Follow this link and read Ellen Datlow's entry.  I couldn't agree with her more.  If you care about these genres and can vote, do so. 

So I kicked off the whole subscription drive by subscribing to Interzone.  When you subscribe to IZ, they start you off by sending over whatever the current issue is.  So being as the next issue is due out in September, I got the current issue (211) really fast, like three days ago.

And folks, this is why you subscribe, to find a magazine you like and can look forward to.  Because IZ is an overseas subscription for me it was a little pricey, but I'm not complaining.  Because I really enjoyed this issue.  It's a Michael Moorcock special, meaning a good chunk of the magazine is focused on this illustrious author.   I haven't really read  these sections yet, but I have read all the stories you would find in a typical issue.

And I enjoyed them all, hence proving you won't always enjoy just a story or two from a magazine and hate everything else.  "Exvisible" by Carlos Hernandez was the epitome of accessible sf, and it stayed thoughtful throughout.  "Deer Flight" by Aliette de Bodard carried a certain fantastical charm that made me keep reading right through the end.  "Elevator Episodes in Seven Genres" by Ahmed A. Khan gave me a solid chuckle.  And "Knowledge" by Grace Dugan is a real mind-bender of a story.  You don't use the term page-turner too often for a shorter work, but this one was.

Oh.  And the cover, interior art, and layout are all bloody gorgeous (hey, this magazine is from the UK, so "bloody" is getting into the spirit of things).  Andy Cox and his team are doing a tremendous job.  I'm already looking forward to the next issue (aside from my story being in there!)  Here's hoping everyone else finds magazines they enjoy as much as I'm enjoying mine.

And remember it's never too late to subscribe! 

As many of you are aware, Electric Velocipede is among the most respected small-press magazines in the speculative community.  The magazine is the brainchild of John Klima, and as both publisher and editor (not to mention marketer, slusher, etc.) the credit goes to John for the magazine's acclaim.  In case any of you think I might be overstating John's accomplishments, he's up for a World Fantasy Award this year.

Anyway, I must confess that I was quite pleased/flattered when John took some time from his busy schedule to contact me and exchange some thoughts regarding the subscription drive.  And after visiting his blog, I thought he offered some very interesting thoughts regarding this topic that everyone should read.  So to those of you who've yet to wander over there, do it now.

Also, I've got to say this is a man who enjoys his short fiction! 

Thirdly,  John mentioned to me that he'll soon be posting a series of entries about starting your own zine.  Two years ago at Readercon I attended a panel of this sort run by Matt Kressel of Sybil's Garage.  Mary Robinette Kowal of Shimmer was there and also offered her thoughts.  I found it hugely interesting.  I'd imagine John will also offer a lot of fascinating tidbits, and I think there are a lot of speculative fans (and writers!) who don't know much about the small-press venues.  Small doesn't necessarily = poor fiction.  Sybil's Garage, Shimmer, and Electric Velocipede are three of the best out there (not to mention other great venues like Talebones, Ideomancer, Flytrap, Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet, and others).  This is an opportunity to learn about one of the most accomplished zines out there, straight from the horse's mouth.  I encourage you all to swing by.  In all the talk/debate I think too many people are overlooking the small press.   Here's a chance to learn why you shouldn't.


Lastly, I'm embarrassed to say that when in my original post I mentioned other recent subscription drives, I completely forgot to mention that John had one too.  It's still going, and it's rather innovative if I do say so myself.  You can read about it in that first link I posted.  But enough from me.  Go read what John has to say!

So it seems a fair # of people have taken the need for this drive to heart.  Cool.  I hope you all find magazines you'll enjoy for years to come.  But as is inevitable, I've noticed a # of offshoot conversations/ideas branching out from my original post.  Nothing wrong with that, but I do want to address some of them:

1) "Short fiction isn't dying.  I've been listening to that for years and it hasn't gone anywhere.  That's not about to change."

