Some serious thoughts about EMG-Zine

[ellenmillion]

Firstly - EMG-Zine was never supposed to be All Ellen All the Time on the Ellen Channel of Ellenness.

Really.

But I'm looking at the documents I've got for the anthology and thinking about what will go where and geez. It may as well be the Ellen-Zine anthology.

There are several points which I've wanted to make for a while, and I've had some trouble putting them out in polite terms without sounding as whiny as I feel. Looking at the tie-up issue for our first year, and ahead at another year ('cause I'm not ready to give up! Never surrender!), I think it's time to pour it out at you.



First, I WANT your work.

I know that a number of you have made tutorials, and walk-throughs, and cheerfully trotted off and posted them on your webpages. I WANT THOSE THINGS! I want them FIRST, so that I can offer exclusive content and EMG-Zine has a draw.

I'm sort of baffled about how I can plant it in heads to send 'em to me first, because I see this from the same people who have said nice things about EMG-Zine and wanting to help, and I can only think that a) they want instant gratification and don't want to wait a month for publication? b) The pay is too piddly for that afore-mentioned sacrifice? c) They are just mouthing empty politeness about the 'zine? Or... maybe d) They forget? Or maybe e) They got a rejection from the art board and are nursing hurt feelings? (As a note, *I've* gotten rejections from the artboard, as have most of the members.)

(Don't think this is you, if the description matches, 'cause if it were just one person, I'd just say something to you personally. But I can think of at LEAST a dozen instances of this this year. Maybe two. And I would have just died of happiness if I'd been able to offer another feature or two every month this last year! I've watched it happen so many times I'm sort of wondering if I smell bad or am doing something wrong and everyone thinks someone else has already mentioned it, or is too nice to say something!)

YOU have something to share. It doesn't have to be uber professional, you don't have to be a super famous Arteeest or published writer. You don't have to be an EMG artist. If you want ideas of things to write about, I'm happy to brainstorm with you. Delighted, even! Reviews - how hard can it be to review your latest art toy or fantasy book? Letters to the editor! I got ONE after my last plea. ONE.

I made EMG-Zine as a place where we could share our collective wisdom, not as a place for me to showcase my articles and pound on my chest. I'm supposed to be back-up girl... fill in the gaps when there are thin spots, and keep things moving. Somehow, that turned into 'carry the load' girl, and to be desperately honest: I don't like it. I'm tired and overworked, and I am not going to do this if I'm not doing it for other people, too. I am embarrassed and feel self-serving to see pages and pages of my content when I KNOW there is other, better, more valuable content out there.

If I'd wanted to do that, I'd just put my articles at my own site and skip the whole 'zine complication. I'd envisioned something better than that, something bigger. I can't do it by myself, and I'm feeling like I ask and ask and ask and ask and people must be tired of hearing me, and maybe I'm not doing the right thing at all?





Solutions?

I'm not generally a whine and do nothing kind of person. I've identified my problem: not enough content.

I'm so willing to do what needs to happen to make that occur.

First, I need more information. I need to know WHY people aren't submitting. Too complicated? Rules are scary? Don't understand the anthology idea? Pay isn't good enough? Too much work? Standards too high? Quality is too low and it wouldn't be enough of a resume builder? Can't really believe that I need any help because I've managed to pull it off every month so far?

I can stand around hypothesizing and guessing until I'm as blue as a smurf, but I just don't know, and I can't fix it, if I don't KNOW what the problem is. I can probably make it better - it's what I do... look at the things I've done and try to figure out how to make them work better.

(I sometimes think that a lot of people assume I have people that are already telling me these things and they don't need to, but, well, I don't hear much that isn't kind and friendly, so I don't know what to fix! I can take it, I promise, and I would LOVE to hear any thoughts you have on the subject of what could be better. About anything.)





I can't whine this much without taking at least a few moments to offer thanks. I honestly could not have made it this far without you guys. In no order!

Ursula - you've been a rock. Every month like clockwork, even when you're busy writing a novel and getting an agent and negotiating with Jim Henson and cranking out artwork, you send me a bang-up column and herd your fans over to read it.

Annie - Every one of your articles could be a self-standing feature, and I am SO happy you came on board. In some of the slimmer (content-wise) months, I am soothed by the thought that your column is practically another feature. And every month you submit artwork! Wonderful artwork! (Sometimes, the only artwork!)

