collaborative journal

[firsty]

just to throw it out there, this is the model that we worked on about a year and a half ago:

PRODUCT:
monthly or bi-monthly journal.

FORM:
chapbook format. double-sided, 1, 2 and 4-color versions, standard length to accomodate all copiers and most staplers.

WHO WE NEED:
about 20 people to start as "distribution" and about 3 people to start as "staff," with at least another 10 willing to follow up as "staff".

STAFF:
revolving, volunteer staff, different staff for each issue. each issue would be a product of whatever that group (or individual) wants to have. the only common element would be a brandname (9pages) and its distribution style. the title could be different each time, the style of writing, the type of writing, the theme, whatever. people would simply sign up for upcoming issues to be the editors. they would collect, edit and design their issue.

EDITOR in chief
because of logisitics things that came up in what was basically a test run in the fall of 2004, we need to have one editor responsible for moving files, answering questions, helping with editing, design, templates, and vetting submissions. at least right now, this is me.

DISTRIBUTION:
editors produce a .pdf file of the document following standard guidelines for printing (margins, typeface) that we could template. the pdf is then distributed via email, ftp or web access to the larger group of associated writers. this larger group then prints out the pdf, makes copies, staples it, folds it, and distributes it. distribution can be as varied as the staff. sell them to a used bookstore, hand it out, go to a chapbook show, set up a table on the street, leave it on park benches, barstools, mail to friends, etc. the goal for each person is to unload as many as possible in as many places as possible. printing/copying methods will vary based on individual resources. print it out at work, make kinko copies, take it to a print shop, print color copies, use cover stock or dont, use colored paper or dont, whatever.

SUBMISSIONS:
ideally we would have a central repository for submissions that could be gone thru by each group of editors. or, editors could solicit submissions on their own, from their friends. when we first did this, we limited editor submissions (pieces actually written by the editors) to 1 prose and 3 poems per issue. something like that is reasonable.

COSTS:
no payment for time or resources. if you sell your copies, you own your profits. if we eventually build a successful model, the group will be expected to collaborate on profit-sharing, but in the beginning it's all just for kicks.

IDEAL GOAL:
to simply build a brand and fund for ongoing selfpublishing within the group. to maintain a central, simple "brand" to funnel submissions in and to associate with distributions, not attached to any other person or entity. to create a grassroots publication for broad distribution of varied styles of contemporary writing. ideal to have a few people in major cities, but not necessary. ideal to plug thru blogs, other websites, personal contacts, but not necessary. focus is on writers within group. distributors can write and writers are expected to distribute at least the issue they are being published in.

FEATURES:
whatever issue you work on is yours to do. design, layout, submissions, theme, politics, madness, paranoia, artwork, sketches, whatever. basically, we're asking for people who want to do their own journal once (or more than once) to go ahead and do it, and we'll provide distribution, energy and collaboration. themes can be local or global, anything. ANYTHING.

i cant even consider working on this without at least 5 months of commitment from at least 20 distributors and 5 groups of editors. editors work would last about 1.5 months depending on how submissions and design is handled, and distributors would spend a small amount of time each month downloading, printing, assembling and distributing the journal. it sounds like a job but it's really not.

the hardest thing about it was going thru submissions. it's not easy to work with writers on even small changes, sometimes, so thats why it's necessary to have a few months planned in advance to give editors a head start on collecting writing. there is more freeware available than there was 2 yrs ago even, so we could create templates that anyone could use, regardless of what software theyre using.

well, thats it. if this gains speed, that would be great. i'm always in for putting things on paper.

[Marksman45]

Count me in. Where do we start?

[Doreen Peri]

I'm surprised there hasn't been much response to this. There was quite a bit of response when you presented this idea before. Ahhh.. but there were probably more people around.

Anyway, I think it's a great idea but unfortunately, don't have time to work on it with you.

I've had an idea for some time myself which is similar ... I call it a Journal of Journals. (working title in my head)

I love it when I look at the journals of artist and writer's friends of mine. Scribbled words complete with poetry, pencil illustrations, sometimes in color, watercolor accents, pen & ink drawings, etc.

I'd love to see pages from journals published in a journal.

I was thinking of a way to set up a web page where people can submit photos of their illustrated journal pages. Then it would just be a matter of assembling them, creating a book layout and finding a publisher. I think something like that could sell because it's the type of book I would love to buy and treasure. Unique hand written and hand-illustrated journal pages.... every page you turn, a different writer/artist.

Just an idea.

wish I had the time and money to pursue all my ideas.

(achachacha... i gotta million of 'em! )

Best wishes with your idea. Hope you get some more responses!