It's called a slow death.  Back during the golden age age of the pulps, Weird Tales' circulation never topped 50,000.  Considering that the most successful pulps topped 1,000,000 back in the 20's, 50,000 wasn't exactly an overwhelming number.  Today any of the speculative magazines would be thrilled to have a circulation of 50,000.  People keep hearing about the death of short fiction because the numbers keep dropping.  They won't drop forever.  Eventually there will come a time when the magazines will cease.  Will new ones start?  Probably.  They always seem to.  But very few of them last.  If anyone has solid statistics I'd love to know about them, but once you move beyond small press, how magazines last beyond five years?  Very few.  And there is nothing wrong with small press.  I have friends that run small press magazines, and there are a # of small press magazines I highly respect.  But short fiction should be more than just about small press.  Small press implies that it will only reach so many people.  People have also cited anthologies.  Sure, these will be around too, but no one seems to talk about how anthologies used to be a lot more common as well.  As to online fiction, again, I'm all for it.  And while it is everywhere, how much of it lasts?  How much of it is any good?  How many of them are making $$$?  The answer is very few indeed.  Support the ones that can make a difference.

2) "Besides subscriptions, I think people should also consider making donations to places like Strange Horizons and Ideomancer.  We should also support those places that depend on our donations."

I couldn't agree more.  Check out places like these.  If you enjoy the fiction, drop a little something in the cookie jar.  Wish I thought to mention this in my original post. 

3) "I can go to a great venue like Subterranean and get my fiction for free."

Nothing wrong with that.  It's great that Subterranean is putting out a quality product.  I hope they do it for a long time.  But remember they're using the short fiction to promote their company.  I'm not saying they're going to cancel their short fiction or have plans to cancel it (must beware of the rumor monsters), but just remember that none of us expected Scifiction to have its plug pulled either (except my defunct critique group, who'd discussed this possibility in passing the night before it happened).  If you want to make sure a short fiction venue you enjoy sticks around, you may want to consider subscribing or donating somewhere.       

4) "The editors are picking stories that cater to writers.   The writers are writing stories that cater to other writers."

Do some stories published in some of the magazines appeal more to writers than readers?  It's a fair argument.  But really, just about all of us editors pick stories we like (a lot, quality permitting).  Other than posting our guidelines, editors have no control over what stories the writers send us.   Do some of them writer stories that other writers appreciate more than readers?  Undoubtedly.  But I imagine most writers will tell you they're simply trying to write the best possible story as they know how.  Also, I'm growing rather tired of the argument  that editors need to stop picking what they like and start catering to what the reader likes.  Um, hello?   So what is it we're supposed to do?  Pick stories we don't like?  Trust me when I tell you that if a short fiction editor started going against his/her tastes the magazine would put out an inferior product.

And for the record, the only thing I want when I read a story is to be engaged.  How you engage me can happen any number of ways.  Look at my profile page.  I like all sorts of fantasy stories.  I have never and will never pick a story that I feel caters to writers.  I will pick what is in my estimation the best of the best from the submissions pile.   If it happens to be what some would term a "writerly  story" that can't be helped.  But for me, the most important thing is an enjoyable story.  If you read Realms of Fantasy, I'd be rather curious to know (as would the writers of these stories, I think) which of the stories I've fished out are catering to other writers.

5) "Only other writers are reading these magazines."

An emphatic "No, wrong!" is necessary.  I can't count the number of cover letters I've read that incorporate this line: "I've been a long-time reader of Realms of Fantasy, and now I'm finally trying my hand at writing."   Most of these people remain readers, because the majority of them will only submit a few more stories at most, and poorly written at that.  There is a big difference between a writer and someone who tries his hand at writing.  The Ted Chiangs of the world, i.e. someone who writes very little but always produces something that is both published and well received, are a rare breed.  Most people who write little don't get published, give up after a few rejections, and go back to being strictly readers.  And lots of people will remain long-time readers without even dabbling in writing.  It's a little egocentric to assume that only other writers would subscribe to these magazines.  Not everyone who enjoys speculative fiction makes it their passion.

6) "You can't expect to save the magazines by only having writers subscribe to them."

I don't.  See point # 5.  I think more writers should subscribe, sure, but I've been saying all along that I'd like more speculative fans to subscribe as well.  A lot of them have never tried short speculative fiction.  A % of them will enjoy it if they give it a chance.