Marina - I wish I had five of you. You're an absolute pro, I always learn something new and fascinating from your columns, and you are always in great contact if there's any delay or problem or edits that need to be made. I can't emphasize how much I appreciate that!!

Janet - Not only are you an amazing coder, you work fast, meet all the deadlines, and you've always got a fantastic, relevant column that strikes me as 'important,' and so wonderfully conscious. Being able to publish your column makes me feel like I'm doing something good for the world, you know? (*shamelessly piggybacks on your karma...*)

I was going to take a moment to embarrass all of the feature-writers and other wonderful and couldn't-do-without staff, too, but I'm about out of time alotted for this, so forgive me for being general:

I am so honored and pleased that you've sent me work and let me publish it, or helped me out. I am so happy to be able to host your work and incorporate it into EMG-Zine. I wish I could pay 5x as much and had 10x the audience to show it off to. You should know how giddy and happy I am when I get the submissions - art, fiction, reviews, anything. Comments, even. I don't think you know how much it means to hear that someone reads the 'zine regularly and gets a lot out of it. Mostly, I get silence, and when you take the time to say something, I really, truly treasure it, read it several times, and I always pass it on to the people who deserve to share in it!

Please don't stop! I'm committing to another year of this dog and pony show, and it would be a bleak and scary road if it weren't for your support. I couldn't do it alone, and I really wouldn't want to.

Comments

[sister-bluebird.livejournal.com]

I think that often it doesn't occur to people that they have something they could put in the 'zine. All the stuff there is very professional, and it's a little intimidating.
That said - would you be interested in a rewriting of "The Making of Troll Coffee?"

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, yes!! That would be very awesome! :)

Thanks for the feedback. :)

[jeliza]

The main reason I've not submitted anything is a) I'm not sure if you are interested in photoillustration and b) I have very little art which fits your themes. (toddlers have made me the opposite of prolific) If you are interested in a photoillo tuorial, I've got one half done I'd be happy to send to you when it is finished.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Definitely yes! I would love a photoillo tutorial. :) I've got two more months to pick themes for 2007 - can you think of one that your work would fit into? (That other folks may have work to fit to, also?)

[jeliza]

Um, weird? whimsical? space? actually, I could probably work decently with "warriors", which a lot of people can probably play with...

I'll work on that tutorial for you.

[shoka.livejournal.com]

First off, I enjoy reading the zine. The pieces are largely interesting and/or thought provoking.

But... I'm employed at a job where I often work over time and I have a house to maintain. In between that and sleep, I only have so much time to make art, play with my cats, write and keep up with the few social activities I do.

If I have something which fits the theme, I have submitted it. But for no pay I have no incentive to make something specific for the zine. Having a piece in the zine is not really a resume builder for me. I write for the fun of it, but for my art, I'd rather be working towards the local fine art shows than diverting my time to paint an image specifically for the zine.

Otherwise, I don't think the rules are complicated or scarey. The anthology does nothing for me one way or the other.

2 cents from a reader and submitter.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

2 cents I very much appreciate!

[laylalawlor.livejournal.com]

I actually keep *intending* to create something to submit, and then time gets away from me ... again. I know you asked for that Lulu article from me. Once upon a time, I started writing it, and then lost that file and never started again. So -- it's mainly a time issue for me.

But the themes are also a bit of a stumbling block. December, for example ... the idea of writing a holiday-themed story appeals to me, but angels are not a topic that inspires me. At all. So I didn't do anything for December. I actually *do* have some ideas for the Arabian Nights month, and now that you've basically put out a call for submissions, I'll put them on my to-do list.

[curvature.livejournal.com]

Basically, what shoka said >_>

Ok, for me I started out very excited about EMG-Zine, but I found no incentive there for visual artists.

It seems like the emphasis is all on the writers and the articles, and there really isn't anything in it for me as a visual artist besides the warm fuzzies of helping my friend out.

I have a perfectly good website of my own to display stuff on, and having art in EMG-Zine doesn't really have any advantage for me.

But in saying that I do think the zine is great and I do pop in occasionally to have a look around and see what you've been up to :)

[klawzie.livejournal.com]

Buh buh buh. My thoughts/ramblings.

I really only have a little to offer. Most of that is short, illustrated stories. But since (iirc) there is no compensation for it except exposure (and that only for a month unless it maybe gets picked up for the anthology), there are a lot of other things I should do instead, as much as I also need to build a 'resume' of 'published in'-s... it's not as imperative as other things. ._.

