Comments on: Pro F/SF Magazines having distribution problems http://www.jordanlapp.com/pro-fsf-magazines-having-distribution-problems Resources for the genre writer Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:04:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: SMD http://www.jordanlapp.com/pro-fsf-magazines-having-distribution-problems/comment-page-1#comment-1618 SMD Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:53:07 +0000 http://www.jordanlapp.com/withoutreallytrying/?p=223#comment-1618 Nick: I think it has quite a lot to do with how short fiction is marketed. For writers it's seen almost exclusively as the place you go to first to break in; to some extent, readers see the same thing, which is a turn off. There's also lack of proper advertising, lack of technological advancement, etc. and the age-old problem of trying to get readers to realize the importance of the short form. Right now there's a lot of frivolity seen in the form, when in reality it's as complex and difficult as novels. They're just shorter... Nick: I think it has quite a lot to do with how short fiction is marketed. For writers it’s seen almost exclusively as the place you go to first to break in; to some extent, readers see the same thing, which is a turn off. There’s also lack of proper advertising, lack of technological advancement, etc. and the age-old problem of trying to get readers to realize the importance of the short form. Right now there’s a lot of frivolity seen in the form, when in reality it’s as complex and difficult as novels. They’re just shorter…

]]> By: Ozment http://www.jordanlapp.com/pro-fsf-magazines-having-distribution-problems/comment-page-1#comment-1617 Ozment Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:42:22 +0000 http://www.jordanlapp.com/withoutreallytrying/?p=223#comment-1617 This is troubling news, and coming on the heels of the recent news that Realms of Fantasy is folding. Will there be any pro fantasy mags left on the stands? And here we are in the era of successes like Harry Potter, Eragon, the LOTR movies, World of Warcraft--we're awash in fantasy--you'd think there'd be more demand, not less. Nick This is troubling news, and coming on the heels of the recent news that Realms of Fantasy is folding. Will there be any pro fantasy mags left on the stands? And here we are in the era of successes like Harry Potter, Eragon, the LOTR movies, World of Warcraft–we’re awash in fantasy–you’d think there’d be more demand, not less.
Nick

]]> By: SMD http://www.jordanlapp.com/pro-fsf-magazines-having-distribution-problems/comment-page-1#comment-1616 SMD Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:40:02 +0000 http://www.jordanlapp.com/withoutreallytrying/?p=223#comment-1616 That's true. If the science fiction community would only band together to make a law that forced parents to make their kids read. If that isn't democratic, I don't know what is. Ha! That’s true. If the science fiction community would only band together to make a law that forced parents to make their kids read. If that isn’t democratic, I don’t know what is.

Ha!

]]> By: Jordan Lapp http://www.jordanlapp.com/pro-fsf-magazines-having-distribution-problems/comment-page-1#comment-1615 Jordan Lapp Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:24:54 +0000 http://www.jordanlapp.com/withoutreallytrying/?p=223#comment-1615 Well, some magazines are trying to change that: Big Pulp is one. However, when Campbell was asked what the golden age of sci-fi was, he answered "12". And twelve year olds are playing video games, not reading short stories. Well, some magazines are trying to change that: Big Pulp is one. However, when Campbell was asked what the golden age of sci-fi was, he answered “12″. And twelve year olds are playing video games, not reading short stories.

]]> By: SMD http://www.jordanlapp.com/pro-fsf-magazines-having-distribution-problems/comment-page-1#comment-1612 SMD Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:22:35 +0000 http://www.jordanlapp.com/withoutreallytrying/?p=223#comment-1612 I think there also needs to be a push to change how people view the short story. I think some of the problem with short stories not being read is that it's not be marketed to people who probably would enjoy them more than novels. There are entire segments of the population that would be better fit with shorts. But that's just more random thoughts on my part... I think there also needs to be a push to change how people view the short story. I think some of the problem with short stories not being read is that it’s not be marketed to people who probably would enjoy them more than novels. There are entire segments of the population that would be better fit with shorts.