7) Some people have made this just about the print magazines.  It's about short fiction in general, and I've said as much from the beginning.

8) "I've tried a few magazines.  They're all the same.  I never enjoy them."

You've tried a few magazines, huh?  And how many novels by different author have you tried?  The editors to short story magazines make their presence felt to readers a lot more than the editors to novels (this is not to say they're more important).  When you try a magazine, you're not only trying the authors that happen to be in that issue, you're trying the editor.  If you've tried 10 different magazines ( a rough #) with different editors and haven't enjoyed any of them, I think it's fair to say short fiction isn't for you.  If you've tried 3  or so different magazines and have come to this conclusion, try another.           

9) "I can just get a Year's Best anthology."

These anthologies provide a wonderful service, but if the short fiction markets dry up it stands to reason these wonderful editors will be hard-pressed to find as many wonderful stories each year.  If anyone can continue to put out such quality I'm sure it's them.  Still, it's something to think about.

10) I don't have a # 10, but 9 is plenty enough!

I thought people might be interested to know I'm not the only person working at a short magazine that likes the idea of this drive.  Here are what some of the other people at magazines are saying:

To read the thoughts of Neil Clarke, publisher of Clarkesworld Magazine and Wyrm Publishing, go here

To read the thoughts of Peter Crowthers & Nick Gevers, publishers and editors of Postscripts and PS Publishing, go here

To read the thoughts of Patrick Swenson, publisher/editor of Talebones and Fairwood Press, go here

The highly respected short story writer, Jim Van Pelt, has also lent his support

As has my agent, Jenny Rappaport of the L. Perkins Agency.  Go here to see for yourself

Ian Randal Strock, editor of SFScope, has also spread the word

And under the comments thread from my initial post, Walt Boyes, Associate Editor/Marketing Director of Jim Baen's Universe, has this to say:

Right on target!

And thanks for the mention.

We started JBU to provide a way to bring authors back to short story writing by paying well...and we believe that if we can get good authors, writing good stories, the readers will come. So far, so good.

We think there is room for lots more people to do the same thing, and we support all magazines, print or digital, that print speculative fiction.

We also offer affiliate links to any interested magazines, so we can share. We are also happy to provide webspace in our emagazine for any interested magazine who will place a print JBU ad. We've done it for F&SF, and we'll do it for anybody who wants us to...

This is about more than making a magazine. This is about saving a genre.

Walt Boyes
Associate Editor/Marketing Director
Jim Baen's Universe magazine
www.baensuniverse.com

If you know of other publishers, editors, established short writers in support of this drive, feel free to post links to their comments here.   That said, all people in support of this drive are encouraged to post here.  And to subscribe!

So it seems my post is spreading pretty quickly.  Cool.  I'm glad that some people have chosen to subscribe somewhere.  But let me say this:

Not everyone agrees with my idea.  And rather than post on each individual blog (I've done so on a few, and it really eats up one's time), let me just say this here: I don't have a problem with anyone disagreeing with me.  You're entitled to your opinions.  One person--someone I respect very much--actually went out of his/her way to email me, making sure that his/her post didn't offend me.  A thoughtful gesture, but quite unnecessary.

Barring a few bad apples, in their heart of hearts most of the people who disagree with this sort of subscription drive would still love to see it succeed.  Because they care about the genre.  None of these people have shouted me down or called me stupid (as far as I know) for starting this whole round of conversations.  In fact, all they've done is share their very enlightened thoughts on the matter, often calling attention as to why the declining numbers in short fiction have become a problem, and maybe what steps we should start taking.

I think that's fantastic.   But I've read posts where people apologize for sharing these thoughts, as if they feel they're being one of the bad guys.  As far as I'm concerned you're only helping what I set out to do in the first place, i.e. make some sort of positive difference about this problem.  I posted this thought on a couple of blogs and I'll post it here as well: The purpose of this subscription drive is more than to just bring in subscriptions.  It's also to call attention to a problem.  When people start examining the problem and saying what needs to be done, you're only helping.  Hopefully these thoughts will spawn further conversations that lead to the next step, whatever that may prove to be.