I don't really do a lot of art that would fit for your submissions, since most of my artwork lately is either for PA SDs or for my Neo SWAT Kats rpg (superhero kitty people generally wouldn't fit). And if I do anything outside it, it's general PA General Adoptions or the occassional attempt at some sort of product for my prints account. ._. Again, creating something specifically for the 'zine if I can't somehow sell it isn't good business. :B Some of the next-coming months will be easier than others, thankfully. :3 So you can expect *something*.

Writing tutorials - not my thing. I don't know anything that 5 people can't do better or explain more. I could try a step-by-step of my latest commission, since I have the first two/three concept sketches, the pencils and the, "is this good?" color-over for the client. I haven't done inks or colors yet, so that'd be easy enough. But it'd be less a tutorial than a "this is how I did it". If that interests you, I can remember to do that. :3

Writing reviews... Most of the manga I read anymore are fantasy. I can try to review those? (I assume you'd be looking mostly for reviews of first-issues or maybe series-as-far-as-I've-read?) I think I brought that up before and you were having email problems so I didn't get an email on the what-you-are-looking-for stuff and uhm.. I got distracted and forgot to email you about it. <_<; Other than that, I'm rather useless for you, insofar as that goes. I'm just easily distracted. It helps if you put the subject of the month's theme in the posts. That way peoples' minds are jogged without even having to open the email/read the post. :3

[redrevvy.livejournal.com]

Life tends to get in the way for me. Frequently. :( But, the tutorial I was working on is still in the works, and only published for your eyes thus far. When I will get it done... I don't know. :(

[serenstar.livejournal.com]

I love the zine. I don't often feel I have much to contribute because I'm very critical of myself. I also have a hard time with deadlines right now due to life being crazy hectic. If I knew of a tutorial I'd be useful on or anything like that, I'd let you know. I feel kind of...amateur really.

[amanda-now.livejournal.com]

Just my quick couple of thoughts- I submitted to the ghost issue, and I guess my work was used? I didn't get any notification or anything so I assumed you never used it. My time on the internet is short so I usually only go through emails and post to my own journal.

If I have the time between semesters this December I could try writing a tutorial on something, though I don't know what. I would be happy to give it to you first if you were interested.

The website itself confused me on my first visit. The menus are small and seem hidden at the top. I could just have ADD but I usually ignore text and content along the very top of pages because I think of them as banner advertisements or something, I guess I am used to seeing menus vertically along the side.

As a graphic designer I think some layout changes could be made to make the aesthetic look cleaner and easier to read. Also I think simplifying the verbiage or breaking it up visually will make more people read it. Its sad but true- people don't stop to read large blocks of text. Bulleted information, selectively bolded type, all of this gives people the visual cues of what to read and when. If you wanted I could do some mock layouts for you to look at, though it will have to wait until next week.

That will at least make the zine easier to read and also more professional. As far as asking for submissions, I am stumped. How many places are you advertising for submissions? Maybe be very clear about the benefits for submitting- how much you pay for writing and art, the number of subscribers you have- which translates into potential visitors and customers for the websites of contributers, etc.

[ursulav.livejournal.com]

*grin* Now if only I could consistently remember whether I've already written those columns or not...

[littlefire.livejournal.com]

I always intend to submit art and then the deadline ends up getting the best of me. I hate being slow and I hate always having pending projects that push aside my planned future ones. I will try to make a bigger effort to do some stuff for the themes, though, because I was just giddy to have art in it the two times I did and would love to get some in there again!

As for other stuff to contribute - since I'm self-taught, mostly a hobbyist, and deficient in so many areas in artistry, I really don't feel I have much knowledge to contribute. I just do a "paint it til you kill it" type method and keep striving to improve as I do, but really don't have much in the way of being able to share tricks of the trade or whatnot.

So anyhow, since all I really have to give is art, I'll try harder to give it. :) Maybe a story or two will come out of my brain as well, though my writing's the same as my art - just for fun, not in any way, pro.

[tiffany-toland.livejournal.com]

I wanted to submit art for the zine but I never could figure out what the themes were going to be ahead of time until last month and between being sick and having my wisdom teeth try to rip through my skull, plus conventions and art shows, I haven't had time to paint anything. I want to try in 2007 and would be more than happy to create some tutorials for the 'zine.

