Shady Dealings

Webzines—leaving the Christmas lights up year round

by D. Garcia Wahl

“I think many people who start webzines have no idea what they’re getting into and subsequently quit out of frustration. Trying to produce a publication of quality is no easy task. There’s never enough staff, quality submissions, money or time for a webzine to fulfill the vision of its creator and/or managing editors. Many webzines or reviews are started around a table in a coffee shop or over cocktails. Once the caffeine or alcohol articulates the creator/managing editor’s vision, they set out to fulfill it. Only once they’re knee-deep in submissions, website hosting fees, marketing and promoting and trying to find volunteers will the creator/managing editor finally realize what they’ve undertaken. And this revelation presents itself the day before you get your first audience member. Burn-out is high and so is the stress. Oh, did I mention this is usually done on a shoestring budget, too?”

While trying to obtain his master’s degree (emphasizing in book production), Mark Flesvig (with the help of friends) started up the locally-based webzine, SPLIT CITY REVIEW (www.splitcity.com) wanting to “create a venue for up-and-coming writers and artists to showcase their work online and eventually in print”. In a time where webzines appear one day and close their doors the next, Mark is truly devoted to the success of Split City Review while being well aware of the pitfalls that come with the territory.

“The other problem is, quite frankly, the authors. Many authors I’ve dealt with in the last year don’t understand their role and their obligation doesn’t stop when SCR posts their work. The modern-day author should know that they have a responsibility to help any review that generously posts/publishes their work. Once the author clicks “send” and emails their submission their role isn’t over; it’s just beginning—or should be. Like all “grass-roots” (God, I hate that phrase) systems, webzines are community-based. If authors want to see their name in lights (even if they’re small, Christmas lights), they need to offer help to the webzines and reviews that are trying to promote their work. I believe that most webzines fail because everybody wants to be published and only a handful of people want to make this happen.”

The question has long lingered whether or not being published in a webzine is practical resume fodder and whether or not the publishing world takes any notice of an author’s publishing history with webzines. Mark says not yet “but as webzines discover previously unknown—but none-the-less talented—authors, webzines/literary reviews will become the scouts of the literary community and not the minor leagues.” For now, Mark is working at doubling the membership of SCR and hoping to create a small press of his own. In its early stages, SCR has the right idea and focus. It is a welcome addition to webzines (local or other). We have lost many that were based locally along the way. Urban Pioneer had a good run at publishing local writers but has changed format now declaring “it used to be a newspaper catering to writers local to the Twin Cities. Now after a career change the Urban Pioneer has become a clearinghouse for writings and musings on wine.” The writing now is mostly from the pen of Urban Pioneer’s creator, Michael Dombrow. Other local webzines, such as Mental Contagion, fill their space with writing that is utterly pointless. Mark has high aspirations for SCR:

“Split-City Review is constantly looking for thought-provoking works of quality that challenge readers. We really don’t have many boundaries. We are trying to create an environment of commentary, so having boundaries can be counter-productive in all but the most repellent, hate-filled and offensive drivel—but then these wouldn’t be a submission of quality, would they? We strive to print works that will provoke thought and discussion. We hope these discussions will inspire readers to explore genres they wouldn’t normally read, allow writers to better hone their craft by studying other authors’ work and exercise everybody’s critical eyes to raise that standards of what is ’good or successful’ art.”

All too often I have heard that webzines are a fad that will eventually fade as all fads do. Mark refutes this and says that webzines are the evolution of small audience publishers as technology has dictated and he appreciates the access that is allowed. Still webzines are a dime a dozen, some making their mark with bells and whistles while others forego the technology available to them and concentrate solely on making sure the best writing they can find appears on their site. Success of a webzine, in the end, is a matter of longevity and the ability to grow. Mark has his recipe for a successful webzine:

“Patience (with me and everybody else)…a brilliant staff (those who left will be missed)…a webmaster that’s as passionate about your review/webzine as you are (you really are stupendous)…hmmm…readers who want to see you succeed as much as you do…oh…and a big, fat, juicy grant. Does anybody know of any?”

© 2005 by D. Garcia Wahl.
D. Garcia-Wahl's first novel, Ashes of mid autumn, was published last year and his first full collection of poetry, All that does come of madden'd days, hit the bookstores recently. He is currently putting the finishing touches on three more novels and another collection of poetry.