Crowdfunding: Connecting Creators and Patrons

Read Plunge #1

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 19:13:17 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith

The first issue of Plunge magazine is up, featuring "Women in Mythology." Enjoy poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and art about women loving women.

comments

Portal Stories and Crowdfunding

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 15:02:00 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com

There's a discussion about editors summarily rejecting portal stories, and so I wrote a critique of why that's a bad thing to do. My readers have spoken up for diversity and breaking the bottlenecks with quotes like these:

That's why I love crowdfunding, from both sides. As a reader I get beautiful stories I probably never would have seen because some gatekeeper would have stopped it and as a writer I can write stories people want. There's no one to tell me that what I'm doing is too like someone else's, or it won't sell, or I can't have gay characters. -- moonwolf1988

+a-bazillion on that last graf. Gay characters, kinky characters, characters of colour, characters of colour that don't get whitewashed on covers, stories that don't necessarily end tidily but lead you places... this is what small press, self-pub, crowd-funding, and all this new hi-zoot stuff is *all about*. One- and two- and ten-person shops aren't beholden to risk-averse shareholders, they're beholden to the *fans*.... and as long as the stories are good? Portal schmortal! Does the tip jar go cha-ching? then, more, please! -- technoshaman

Crowdfunding means that you, as a creator and/or a consumer, no longer have to put up with someone else deciding what you get to do. You decide. Write, draw, read, buy, or otherwise interact with whatever you like. Is there a gap? You can fill it, or get someone else to help you fill it. Is the mainstream being stupid about something? No problem, you can do something smart instead. And while the mainstream is busy annoying people and losing money hand over fist, crowdfunding is over here growing like mad. Wheeeee!

comments

Chinese Poetry Collection for Children?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:57:00 GMT

Posted by: marina-bonomi.livejournal.com

Hello,
I have been a member for quite a while, but up to now I never posted projects of my own, I'd like the community's input on this.

I am a cultural mediator for China, and I work a lot with schools. Recently teachers keep asking me about Chinese classical poetry: info on authors, translation of poems, suggestions and materials for using Chinese poetry in class.

And that set me thinking, since as far as I know there aren't any collections of translated Chinese poetry aimed at children over here.

I keep visualizing a book like this:

Front matter: an introduction to the Chinese poetry of the 'golden age' (definitely Tang, possibly with something about the Song too), a pronunciation table and a short bio for each of the included poets (all in a 'register' that could be good both for teachers / parents and for older kids, keeping things simple never hurts).

The poems: first in a 'one page per line' format. with the original Chinese, a transcription and the translation, like this (the transcription will have the tones marked):

危樓高百尺﹐

wei lou gao bai chi
A tower of one hundred feet

With an illustration portraying the image in the line, then the whole poem on a single page.

I have most of the materials for the front matter already and I'll need just to select the poems and translate them (some I have already because of previous projects).

At the start I thought about doing an ebook in Italian, but a version in English wouldn't be that much more work (again, much of the front matter I have in both languages) and offering both an ebook and a paper edition would be a dream.

I wonder wheter crowdfunding could be a viable option, for starters I'll need an editor for the English version and an illustrator (I'd love something in watercolor, not aping classical Chinese paintings but with a bit of that flavour), and hopefully enough to cover a trial print run.
Perks could be : a copy of the e-book, a copy of the paper book (if we make enough), the possibility to sponsor a specific illustration and have the patron's name listed in the credit, or that plus a print of the sponsored illustration,...

At the moment, though what I'll need most would be an interested editor, illustrator and, maybe, publisher/printer to have an idea of the sum needed.

Opinions, please?

Crossposted to my own journal

comments

New Crowdfunding Project: "Plunge Magazine"

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:14:15 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith

The Kickstarter page is now up for Plunge Magazine. ailelie seeks to raise $2000 to fund the first two issues. (See adetailed budget.) Plunge will focus on queer (lesbian, bisexual, asexual, etc.) in genre fiction, all kinds of different genres and themes. The main website features more information about Plunge.

JOB CREATOR -- my job, actually! If this project gets funded, I'll be the Line Editor for the magazine.

