Transgressive Literature/Art Website
I have considered for a very long time now putting together a website for transgressive literature. It would either be a monthly online magazine, or a community based literary journal-esque site updated constantly. I would like to make it a resource for finding new voices/faces in transgressive literature, art, etc. I would also like to have anti pop culture editorials on a consistent basis. I think it would be a way to open up the genre a bit, and create a community of individuals who enjoy that niche of art.
Where I am stuck right now is the fact that I have no experience in building a website, but given the right tools, I think I could manage. I am going to have to find someone eventually who will be able to maintain a site for me and offer more sophisticated materials as I go forward.
I am also going to need people who would be willing to write and possibly edit in the future. I know it will take a lot of work and time to gain some momentum, but once there is a following, I would also like to take submissions for short stories, etc.
I am just having a hard time getting this idea off the ground. I am currently the only one involved in the thought process, and I thought because Chuck is such an important part of the genre and many of you seem to like transgressive art, maybe you would have some suggestions for me.
I am also considering the idea that it might have to just start out as a community (message board, etc.) for a while until it evolves into something else.
Any thoughts would be extremely helpful and welcome.
Thank You!
At this point, the whole thing is quite abstract. I'd love to have some writers from the cult involved, and you seem really passionate about it (and even more-so about hard work). Like I said, I am just taking things into consideration, and beginning to flesh it all out. I am looking for these boards for some direction and ideas. I think it might be a while before anything actually takes shape though. Once things start to come together, I would be right back here on the board looking for people.
Ideas?
Include Flash Fiction -that seems to be the hot thing these days -not just to attract the writers looking to publish, but to remain competitive with other zines and sites. Also, short stories of course -every writer will pay attention if you call for short story submissions.
Website, once it is designed, has to look good and not like a coloring book. And while that may seem like common sense, if you're thinking about starting small and using the excuse of "starting small" to not put your all into the website from the get go, the average writer will see through that and not submit. You might get some that are desperate to be "published" no matter what, but most, based on the look of your website Or print magazine alone, will either come to the conclusion that it's not yet reputable and therefore not worth the effort, or they'll see the potential and go for it. But the "look" and "feel" of the website and print mag if any is crucial.
Credibility: So if I wanted, I could have my friend create a website next month, post a bunch of my friends' stories, and call it a publishing mag. I could also use Lulu to print or whatever. So you need credibility and why I bring that up is because you mentioned how you want to New Voices -which is Great, but, starting out fresh -maybe get at least One established voice in your first issue, so writers will want to be associated.
Okay, so you probably know all that already and you're looking for ideas beyond that, meaning the Meat, right?
You seem to have a particular agenda: "make it a resource for finding new voices/faces in transgressive literature, art, etc. I would also like to have anti pop culture editorials on a consistent basis."
Great! Now what in the hell does that mean? What SPECIFIC Anti-Pop culture editorials are you looking to establsh here?
Is it Why the halftime show at the superbowl last night was a disaster? How MTV ISN"T cool or hip?
What specific anti-pop ideas do want writers to pitch? Is there a specific element within the transgressive community that you feel is ignored? What is it?
And speaking to your vision, what are you aiming to do that's any different from say 3:AM, or The Rumpus?
Visit me at Solarcide—A Writer’s Hideout: http://solarcide.com/fiction/nathan-pettigrew/
All good points.
I definitely think you are right about going all in. I want to have everything prepared and running before the site is up. I am going to have to put some serious time and thought, and get a bunch of people to come together. I want to also find a fairly well known author(s) and purchase some short stories for launch and beyond. Maybe I should just do a quarterly or something to begin. I will have to figure it all out in time. I'm still going to fish around for some ideas.
200 dollars a week, net after taxes, and I'm yours. My boy Montgomery can design websites, and I'll read every slush pile you got, edit whatever, post any feedback needed -Would Love to work any kind of job that's writing related. I sell medical dispensers for a paycheck and I go home every night feeling anally raped. I'm tired of it. And I'm a hard, hard worker -ask anyone who's been in the writing intensives with me.
Any kind of magazine, website, column -whatever -I would love to be a part of.
And while we're on the topic of money, I'd imagine it's going to be an issue for a small venture like this, so I could also help you collect from people who owe, rough them up and things of that nature.
Visit me at Solarcide—A Writer’s Hideout: http://solarcide.com/fiction/nathan-pettigrew/