But anyway, please don't apologize, to me or anyone else (unless you're being a prick).  Those who have chosen to subscribe somewhere are not unthinking slaves of the slushmaster (he said, shifting to third person).  They're smart enough to make their own choice as to whether they wished to subscribe, just as they make choices every day as to what they'll spend their hard-earned $$$ on.  They listened to my argument/plea, decided they agreed, and chose to join the drive.  Great.  If you disagree, fine.  But if you care about the short story market in speculative literature, I hope you'll take a little time to think about what you can do.  If you come up with nothing, fine.  At least you took the time to give it some thought.  Thinking is free.

As an assistant editor for an important magazine in our industry, given my time, means, and $$$, this is what I came up with for the moment.  Maybe someone else can come up with something better.  Nothing would please me more.

Anyway, let me point everyone to some posts from people I highly respect.  They've all made some excellent points:

http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/marketing-short-fiction/#comments

http://nancyfulda.livejournal.com/166475.html?view=484939&style=mine#t484939

http://the-flea-king.livejournal.com/213921.html

All three of these folks (and some that posted in the comments threads) have my appreciation for posting as they have.  They're not hurting this drive.  They're helping the genre by taking the time to share their thoughts and calling further attention to the problem.  None of them are schmucks. :)

Recently I've been debating with the Flea King as to whether this subscription drive can make a difference.  He raises some fair points.  I think I do too.  But the only way to settle this is to report your subscriptions.  Ian Randal Strock, the editor for SFScope, has been nice enough to post about the subscription drive under his news section.  He wants you to report your subscriptions, so we can see how much this is helping.  So if you've already taken out a subscription, please be sure to report it to him.  And again, spread the word.  Let others know they should report their subscriptions, and where.

This is not a subscription drive for Realms of Fantasy.  I repeat: THIS IS NOT A SUBSCRIPTION DRIVE FOR REALMS OF FANTASY.

This is what I'm calling a general subscription drive, specifically for the short story market in speculative literature. 

Every year in Gardner Dozois' Year's Best Science Fiction collection, he does a market breakdown in the introduction.  In this breakdown, he gives the details about the performances for the bigger magazines in the industry.  Yesterday Mercurio D. Rivera was nice enough to email me what Gardner wrote for Realms of Fantasy:

Hey Guys,

Dave Truesdale asked if I would post this on my blog.  I told him sure.  Have a read and spread the word:

If you have already been contacted, please disregard this request.

For all others (and please spread the word), I am conducting a major
SF/F/H survey for all U.S. original short fiction markets (anything
less than novel length) paying at least 1c/wd. Magazines, chapbooks,
small press, book publishers, and ezines originating in the U.S., are
all to be included.

I need to know three things:

1) Payrate (to verify the 1c/wd. requirement only).

2) How many original short stories will be published in 2007.

3) The total word count for same.

Magazines, original collections, reprint single author collections
including any new material, chapbooks of less than novel length. All
are included, as well as original short fiction published as media
tie-ins, as well as any original short fiction collections from the
small press.

Feel free to copy this request where you see fit. I can be reached at:

dtruesdale@netzero.com, or dtruesdale@netzero.net

Your help in this major project is greatly appreciated.

Best,
Dave Truesdale
Publisher/Editor, Tangent Online"

So I'm going to be at this year's World Fantasy Convention.  There are a limited number of reading slots available (a lot actually, but still finite).  I'd like to do a reading from what will be my premiere story with Interzone.  After swapping a couple of emails with the program director, it's no sure thing that I can be given a reading slot.  But from the sound of it, if I can guarantee an audience I'm going to significantly increase my chances.

So how about it folks?  Of those of you attending this year's World Fantasy Convention, how many of you would be interested in hearing me do a reading from "Feelings of the Flesh?"  Lord knows I've mentioned it enough on my blog.  How many would consider showing up and lending support to the Slushmaster?

Speak now ,or leave me dangling upon the e-winds ...

