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This is something I've been wanted to do for quite some time. A discussion about something I seeded yesterday has spurred me to finally put this into action.
I seek to create a publication of sorts within Newsvine that features the best original writing by Newsvine users. Any and all subjects are welcome.
The publication will take the form of a group: The News Viner.
The group is not open to membership.
Please do not request to join the group. It is not necessary to be a member to read what's been selected for publication, nor to submit your work for consideration. When a piece has been accepted, the author will publish it to Newsvine (if they haven't already) and I will clip it to the group myself.
To read the work selected for inclusion in The News Viner, you simply need to watchlist the group. You can also create a front-page module for the group by clicking "Create New Module" and entering the group's RSS feed (http://bestwriting.newsvine.com/_feeds/rss2/master?articles). You can place the module wherever you'd like on your own front page.
So, how does content get published by the magazine?
In one of three ways.
1. I stumble across great content that should be published in the "magazine." I will contact the author and ask permission for it to be included.
2. A user contacts me and suggests a piece be published in the "magazine." Again, I will contact the author and ask permission before clipping it to the group.
3. User submission. Details on the submission process and submission guidelines will be outlined in a separate article, but basically, one would email me with a link to the piece they are submitting (if already published to Newsvine) or attach a document containing the piece. There is no guarantee that a piece will be accepted. This works the same way it does if you submit a piece to a "regular" publication--a magazine, a journal of fiction or poetry, etc. If your piece is not accepted, you will receive a standard rejection notice.
What kind of content is The News Viner looking for?
The model is The New Yorker magazine. If you're familiar with The New Yorker, you know that it publishes everything from 12-page investigative pieces on political issues to cartoons and photographs.
The News Viner will accept political pieces, poetry and fiction, essays on any subject, interviews, book, music, film, television and arts reviews, editorials and opinion pieces, profiles, humor pieces, and more. And even the occasional cartoon.
I look forward to highlighting the best writing by Newsvine users, especially since the best writing is often ignored in favor of the sensational.
Who is responsible for accepting or rejecting the submissions?
Right now, that's me. As a teacher of fiction at Columbia College in Chicago, a weekly columnist for my local paper, as well as a freelance writer for multiple publications and having acted as editor for several writing contests and traditional publications, I feel I am qualified to do so. Depending on how many submissions are received, I may need to move to an editorial-board model. I may occasionally ask other Newsviners to act as a guest editor from time to time. I may ask other viners who are more skilled at recognizing, say, a great photograph than I might be to take a look at something if I'm not sure.
Why are you doing this?
Because I hate that some of the very best original writing published to Newsvine is so often ignored by the majority of users. I want to do something positive for the Newsvine community by highlighting the work of our best writers. I hope to also encourage some of these writers to begin submitting their work to standard publications. I've used articles I've posted to Newsvine over the years as clips when applying for writing jobs. You can too, and you can point out to editors that your pieces have been selected for inclusion in a Newsvine magazine focused on featuring the best writing on the website.
How often will content be published?
No idea. It could be several times a day, it could be a few times per week. It all depends on what is submitted and accepted, or what's suggested by other users. My goal would be to publish one item per day.
I can't wait! When can I start submitting my stuff?
I will publish a separate article with submission guidelines and rules. Do not send anything to me before you read those guidelines. I will link to the guidelines here once they are complete and published. It's probably going to be a few days at least.
The Magazine needs a cool avatar! Why don't you create one?
I know! I'm terrible at that stuff. Feel free to create an avatar and send it to me for consideration. Credit will be given to the avatar creator.
If you are interested in submitting your work for consideration, keep your eyes open for the submission guidelines.
Thanks!
