Sorry, lots of laughs, or laugh out loud--but lol.

Just spit balling.

Sounds like an interesting idea. And the idea of polling readers for what they'd like to see sounds interesting, too.

But to drop my two cents into the idea...

Once the polls are answered and a general idea of what is most desired is made, it'd be a wise idea to then entrust it to a chosen writer to put it all together. Kind of like how, by my reading of it, Doc Savage occurred: All the general elements were given to Lester Dent and he went with them, adding his own flair, and success!

Otherwise, I think, too many cooks could ruin the broth, so to speak.

Again, just my two cents...

Yeah, that's pretty much what I meant. I Slaine or a Judge_Dred or a Phantom who has a story in every issue written by a solicited guest writer. Than character then becomes a flagship icon for FS art work and promotion.

It seems more definate a thing to hang a marketing creation around than a shared setting or a multitude of characters would strike me as too difuse. At publishing FS 4x a year(?) It'd take 3 years for the characters to be used over enough to get an identiy and a city or a landmass or a time period isn't a very structured "hook". Someone skipping an issue or two might not realize they're reading a story set in the same place.

It would seem that 4 stories a year about the same iconic character would be more identifiable than 4 stories set in the same city. Or even about 4 characters who happen to know each other--if that makes sense.

But--I'm just elaborating on my original spitball. I'm not saying the other's wouldn't work, not at all. Just that I think one character might be more efficent.

Making the whole of each issue a new shared world anthology might work as well. Just talking it out.

DB, love this part of spitballing, the give and take as people begin working through problems. The downside on the i-net is that it can comes across as arguing. I think you raised valid points so I'm going to try and answer them to see how they sound to you--not refutiate them. Not arguing here--round tabling.

If FS is already getting plenty of subs and the editors are happy with the subs and the product, why tie down one story slot each issue? --they have plenty of subs and the editors like the work then the pool of talent has increased to draw from. You tie down the slot to work toward building something bigger--something closer to marketing concepts.

Would a quarterly publication be able to create a draw for a serial character? Sure. Ecspecially if it were high concept enough that it came with a visual art refernece point used a lot. Would 8 issues a year or 12 work better? Yes. But the concept becomes tied into the artwork--synergy exists even with only 4 issues.

Would kicking things off with an antho be best? Then follow up with a story in each issue? And maybe another antho every so often?

Good to know, I just like to double check how I'm coming across.

I think it could be summed up in a pro con way. Pro (as in if it works on any level) = alright to fabulous results.

Con - the idea does nothing, moves nothing = no real damage.

You have a slot given over to a heroic fantasy story that would have went to another heroic fantasy story -- probably the 'weakest' one since you still have open original story slots.

So an unkown doesn't get a shot and a guy/gal known by FS editors gets a guarenteed sale because of a solicitation. That sucks ( a little, it's only 1 story) for the would be sale the hypothetical slush author would have gotten.

But, from the publications viewpoint it's neither here nor there. Even for nonplussed readers its really neither here nor there, it's still just 1 story.

Just thoughts--I'll bow out a bit so I don't seem like a chimp on a table screaming "my way" (in chimpaneze of course) and let the thought marinate a bit.