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Bill Ward
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  		   Posted 3/29/2008 5:28 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Only if those readers are writers looking to do market research. Most markets already rely too heavily on that kind of thing for their readership, anyway.

The thinking with raising the payrates is that it will attract better known writers, and those better known writers will attract their following to the magazine. I just don't see this happening these days, especially not to an extent where big fans of a writer would suddenly become supporters of a magazine because his work appeared in it.

I think many of the paying markets that pay below semi-pro level would be better served by using whatever money they do get (lets assume they enjoy enough success to have the luxury of an actual profit) for promotions. In particular I think a penny a word magazine that finds itself even contemplating raising payrates would do better to think about increasing the rate of publication, because more frequency would translate into more attention from both readers and writers. Obviously, 'more frequency' doesn't apply to EDF.

billwardwriter.com

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Jordan Lapp
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  		   Posted 3/29/2008 4:56 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
My question was, do higher pay rates really attract more readers? I'm not so sure they do...

Jordan Lapp
Managing Editor
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RHFay
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  		   Posted 3/28/2008 11:26 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
<<scratchin' my head again>>
 
If a payment of one dollar is what the editor and contributor are both comfortable with, what's it matter?
 
You can't expect every market to pay pro-rates, and I think it's reasonable to assume that different markets have different pay rates.
 
 
 
 

"I'm going to do what the warriors of old did. I'm going to recite poetry!" 
 
Richard H. Fay - Azure Lion Productions 
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crystalwizard
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  		   Posted 3/28/2008 10:53 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Gustavo said...
Anyone complaining about a low pay rate is simply whining.


anyone complaining about being paid at all is whining.
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Gustavo
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  		   Posted 3/28/2008 10:21 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Who complained about the pay rate??? I won't add anything to the positive comments on the exposure and the business model - simply say that I agree with everything that's been said here and on the EDF forum.

But there's another thing that nobody mentioned: nobody is forcing anyone to sub to EDF. If you don't like the payrates, send your work somewhere else. End of Story.

Jordan, meanwhile, will continue to have my subs in his slush (sorry Jordan), and I will continue to thank him for my dollar (and the exposure, which I consider an integral part of the payment), which is, after all, what I agreed to when I sent the story in. Anyone complaining about a low pay rate is simply whining.

Visit my livejournal!  http://bondo-ba.livejournal.com/ 

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crystalwizard
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  		   Posted 3/28/2008 2:01 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Jordan,

I don't know who the guy that posted on LJ was, but don't listen to him. Your pay rate is just fine. It would be great if everyone could afford to pay the same rates as the pro markets, but even the pro markets can't allways afford their own rates. You have a good business plan, you have solid ideas how to take your magazine where you want it to go. Stick to them and you'll get it there.

Never meddle in the affairs of a wizard unless you are soggy and hard to light!



Managing Editor of Flashing Swords

Visit my art gallery on art wanted
All my books in print

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Jordan Lapp
Ebony & Ivory



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  		   Posted 3/27/2008 10:09 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Brian,

The RSS feed issue seems unbelievably stupid to me. What's the difference between e-mail and RSS Subscribers? Subscribing to our feed through LJ >does< help, I believe, so if you could spread the word there, I would appreciate it.

Deven,

My uncle won 10 mil in the lottery a few years back (then lost most of it in the Dot Com crash, d'oh!) so the odds of lightning striking twice in the same family are infantessimal... nevertheless... hope springs eternal ;)

Nick,

A good Cuban cigar roller is hard to find way up here in Canada, and I wouldn't dream of sending you anything less than fresh ;)

Jordan Lapp
Managing Editor
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DAWaverly
Quirky Weirdness



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  		   Posted 3/27/2008 8:49 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I can not add much, as I agree with what has been said...
As a writer struggling with craft, I feel that I owe EDF money for the wonderful feedback I have gotten on stories they did not accept. (Yes, a donation will be on the way in the near future.)

Jordan, are you actively playing the lottery, or are you just teasing us?

- Deven
Blogtide Rising

published
"The Journey" at Every Day Fiction

forthcoming
"An Awakening of Shadows" in the Infinity Swords anthology
"All That Glitters" at Every Day Fiction

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H.P. Lovesauce
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  		   Posted 3/27/2008 8:30 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Jordan, you laid out several points I can't see anyone reasonable arguing with.
Swashbuckler said...
I know people are reading ... and isn't that the only real reason to write short fiction of any kind?
Yes. Yes it is.
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tchernabyelo
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  		   Posted 3/27/2008 6:21 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I didn't realise the issue with email subscribers (of which I am one) compared to RSS feed subscribers.

I'm not really au fait with RSS feeds. I do read a few of them that are pumped to livejournal (which is the hangout for a lot of writing types). Would having an LJ RSS presence help EDF, or am I just being a complete twonk here?

Brian Dolton
 
Yi Qin stories:
"The Box Of Beautiful Things" - IGMS#3
"The Man Who Was Never Afraid" - Abyss and Apex #20
"At Blue Crane Falls" - Abyss and Apex #25
"Where No Wind Blows" - Staffs & Starships #2
"What The Sea Refuses" - Black Gate (forthcoming)
"What The Heart Bears" - Black Gate (forthcoming)
"Above The Clouds" - Paper Blossoms, Sharpened Steel (forthcoming)
 
Other Land Of Wind And Ghosts stories:
"The Dragon Path" - Fictitious Force (forthcoming)
"Three Out Of Four" - Sorcerous Signals Feb-Apr 08 
 
Stories in other settings:
"The Unicorn Hunter" - OG's Speculative Fiction #8
"Call Centre" - Necrotic Tissue #1
"When Winter Came" - ASIM #32
"Cold Fire" - Flashing Swords #9
"St. Saviour And The Devil's Dandy" - Flashing Swords (forthcoming)

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darkbow
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  		   Posted 3/27/2008 2:12 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Cigars? Did I hear 'cigars?' What brand? I'll write for cigars. Good ones anyways.

www.tyjohnston.blogspot.com
http://radiodarkbow.blogspot.com Two songs a day, every day.

