Am I the Last Fan Fiction Magazine Editor?
James Bow
party? Do you know what I mean when I talk about the slightly empty
feeling when you fulfill the old saying "and the last one out, turn out
the lights."
Well, that's something like what I'm feeling, now, as I contemplate my
last two issues of "Myth Makers" (due for release on October 11th).
The realm of electronic fan fiction is alive and well on
alt.drwho.creative and in the various online archives, but the golden
age of Doctor Who Print fanzines appears to be over. It's a shame, too.
For some time before I got into this hobby, I was a young newbie,
looking up in awe at the great fanzine editors like Cheryl Duval and
Mary Ann Johansen, to name but a few. When I started producing and
editing "Trenchcoat", the field had shrunk considerably, but I knew that
I could always count on Kevin Parker and his "Roving Reporter" to
constantly challenge me and encourage me through our shared rivalry.
Now, "Myth Makers" has won the Best Doctor Who Fanzine Fan-Quality Award
at Media West for three years in a row, now. On only one occassion (the
first) was the fanzine running against anybody other than itself ("Myth
Makers" puts out two fanzines a year). Where have all the fanzines gone?
It is true that the Fan-Q awards aren't a definitive indicator of
quality. Indeed, the Fan-Q's only purpose, I think, is to foster a
friendly rivalry between fanzine editors and help encourage people to
put out more and better fanzines. In the case of "Doctor Who", however,
I'm finding myself alone on the dance floor, so to speak.
But I can't believe that. I can not believe that "Myth Makers" is the
only fanzine out there to have produced issues in 1998. C'mon, guys,
this is the thirty-fifth anniversary of "Doctor Who"! The Jade
Anniversary! People out there must be doing *something* special. There
must be a fanzine coming out somewhere. Is there? Is there anybody out
there reading this who has, or will, come out with a fanzine by the end
of this year?
Helllllllloooooooooooo! <echo>
Best,
James
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Charles Daniels
> But I can't believe that. I can not believe that "Myth Makers" is the
> only fanzine out there to have produced issues in 1998. C'mon, guys,
> this is the thirty-fifth anniversary of "Doctor Who"! The Jade
> Anniversary! People out there must be doing *something* special. There
> must be a fanzine coming out somewhere. Is there? Is there anybody out
> there reading this who has, or will, come out with a fanzine by the end
> of this year?
Well I tell you I would be happy to launch a fanzine biut I would probably
wish to review various fanzines first and then do something drastically
different and bizarre conpared to the rest. I have lots of fanzines from
the 80s stored away, maybe I can look through them for some ideas and
start some understanding of what would be interesting and what is an old
hat.
james ambuehl
Doctor oriented?
Does ANYONE put out, or know of, any UNIT/Third Doctor fiction zines?
Any zine stories out there with any of the following?:
- Silurians/Sea Devils
- Nestenes/Autons
- Yeti/Great Intelligence
-- Jim
TARDIS66
>There
>must be a fanzine coming out somewhere. Is there? Is there anybody out
>there reading this who has, or will, come out with a fanzine by the end
>of this year?
>
>
>Best,
>James
Well, now that I am once again employed, the Knights of the White Guardian
should have a new zine coming out this year. Or until I get my butt off the
ground. I think it's going to be called either Galactic Roundtable or The
Black Scrolls of Rassilon". The text is done, now I just need artwork. That's
always been our weak point.
With any luck, it should be out by United Fan Con in November.
Rob Claffie - The Knights of the White Guardian
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Rampart/2145/
I'm half-British. On my mother's side.
James Bow
>
> >There
> >must be a fanzine coming out somewhere. Is there? Is there anybody
> >out there reading this who has, or will, come out with a fanzine by
> >the end of this year?
> >
> >Helllllllloooooooooooo! <echo>
> >
> >Best,
> >James
>
> Well, now that I am once again employed, the Knights of the White
> Guardian should have a new zine coming out this year. Or until I get
> my butt off the ground. I think it's going to be called either
> Galactic Roundtable or The Black Scrolls of Rassilon". The text is
> done, now I just need artwork. That's always been our weak point.
>
> With any luck, it should be out by United Fan Con in November.
I am delighted to hear this. Would you be interested in participating in
the Fan-Q awards in May 1999? It's about *(&^%! time that we get some
competition into these awards!
