I thought I would take stock of how Sci Phi Journal is going now that the first three issues are out. I’ve got a lot of good feedback and people who read seem to be enjoying it. Thanks to those who left reviews on Amazon and thanks to everybody who helped to promote the magazine, submitted stories and articles, helped with editing and everything else that has made it happen. Three issues was the initial run I committed to doing, to see if the idea was viable and whether it was worth pursing. I did try this once before a number of years ago and it sold all of 10 copies and never got to issue #2, so this time around things are going better than that. The magazine isn’t breaking even yet, but it isn’t doing awfully, getting about a 1/3 of the way to breaking even on each issue.
So where does this leave things? People seem to enjoy the magazine and would like to see it continue, and I would like to see it continue as well. The readership is currently growing, so things are moving in the right direction, but it is expensive to produce each issue and financial issues will eventually kill the magazine if it doesn’t continue to get closer to breaking even. I’d love to be independently wealthy and be able to do the magazine as a hobby and sell it cheaply but unfortunately I can’t afford too and it will need to break even if it is to survive.
So what does this all mean if you are one of the people that would like to see it continue? I’m not going to beg for donations or anything like that. If you would like to donate to the magazine to help underwrite the cost or you would like to sponsor an issue i’d certainly be interested in hearing from you, but ultimately that would only be life support for the magazine and could only ever be a short term strategy to keep things from folding, unless it was quite a large grant (So if anybody does happen to know any eccentric billionaires!).
What the magazine needs is to sell about 1000 copies of each issue in 1 format or another. If it can get to that it will mean the magazine will have reached a point of being able to pay for itself, turning a small profit of a few hundred dollars an issue (Depending on exactly where the issues are sold etc, not all copies generate the same revenue). It currently is selling about a third of that number. You could offer to buy a bunch of issues, and I wont say no, but ultimately what the magazine needs is for news of it to spread and to get more regular readers. So if you like the magazine, and aren’t an eccentric billionaire, if you can promote it on social media, to friends and colleagues, or anything else that can help to move it, then that will insure the magazine will survive. If you have ideas, or there is something I should be doing that I am not, please let me know. I was this to succeed and working together I think it can!
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I, for one, would like to see it continue. I have been promoting it on Facebook and Twitter. I hope it’s helping. I will say that monthly releases is quite ambitious compared to other journals I like. Perhaps it would be easier if you scaled back to bimonthly or quarterly.
Also, I do have some expertise with proofreading and editing if that would help.
Thanks Gene, I do appreciate it 🙂
I think for the next 3 issues it will be every two months. I can afford that and it gives me some breathing room.
If you would like to help editing or proof reading I can always use the help. I can offer you an editor credit for doing so on the front cover, on the ISBN entry and on Amazon.
I’d be happy to help. Can you get my email from these comments?
Hi, Jason. I’m glad Sci Phi Journal has been selling better than its predecessor. Take heart, it can take time for a work to reach its full audience.
By the way, I wasn’t sure if you’d seen this post asking readers for Hugo nominee suggestions over at Brad Torgersen’s blog. https://bradrtorgersen.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/announcing-sad-puppies-3/
Your name comes up several times in the comments–I think deservedly so. It’s a good sign. Keep up the solid work!
Holy smokes Brianman!
If I need 4 for a nomination, depending on when they close I could even be eligible!
It is nice to know when you make a difference thanks for pointing that out 😀
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Have you sent each issue to Lois Tilton at Locus for review? She definitely makes a place for new endeavours, whether Uncanny, which was hugely anticipated, or Bastion, which has as high aspirations but a lower profile. I might have mentioned this before.
I don’t know if you have Stephen but I will do that. Any tips on submitting?