"Walking Between the Rain" at Every Day Fiction on March 21, 2008
"Beneath a Persian Sun" upcoming in Carnivah House's "Infinity Swords" anthology
"Deep in the Land of the Ice and Snow" in "The Return of the Sword" anthology
"Hot Off the Press" Ray Gun Revival #25, 2007

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Nicholas
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  		   Posted 3/27/2008 12:48 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.

I concur. The only other place where I've gotten as many comments as EDF is over at Pseudopod. Anything else has been a distant second--lucky to get back one, two responses tops. In most cases, the last good thing one hears about a story is from the editor when he/she accepts it.

I've donated back all three of my dollars, because--obviously--I don't write for EDF for the money. I do it for the high-quality cigars Jordan sends me. Which I'm still waiting for.

 
 

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Jordan Lapp
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  		   Posted 3/27/2008 12:10 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Thanks for the donation, Nik! It's totally appreciated!

I totally agree, Steve. Flash is truly a "for the love" endaevour.

Jordan Lapp
Managing Editor
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Swashbuckler
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  		   Posted 3/27/2008 12:10 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Nik: Point well taken. I like reading EDF, too.

Steve Goble

Visit my blog, Swords Against Boredom, for news on published fiction and upcoming stories.

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darkbow
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  		   Posted 3/27/2008 12:09 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
The feedback I receive on my stories at EDF, and simply the fact I'm being read again, is worth far more to me than the money I could expect from any short story sale.

Well, of course, unless Jordan wins that lottery.:-)

www.tyjohnston.blogspot.com
http://radiodarkbow.blogspot.com Two songs a day, every day.

"Walking Between the Rain" at Every Day Fiction on March 21, 2008
"Beneath a Persian Sun" upcoming in Carnivah House's "Infinity Swords" anthology
"Deep in the Land of the Ice and Snow" in "The Return of the Sword" anthology
"Hot Off the Press" Ray Gun Revival #25, 2007

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Nik
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  		   Posted 3/27/2008 12:04 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Swashbuckler said...
Worrying about how much you get paid for a flash story is like worrying about whether your tennis serve was out by a foot or out by a dozen yards. It doesn't matter.

What matter to me is that when I publish a story at EDF, I hear from readers. Mostly in the comments, sometimes via email, occasionally at my blog. But I know people are reading ... and isn't that the only real reason to write short fiction of any kind?


Well said.

I would only add that I also enjoy reading EDF and interacting with other authors.

Nicholas Ian Hawkins

Forthcoming
"Knowledge and Dust," in Magic & Mechanica, from Ricasso Press, Spring 2008

Published
"What Heroes Leave Behind," in Return of the Sword, Flashing Swords Press, March 2008
"The Weald Maiden's Will," in Every Day Fiction, March 5, 2008
"Relativity," in FLASHSHOT, September 28, 2007


Visit my website, Trampler of Beautiful Phrases, at nihawkins.wordpress.com

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Nik
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  		   Posted 3/27/2008 12:02 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Jordan Lapp said...
Thanks for the comments, Bill. The truth is that if I won the lottery we'd pay 25c/word just for the hell of it.


In that case, I just donated enough for you to buy a 20-word story. My only request is that it be 20 words of fantasy;-).

If I come up with any ideas on how you can earn enough money to realistically raise rates, I'll let you know. But all in all, I think EDF is doing just fine, and you should know your work is recognized and appreciated.

Nicholas Ian Hawkins

Forthcoming
"Knowledge and Dust," in Magic & Mechanica, from Ricasso Press, Spring 2008

Published
"What Heroes Leave Behind," in Return of the Sword, Flashing Swords Press, March 2008
"The Weald Maiden's Will," in Every Day Fiction, March 5, 2008
"Relativity," in FLASHSHOT, September 28, 2007


Visit my website, Trampler of Beautiful Phrases, at nihawkins.wordpress.com

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Swashbuckler
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  		   Posted 3/27/2008 12:02 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Worrying about how much you get paid for a flash story is like worrying about whether your tennis serve was out by a foot or out by a dozen yards. It doesn't matter.

What matters to me is that when I publish a story at EDF, I hear from readers. Mostly in the comments, sometimes via email, occasionally at my blog. But I know people are reading ... and isn't that the only real reason to write short fiction of any kind?

Steve Goble

Visit my blog, Swords Against Boredom, for news on published fiction and upcoming stories.

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Jordan Lapp
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  		   Posted 3/26/2008 10:38 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Thanks for the comments, Bill. The truth is that if I won the lottery we'd pay 25c/word just for the hell of it.

Jordan Lapp
Managing Editor
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Bill Ward
Biblioholic



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  		   Posted 3/26/2008 10:29 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I posted a reply over there. Basically I think it would be foolish to try to raise your rates, and that should be obvious to anyone that stops to think that you're buying 365 stories a year.

billwardwriter.com

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Jordan Lapp
Ebony & Ivory



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  		   Posted 3/26/2008 9:56 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Hey guys,
 
I posted a fairly long-winded thread in response to a write complaint about why EDF only pays a buck a story. I'd really love to here your thoughts and ideas on it. You can find it here.

Jordan Lapp
Managing Editor
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