I'll also be e-mailing you to ask you more about your fanzine.
All the best,
TARDIS66
>I am delighted to hear this. Would you be interested in participating in
>the Fan-Q awards in May 1999? It's about *(&^%! time that we get some
>competition into these awards!
I swear, this is the first time I've heard of any awards given to fan fiction.
I think it's about time to take this to email so that I don't look like such a
newbie.
James Bow
>
> >I am delighted to hear this. Would you be interested in participating
> >in the Fan-Q awards in May 1999? It's about *(&^%! time that we get
> >some competition into these awards!
>
> I swear, this is the first time I've heard of any awards given to fan
> fiction. I think it's about time to take this to email so that I don't
> look like such a newbie.
Don't worry, you're not sounding like a newbie at all. Indeed, I think a
few people in rec.arts.drwho could benefit from hearing this.
The first thing I have to tell you about the Fan-Q awards is that they
are essentially meaningless.
They're run by the Media*West con every Memorial Day weekend in Lansing,
Michigan. This convention, which has been going for about 18 years,
now, features no guests whatsoever. Just fanzines. Fanzines, fanzines,
fanzines.
Media*West is THE fanzine convention of North America, I believe. With
regular attendance of about 1000 per year, it attracts hundreds of
fanzines from several different fandoms, who gather and buy, sell and
trade. For a number of fanzine editors, it's like a high holy day, an
ideal time to premiere new issues and new publications.
They also run the Fan-Quality Awards. To be nominated for a Fan-Quality
Award, you need only have three people nominate a fan fiction fanzine, a
non fiction magazine, a story, or an artist, that was released or put
out new material in the previous year. If more than one fanzine, story,
or artist is nominated within a single fandom, then the battle is on, so
to speak. People can vote online or at the convention itself, and the
results are counted and announced at the end of the convention.
Now, this is why I say that the Fan-Q Awards are meaningless, as they
are nominated by fans and voted on by fans and, as you illustrate, the
convention has a strong local bias. Media*West generally attracts
attendees from southern Ontario, Michigan and the Ohio Valley region and
so fanzines which come from that area generally have the advantage. Fans
also tend to vote for what they know, so better marketed fanzines tend
to do better than smaller ones.
However, the Fan-Qs do invigorate fandom, at least from my perspective.
Fanzine editors engage in a friendly rivalry, but the fact that,
together, they get their fandom as a separate category on the ballot, is
the true victory, here.
When only one item within a fandom has been nominated within a category,
the category is dropped from the ballot. I think it would be a
considerable blow to "Doctor Who" fandom over here if "Doctor Who" fell
from the Fan-Q ballot. It would mean that there are less than two
"Doctor Who" fanzines left, and it could be taken as an indication that
the fandom is dying.
The Fan-Q winners receive nice certificates and I will admit that it is
a considerable ego-boost to win, but the best thing about the Fan-Qs is
that it encourages more fanzines and more friendly competition between
fanzines. And I would very much like somebody to compete against. Are
you up for the challenge? :-)
You can find more information at the Media West web site, which can be
accessed at:
http://members.aol.com/mdiawstcon/mwc19.htm
Best,
James Bow
Cliff Bowman
>
> >I am delighted to hear this. Would you be interested in participating in
> >the Fan-Q awards in May 1999? It's about *(&^%! time that we get some
> >competition into these awards!
>
> I swear, this is the first time I've heard of any awards given to fan fiction.
> I think it's about time to take this to email so that I don't look like such a
> newbie.
>
Buffer - and I was enjoying a quick peek into the fanzine world. I
wouldn't worry too much about looking like a newbie - we all have to
start somewhere. For art might I suggest you try asking for art in the
binaries group(s) ? I know a lot of what gets posted there is screen
grabs and the like, but there are a few people who do original art too
(usually vortex/galaxy scenes, maybe a TARDIS or two, sometimes Daleks
and the like).
I'm (almost) sure that aspiring artists can be found in the Who groups
if one does but look for them with great patience.
Cheers,
Cliff Bowman
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced. - Gregory Benford, Foundation's Fear
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Jac Milnestein
Wow, I wonder if e at "The Other" stand a chance of even getting metioned at an awards thing..hmmm, doubtful,
oh well.....sorry, I'm just going to stop right here now before I scream with frustration, okay?
la tristesse durera,
jac