Re: a little project
Byrd, Steven T (BYRDS@papa.uncp.edu)
Thu, 06 May 1999 11:01:45 +0000
Well, since a lot of people seem in favor of the idea, and the we have
the publishing resources, I guess it's time to head to the next level,
namely complining all of the entries and "editing" them for print. I say
"editing" because I don't think that there should be any real editing at
all. I mean, sure, some poor slob's gonna have to read all this stuff and
fix spelling, margins, fun stuff like that (my professor calls it making
it "copy ready"), but as for any tough editorial decisions like choosing
what gets used and what to cut out of what story, I don't think we should
even bother with that kind of stuff. Whatever gets submitted should get
in, in my humble opinion, regardless of genre, style, subject matter,
whatever. Basically, the editor's desk should be a simple, one night
stop-over from the writer's hands to the printing press, and no
changes to content should be made.
The issues we will have to look at, however, are (1) number of entries
per person (depending on how many entires we have, I think the max should
be two, that was the maximum number of songs that the bands could put on
the Dinosaur Jr. Mailing List compilation CD), (2) length of entries
(common sense should take care of this one, no novels or epic poems, (3)
Level of Vulgarity (curse and swear all you want to, but no stories
about Bunny's "special treat" for the winning football team...it's just
tacky), (4) Originality...only your own work, signed, and with a small
bio-paragraph so we can all get to know you, please, and finally, (5)
When the hell do we start sending out the stories and to whom? I think
that the quicker we can get on this the better. If we just let it sit in
"Gee, we should do something," limbo, then interest will die down, and
the project will be a bust. I propose that we all have the works we want
published in to the editor by two weeks from next Monday. I think that's
the 24th or whatever. Same thing with artwork, if it's at all possible,
so that the words and the drawing can all be sent to the printer as one
big package.
There are a couple of other little issues to be dealt with, entry
formats, mailing procedures, getting the book out to members, blah, blah,
blah. I'll file those in the "I'm too lazy to think about them" drawer
for right now. As for whom the editor should be, I have no clue. I leave
that up to you guys. I'll take the position if no one else wants it, but
ONLY if no one else wants it. I'm not trying to throw my rather
insubstantial weight around the list or anything, I just think this could
be fun and I want to help, some. If someone else wants to flex his or
her editorial muscle, then just tell me where to send my work, and I'll be a
happy camper.
If any of you guys have problems with these vague guidelines, let me
know. Bye for now.
--"crazy" steven