we didn't have to get parents involved, but I was doing more research last night and learned the real reason why we have to have parents sign for minors: minors do not have contractability (which basically means that LEGALLY a minor cannot sign a contract). The exclusion of parents would therefore mean we would be taking advantage of you. You would be giving us your work but because you can't legally sign a contract without a parent or guardian we are under no obligation to honor that contract. You see what I mean? I'd rather not have to deal with the problems that can create if someone gets pissed that we reject them or something...

[Shaun]

By the way, in case you don't know: SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN!
Go to the guidelines, which is stickied in the Common Room and submit something! New, old, doesn't matter. I want to see your material!

[Rouge]

You can use stuff that is on other sites provided you make sure it is deleted. This is important. It HAS to be removed from any other site to be considered. Okay? Don't think we won't find it neither :P.

So it has to be taken off another site, such as TW?
Okay, I can do that. ^^

[Shaun]

Yup. Also, submissions are sent to an email. It is in the guidelines. Pay attention to the guidelines specific to your type of submission to make sure you use the right subject line in your email.

Anyone wishing to contact me more directly is free to use my MSN, which should be in my profile.

[Shaun]

We've received two fiction submissions thus far people! Where the heck are all the poets? I know you're out there, so submit! I already know of a whole bunch of poems I want that are already posted here, but I can't tell you which ones because that would be cheating. Submit poetry! And more fiction! And maybe a one act play!

[Shaun]

I found a loophole everyone. I realize it is a difficult thing for a lot of you to submit to the magazine due to that whole contract thing. So I did some research and figured out a way to do this that is as legal as we can get it without all of you being forced to ask your parents for signatures.

You may DONATE your work to the magazine. What this means is that you submit and tell us that you are giving us the piece if we want to publish it.
YWO makes this promise: We WILL NOT use your work for anything other than the magazine in its print and pdf forms. We will not steal it, use it for any other purpose, etc.
This means anyone can now submit to the magazine. ANYONE. Doesn't matter your age. All you have to do is put in your email that you are donating your work upon acceptance. Donating means you won't get payment unless you have a paypal account or we might consider using a postal money order, which requires your address at the very least. It's also possible we can opt for you to receive your funds via Amazon Gift Cards, although I think there is a $10 limit to that. Just ask us. We can figure that out.

So anyone wanting to submit, can. We would rather you opted for the contract option, but we understand your position.

Thanks all and submit!

[Shaun]

Progress Report

Submissions: 3 Fiction, 3 Poetry
Rejections: 2 Fiction, 3 Poetry
Acceptances: 0 Fiction, 0 Poetry
Rewrite Request: 1 Fiction (needed reformatting, but it was interesting while I was able to read it)
Submissions in Queue: 0 Fiction, 0 Poetry (because you guys aren't sending me anything. There is an enormous backlog of fiction and poetry on this site alone, many of which I know for a fact are good and I would take...why you're not sending them to me is beyond me...:P).

So, keep me busy folks!

[Imelda]

Apparently I don't get a say in who gets rejected ...

Don't bother bribing me, go straight to Shaun!

[Shaun]

I would appreciate it if you would voice these things to me directly, because I thought we had an understanding about things...but if I'm mistaken I would like to be told directly so we can work it out...

[Shaun]

I'm officially closing this thread since we have our own section for discussion. Feel free to write and discuss the mag. You can ask questions too :P.