But that’s just more random thoughts on my part…

]]> By: Jordan Lapp http://www.jordanlapp.com/pro-fsf-magazines-having-distribution-problems/comment-page-1#comment-1610 Jordan Lapp Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:15:07 +0000 http://www.jordanlapp.com/withoutreallytrying/?p=223#comment-1610 Robert, Well, quarterly might not be able to support the staff they have. I mean Gordon Van Gelder's not independently wealthy so far as I know. Robert,

Well, quarterly might not be able to support the staff they have. I mean Gordon Van Gelder’s not independently wealthy so far as I know.

]]> By: Jordan Lapp http://www.jordanlapp.com/pro-fsf-magazines-having-distribution-problems/comment-page-1#comment-1609 Jordan Lapp Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:14:08 +0000 http://www.jordanlapp.com/withoutreallytrying/?p=223#comment-1609 I agree with you, SMD. Fantasy Magazine, Clarkesworld, and Baen's seem to have harnessed the electronic medium a bit better and their bottom lines are doing better because of it. I still hate the idea of losing any of the pros though. I agree with you, SMD. Fantasy Magazine, Clarkesworld, and Baen’s seem to have harnessed the electronic medium a bit better and their bottom lines are doing better because of it.

I still hate the idea of losing any of the pros though.

]]> By: SMD http://www.jordanlapp.com/pro-fsf-magazines-having-distribution-problems/comment-page-1#comment-1607 SMD Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:32:51 +0000 http://www.jordanlapp.com/withoutreallytrying/?p=223#comment-1607 Probably, but I suspect if they don't get with the program they'll be left in the dust by magazines with more forward-thinking vision. Don't get me wrong, I don't want any of the big three to fold, but the fact that most of them are still firmly rooted in the past speaks to why they aren't doing as well as they should. Probably, but I suspect if they don’t get with the program they’ll be left in the dust by magazines with more forward-thinking vision. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want any of the big three to fold, but the fact that most of them are still firmly rooted in the past speaks to why they aren’t doing as well as they should.

]]> By: RS http://www.jordanlapp.com/pro-fsf-magazines-having-distribution-problems/comment-page-1#comment-1606 RS Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:19:21 +0000 http://www.jordanlapp.com/withoutreallytrying/?p=223#comment-1606 I have mixed feeling about this. For one, I'm happy that the magazines stuck to their guns and refused to work with Anderson. On the other hand, I can see where Anderson is coming from, what with rising costs of everything, and I feel bad for the workers who are now kind of screwed because of it. But I can't imagine F&SF will fold completely, no matter what happens. They'll go to quarterly before they're forced to fold ... hopefully. I have mixed feeling about this. For one, I’m happy that the magazines stuck to their guns and refused to work with Anderson. On the other hand, I can see where Anderson is coming from, what with rising costs of everything, and I feel bad for the workers who are now kind of screwed because of it. But I can’t imagine F&SF will fold completely, no matter what happens. They’ll go to quarterly before they’re forced to fold … hopefully.

]]> By: SMD http://www.jordanlapp.com/pro-fsf-magazines-having-distribution-problems/comment-page-1#comment-1605 SMD Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:10:13 +0000 http://www.jordanlapp.com/withoutreallytrying/?p=223#comment-1605 Again, this is why I keep saying that the current print-only mags need to get on the POD bandwagon while doing online-publishing and eBooks, etc. They need to drop these old bastards and try to go with the new. All the big mags could be saving themselves a lot of hassle by dropping from the distribution network and pushing online sales fullstop. The money they'd save doing POD instead of mass-printings w/ returns could be diverted into advertising in the Internet and getting the sales back up. It can be done, but they need someone with balls to do it. The old model isn't working. Even when they are on a store's magazine rack, they're impossible to find. Most of the mags aren't even in stores and it seems illogical to me to focus so much money and time on the old methods and not enough money and time on new more effective ones. Again, this is why I keep saying that the current print-only mags need to get on the POD bandwagon while doing online-publishing and eBooks, etc. They need to drop these old bastards and try to go with the new. All the big mags could be saving themselves a lot of hassle by dropping from the distribution network and pushing online sales fullstop. The money they’d save doing POD instead of mass-printings w/ returns could be diverted into advertising in the Internet and getting the sales back up. It can be done, but they need someone with balls to do it. The old model isn’t working. Even when they are on a store’s magazine rack, they’re impossible to find. Most of the mags aren’t even in stores and it seems illogical to me to focus so much money and time on the old methods and not enough money and time on new more effective ones.

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