Please chip in and/or boost the signal.

comments

New Crowdfunding Project: "Plunge Magazine"

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:16:00 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com

The Kickstarter page is now up for Plunge Magazine. ailelie seeks to raise $2000 to fund the first two issues. (See adetailed budget.) Plunge will focus on queer (lesbian, bisexual, asexual, etc.) in genre fiction, all kinds of different genres and themes. The main website features more information about Plunge.

JOB CREATOR -- my job, actually! If this project gets funded, I'll be the Line Editor for the magazine.

Please chip in and/or boost the signal.

comments

Crowdfunding Websites

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:01:00 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com

Today I was looking for crowdfunding websites. Here is a list. I discovered two new ones:

Authonomy is hosted by HarperCollins. It's more crowdsource than crowdfunding -- what they have really done is throw the slush pile open to the public. Authors can post partial or complete manuscripts for feedback. Readers have multiple tools for promoting their favorite reads; you can also see who are the best spotters of popular stuff. The most popular manuscripts each month get a turn with HC's editorial board. HC is hoping to find new authors and books this way. More power to them! My only complaint is they don't warn people that many publishers consider ANY online appearance of material to use up its first rights. I think this has potential to improve over the 10 seconds of editorial attention that most manuscripts get in a slush pile. Plus, it creates a link between crowdfunding and publishing. Keep your eye on the ball.

Spot.Us is crowdfunded journalism. I am thrilled! I think this has great potential to keep serious, accurate journalism alive. Now you can propose stories that you want covered, or contribute toward stories already on the site. Journalists are tiffy about pitching in public; wave money at them until they relax. Some of them are bound to get hooked on the interactive aspects. Meanwhile the site has some lovely donor features such as "almost funded" and "unfunded" sorting options as well as the topical ones; and a place where you can earn credits by taking a survey. If you're tired of your favorite subjects getting ignored, go here and put your money where your affinities lie.

Does anyone else have experience with either of these sites yet?

comments

CFC Service Call: What do you need?

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:58:00 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com

This community has a lot of talented members. If there's a service you need -- content submitted, fiction illustrated, writing edited, websites designed, etc. -- here's a chance to speak up. Maybe someone else in the community will have that skill. What do you need?

Also, for the several folks working on a community website off LJ, this is a fair time to call for volunteers.

comments

Editing as a Hobby

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:39:00 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com

Recently I came across the blogzine Ya'Sou! and it got me thinking. Writing has long been a hobby enjoyed by people who don't plan to do it professionally, although some of them become brilliant writers. Editing is more obscure. For a while, fanzines were the realm of hobby-editors. Most of those have disappeared now. There are webzines, but most of them are trying to be like regular magazines.

But what if they weren't? What if we encouraged people to do with editing what they do with writing -- lay it out for fun, to share really cool stuff with your friends? Suppose you've been following this crowdfunding thing, and you've developed a list of people whose art, writing, and other creative output you <3 <3 <3 and want to promote? So ... start a webzine. Ask them for reprints, or originals if they're willing, and post the stuff. Maybe do excerpts of longer works to attract attention to those. Pick a theme if you like. Offer to critique people's writing, if you like; some folks have a hard time finding first-readers. If you don't have cash, try attracting contributors by paying them in ad space on your site; most creative people have something to sell or promote.

And then ... PRESTO! What was once merely crowdfunded "self-published" stuff is now, by the magic of editorial accolade, Actually Published according to the rules of a bunch more awards and catalog sites. Isn't that interesting. Plus you've just rolled your favorite creative folks past a whole lot of new eyeballs.

While I don't have time for this right now, I do have the skills, so I'm keeping it in mind for future possibility. Meanwhile, if someone else wants to try it, go right ahead. Feel free to chat me up if you get stuck on something; I had some editor-friends teach me how to do stuff, so I don't mind paying it forward. (You can also click the "editing" link on my LJ, where I've written up a few posts on various aspects.)

comments

CFC Service Call: What do you need?

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:50:00 GMT

CFC Service Call: What do you need?