If anyone has that hankering madness (like me!) to have a hand in editing short speculative fiction, this may interest you: http://aberrantdreams.blogspot.com/2007/03/call-for-fiction-editors.html

A friend of mine at work is an actress.  A friend of hers wrote a script.  5 pages.  SF.  It's not bad.  It's an independent film obviously, and they're looking to use someone's bathroom to shoot the movie in.  They're are only three people in the script, so you're home wouldn't be flooded with people.  Filming should only take two days.  Anyone that lives in or around the NYC area that would be interested should fee free to contact me, either on my blog or via email: slushmaster@gmail.com

For those of you interested in obtaining some top-tier critiques on your genre stories, I thought I'd post the following:

First Talebones, now this: http://www.ralan.com

Nice work, people.

So according to the message on the official site, Ralan.com may be in danger of shutting down: http://www.ralan.com.

You'll see the message once you arrive. This has become a vital resource over the years to the speculative community. Spread the word to help ensure it doesn't go under!

Looks like the speculative community isn't as broke as we'd like to think, as I copied this from the Talebones website:

Our subscription drive has been a more-than-possibly-hoped for success! We have added over 125 subscriptions, 50 single-copy orders, and a variety of ad sales and donations. We raised over $4,500 in ONE WEEK! This guarantees Talebones arriving in your mailbox beyond 2007. To all who have contributed, a big heartfelt thank you. We wouldn't mind getting a nice cushion for 2008, so feel free to check us out and subscribe or order a sample to see what all the hub-bub is about.



$4500 in a week? Hot damn! Anyway, kudos to those of you who opened up your checkbooks and helped save Talebones. And . . .er . . .this blog is in danger of shutting down. Those who wish it to continue should send their checks to . . . :)

Is it wrong for an editor from one magazine to try and help save anther magazine? Not if he loves the genre, and wants it to continue thriving! That's why I'm posting this piece, which has been floating around for a few days:

Dear Family, Friends, Peers, Acquaintances:

Talebones has been a part of our lives for almost 11 years now. We have enjoyed every minute of putting all 33 issues together for our readers. It has truly been a labor of love. Most of the time that labor has cost us money, and now, because the amount of money we can put into the magazine has dwindled and, for whatever reason, subscriptions and renewals have not been as strong as we had hoped over the past year, we figure we may have to close down the magazine.

A couple of days ago, it was actually a final decision. "That's it, there's no way can we keep going." There were tears. A few VIPs we mentioned it to asked us to reconsider. So we took a step back and decided: We will issue renewal notices as usual, but put an extra strong plea in there about this. And then we will send a more detailed email to everyone in our email address book who might have an interest. Based on what renewals come in over the next month, based on the response to this email, we will see if Talebones can continue on past 2006. Issue #33 is already in its final preparation stage. With our decision to make this final stab at keeping things going came the decision to at least have an issue #34, to be published in November of December. We will make a determination then if it is to be the last or not.

If you've subscribed to our magazine before, if you've never subscribed, but maybe sent us stories (or had stories published by us), or have wished us well with our little venture, we hope you'll consider helping out. (We didn't go through our files to know which of you are current subscribers and pull you off this email list, so forgive us if you're already subscribers in good standing. If nothing else, we wanted you to know what was up.) At this point, even a single issue copy of our upcoming issue #33 will help. (We've put the order form/info up on our website early.) We have Paypal ready to go if you'd like to go that route. Or you can send money order or check payable to Talebones to our physical address at 5203 Quincy Ave SE; Auburn, WA 98092. Or you can ignore this, delete this, or, do whatever you like. It won't change the way we feel about ANY of you. We just thought we'd do something we've never done in over a decade of publishing the magazine: beg!

That's our sermon. Thanks for your support. Regardless of what happens to the magazine, never fear: Talebones and Fairwood Press will continue to have a presence in the SF world.

Patrick & Honna Swenson
--
Talebones Magazine
Fairwood Press, Inc
http://www.talebones.com
http://www.fairwoodpress.com

There are so few quality speculative magazine as it is. Considering that Talebones doesn't pay quite so much as the big boys, it's quite impressive what they've accomplished in terms of their story contents during their run. Let's help that run go on. Have a speculative heart, my peoples.