Five Appropriate Reasons to Donate to Strange Horizons and One Slightly Inappropriate Reason
So if you're reading this you may already know that thanks to John Scalzi, Strange Horizons has already met and exceeded its fund drive goals. But the fund drive is still open, and in case you haven't yet forked over a few bucks I'd like to tell you why I love this magazine.
1. They pay pro rates for fiction. For an online magazine, this is rare; hell, it's rare for print. It's even rarer that magazines which do it endure, and SH has been around for almost ten years, putting out a quality product every week, and treating their writers well.
2. They publish new writers. Look through the Strange Horizons archives (nearly every story they've ever published is still there for you to read), and you'll rarely see the same names repeated. That's because the editors are committed to finding new talent. And let's talk about some of that talent: the aforementioned John Scalzi, Stephanie Burgis, Greg van Eekhout, Jenn Reese, Ben Rosenbaum, Alaya Dawn Johnson, David Moles, Meghan McCarron, Genevieve Valentine, Haddayr Copley-Woods, Alice Sola Kim, Rudi Dornemann, Tim Pratt, Veronica Schanoes, Sandra McDonald, K. Tempest Bradford, Justine Larbalestier, Cecil Castellucci, Richard Butner, Jo Walton, Nnedi Okorafor, John Hansen, Christopher Barzak, Steve Berman, Sarah Prineas, Douglas Lain, Charlie Anders, Barth Anderson, Alan Deniro, Naomi Kritzer, Dean Francis Alfar, Heather Shaw, Jay Lake, Cory Doctorow, M.K. Hobson, Gavin Grant, Patrick Samphire, Lisa Goldstein, Theodora Goss, Vandana Singh, Paul Melko, Jason Stoddard, John Aegard, Chris Nakashima-Brown, Elizabeth Bear, Sarah Monette, Charles Coleman Finlay, Hal Duncan, N. K. Jemisin, Marguerite Reed, Eliot Fintushel, Joey Comeau, Nia Stephens, Cat Rambo, Lavie Tidhar, Amy Sisson, Leah Bobet, Deborah Coates, and so many more that I had to stop there before I lost my mind. I'm certain you recognize at least a couple of those names; the rest you can read at the archives, which are always there and free to read. No login necessary! That's nearly 500 stories just waiting there, well worth a small (or even a VERY LARGE) donation.
3. They publish poetry. SH is probably the strongest poetry market in the field. The list of Rhysling Award nominees usually has several poems from SH on it.
4. They publish genre-related articles, columns, and reviews. They aren't just part of the field, they're covering it. They even give me the chance to indulge myself with the occasional film review.
5. They are down with diversity. Here I'm going to steal a line from Haddayr: While we have arguments in SF/F about inclusion of women and people of color, SH quietly goes about just publishing them. Take another look at that list up there if you don't believe me.
6. They are sexy, sexy people. Seriously. First, they're volunteers, which is sexy. Second, they work hard, which is also sexy. Third, staring is creepy, so just give them some money.
Want to know more about how Strange Horizons' financing and fund-raising work? Editor-in-chief Susan breaks it down here. Want to donate? (Yay!) Click here and scroll down to the buttons.
Here endeth my pitch.
1. They pay pro rates for fiction. For an online magazine, this is rare; hell, it's rare for print. It's even rarer that magazines which do it endure, and SH has been around for almost ten years, putting out a quality product every week, and treating their writers well.
2. They publish new writers. Look through the Strange Horizons archives (nearly every story they've ever published is still there for you to read), and you'll rarely see the same names repeated. That's because the editors are committed to finding new talent. And let's talk about some of that talent: the aforementioned John Scalzi, Stephanie Burgis, Greg van Eekhout, Jenn Reese, Ben Rosenbaum, Alaya Dawn Johnson, David Moles, Meghan McCarron, Genevieve Valentine, Haddayr Copley-Woods, Alice Sola Kim, Rudi Dornemann, Tim Pratt, Veronica Schanoes, Sandra McDonald, K. Tempest Bradford, Justine Larbalestier, Cecil Castellucci, Richard Butner, Jo Walton, Nnedi Okorafor, John Hansen, Christopher Barzak, Steve Berman, Sarah Prineas, Douglas Lain, Charlie Anders, Barth Anderson, Alan Deniro, Naomi Kritzer, Dean Francis Alfar, Heather Shaw, Jay Lake, Cory Doctorow, M.K. Hobson, Gavin Grant, Patrick Samphire, Lisa Goldstein, Theodora Goss, Vandana Singh, Paul Melko, Jason Stoddard, John Aegard, Chris Nakashima-Brown, Elizabeth Bear, Sarah Monette, Charles Coleman Finlay, Hal Duncan, N. K. Jemisin, Marguerite Reed, Eliot Fintushel, Joey Comeau, Nia Stephens, Cat Rambo, Lavie Tidhar, Amy Sisson, Leah Bobet, Deborah Coates, and so many more that I had to stop there before I lost my mind. I'm certain you recognize at least a couple of those names; the rest you can read at the archives, which are always there and free to read. No login necessary! That's nearly 500 stories just waiting there, well worth a small (or even a VERY LARGE) donation.
3. They publish poetry. SH is probably the strongest poetry market in the field. The list of Rhysling Award nominees usually has several poems from SH on it.
4. They publish genre-related articles, columns, and reviews. They aren't just part of the field, they're covering it. They even give me the chance to indulge myself with the occasional film review.
5. They are down with diversity. Here I'm going to steal a line from Haddayr: While we have arguments in SF/F about inclusion of women and people of color, SH quietly goes about just publishing them. Take another look at that list up there if you don't believe me.
6. They are sexy, sexy people. Seriously. First, they're volunteers, which is sexy. Second, they work hard, which is also sexy. Third, staring is creepy, so just give them some money.
Want to know more about how Strange Horizons' financing and fund-raising work? Editor-in-chief Susan breaks it down here. Want to donate? (Yay!) Click here and scroll down to the buttons.
Here endeth my pitch.