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:04:00 GMT

Help Defend Preditors & Editors

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:55:00 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com

Preditors & Editors is a tremendous resource for writers and other creative folks. It collates information about the good, the bad, and the ugly in this industry. I don't use the site frequently, but I do refer to it periodically, and I'd hate to lose it. Today when I went there, I found this notice:

Unfortunately, there are those who do not like P&E or its editor because we give out information that they would prefer remain hidden from writers. Usually, they slink away, but not this time. P&E is being sued and we are asking for donations to mount a legal defense in court. Please click on the link below and give if you can to help protect P&E so it can continue to defend writers as it has for the past eleven years.

There is a PayPal button for donations. I hope they're able to raise enough funds to meet their needs. I believe that poor performance should be addressed firmly in a rational manner; Preditors & Editors does that admirably. If you're too broke to toss something in the jar, you can help by spreading the word. They even give permission for people to copy the button code, though I'm not inclined to attempt that myself.

comments

Goals for 2009

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:22:00 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com

So far, I've tallied my accomplishments from 2008. Now I'm thinking ahead.

Here are some of my goals for 2009:

Find new agent to replace the one that resigned from the agency.

Place one new book-length project on the market, either by writing a book proposal or by writing a complete book manuscript.

Finish writing the poems needed to complete The 50 Poetic States collection. Keep shopping around the proposal for it in hopes of finding an editor who likes it and can afford to buy it.

Write at least 250 poems. Continue holding one Poetry Fishbowl per month.

Sell poetry to at least 3 new markets.

Write at least 3 stories. Take more care not to let fiction engine idle until things spurt out sideways at inopportune times.

Edit at least 3 stories that have already been written, and put them on the market.

Experiment with cyberfunded creativity for fiction.

Attend at least one convention and volunteer for programming. Try to promote cyberfunded creativity or other potentially lucrative projects.

Obtain at least one new, regular writing or editing job that pays reasonably well.

What are some of your goals for 2009?

comments

Proofreading the Admonishments

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:40:00 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com

I'm pleased to report that I've finished a proofreading project: The Admonishments of Kherishdar by M.C.A. Hogarth, aka haikujaguar here. This puts the manuscript one step closer to manifesting as a chapbook. You can watch the cover being painted here.

If you haven't already visited Kherishdar, I recommend starting with the earlier project, "The Aphorisms of Kherishdar," currently available as a hardcopy chapbook but also still visible online. Similarly "The Admonishments of Kherishdar" may be read online here.

Both of these projects have been wholly community-sponsored at professional rates. They represent some of the earliest and most successful cyberfunded creativity. They also rank among the best sociological science fiction I've ever read. If you're holiday shopping for book lovers, definitely consider the "Aphorisms" chapbook. Watch for the "Admonishments" chapbook to appear later this year or early next year.

comments

CFC Service Call: What do you need?

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:47:00 GMT

Introduction: Elizabeth Barrette

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:39:00 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com

I'm a wordsmith by talent, vocation, and profession. I write fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in the fields of speculative fiction, gender studies, and alternative spirituality. I also do freelance editing. I enjoy languages, both natural and invented ones.

I've been following cyberfunded creativity for some time. I helped get the ball rolling when some of my friends, like haikujaguar, couldn't find conventional markets for their material. I said, hey, you've got all these fans online who love your stuff, why not just sell it directly to them? And it worked.

As a creative person, I've ventured into cyberfunded creativity with a monthly Poetry Fishbowl. Anyone can give me ideas and I write poems based on those. I'll post at least one poem from each fishbowl for everyone to enjoy. Donors get to see an extra post. Remaining poems get put into my archive for magazine submission. Don't want to wait until I sell them? There's also a "Buy It Now" option where you can sponsor a specific poem to be shared on my blog. I'll probably add more options over time, because I do a LOT of creative things.

As a donor, I enjoy both art and writing. Extra perks are fun. What really hooks me is when someone creates a world, visually or verbally, that I love spending time in. I can also be enticed by a particular person's style of art or writing. I like to look at different models of cyberfunded creativity and watch what people come up with. Some of my favorite cyberfunded creativity projects include:
windtunneldream
"The Aphorisms of Kherishdar"
chlorophyta
The Lorelei Signal

comments