[ciri.livejournal.com]

Regarding the art: If I were an artist I would find it frustrating that there is no pay for artwork but there is pay for articles. It's hard to decide if it is worth it to create art for the zine, because there is no guarantee it will be seen outside the gallery page. If there was pay for the items chosen as wallpapers, covers, or menu items, people might be more willing to send stuff in?

Articles: We talked about how it might be hard to not repeat ourselves, so maybe some would-be contributors also are thinking the same thing? And maybe because we are doing a lot of tutorial/walkthroughs some might think that is all we're looking for, when there are really tons of other subjects to cover. It's kind of hard to think of ideas when you're alone at your desk but if you have a bunch of suggestions in front of you it is easier ... maybe we could pull some subjects from WW archives to re-cover? Then, like someone else said, we could have something that reminds people of the deadline, and also, "Hey, we're looking for articles on XXX"

Actually finding people to submit: I have no idea where all EMG-Zine is being advertised, but it might be worthwhile to look into some sort of ad exchange? Appoint a few people who are in relevant communities to get the word out?

I do agree with margaretlane about the site design. It's functional, all the elements look nice, but I'm not sure they all fit together (although I know it does match EMG itself). Plus serifed font on the computer screen is harder to read ;)

Also, it might help push people into submitting if they knew the stats of the zine. How many hits, how many readers, subscribers, etc. It's hard to decide if you want to work with something if you don't know how it will benefit you, and for a lot of the people who commented already, it seems exposure is a big thing.

[klawzie.livejournal.com]

Hey - that's right. At least, I think that's right? To my recollection, anytime you (Ellen) have asked for a specific tutorial, someone's pulled through. Or, at least, mostly they do as I recall. ^^; So a list of articles you'd like to have might help inspire someone to write it for you. Assuming you *know* of what you 'need' for that issue.

And, hey, some of us who are like, "I can't think of anything I can write for you that you'd want!" might actually *have* that experience or that knowledge you're looking for, and it just doesn't occur to us that it's interesting enough to write about for the 'zine. XD;

[celticwren.livejournal.com]

I'm the second paragraph, trying to think of things I can write that would be interesting. My trouble is that, in general, I don't think I am very intersting! Maybe I could do a "Surviving NaNo WriMo" thing ("Gah! not MORE writing!"). I guess I haven't survived yet. :D

[renatus.livejournal.com]

but if you have a bunch of suggestions in front of you it is easier

I very much agree with this. I can write practically anything on spec, but otherwise the potential options are just too broad and I usually can't think of a thing. I need the focus narrowed so that I can focus.

[nixjim13.livejournal.com]

I got as far as the line art on my tutorial... and it's kind of sat there since! I have been grabbing screenshots of something I'm currently working on, but again I don't think this is going to be something I'll be able to do quickly. Life just has been getting in the way sadly :(

[chamois-shimi.livejournal.com]

Because I'm a lazy monkey with no sense of the passing of time!

[toeknuckles.livejournal.com]

i'm actually working on an article i made contact with emg-zine about a few months ago, but it's moving slowly.

i think part of the problem for me is feeling confused.
"wait...what do i name this file again? where do i send this? what should i be doing here?"
perhaps if it were (somehow) simpler? or maybe if i were somehow smarter. maybe a mix. ;-)

also, because i get so busy on commissions these days, i don't get a chane to do as much new artwork for me as i'd like. so when emg-zine has an art theme that doesn't match any previous work, i can't submit.
maybe if the themes weren't so specific, or a bit more open to interpretation? speaking personally, i'd be happy to submit more work if it fit. 8-)

anyway, thanks for making this post. it's given me a kick in the arse to go work on this article. i WILL get it done!

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

I just forget, and usually when I do remember it's in the midst of doing other things I'm getting paid for, which causes me to go "Crap!" and not do anything for EMG-zine some more. And then I feel bad, but not bad enough to actually do anything about it. :p

[frigg.livejournal.com]

I have no time, but if I ever get around to making another tutorial, you'll be the first one I think of. :)

[jewelz-star.livejournal.com]

Maybe since time is an issue for most people you might get more if you made less of them? Maybe every other month or something??

[sibylle]

I haven't had time to write anything, 's all I can say.

[jenelycam.livejournal.com]

I will try to work harder to submit artwork. Um...as far as articles, I think I'm braindead. If I manage to be able to do a tut, You'll be the first on my list. I'm proud to say that EMG published my first tut I've ever done and AFTER you published it, I put it on my website. *HUGS YOU* I just need to be less busy and more disciplined.