Vision: A Resource for Writers
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Holly Lisle's VisionWebsite Review:PROJECT PULPBy Justin Stanchfield©
2002, By Justin Stanchfield
One of the nicest things about speculative fiction, something
missing in most other genres, is the thriving small press -- those magnificent
labors of love most of us cut our authorial teeth in. Literally dozens of small
press magazines, anthologies, and chapbooks, both paper format and electronic,
provide some of the freshest, most original science fiction, fantasy, and horror
to be found. But keeping track of so many different publications, especially in
the mercurial world of the small press, can be overwhelming. Enter Project Pulp. (http://www.blindside.net/smallpress/
) Project Pulp bills itself as "the .COM of the small
press, an online bookstore for the small press, featuring magazines,
novels/novellas, chapbooks, anthologies, collections, and all sorts of printed
material, as well as some art and indie music," and it certainly lives
up to its promise. It's a site where writers can browse the often daunting
catalog of niche markets, ranging from those printed on home computers to
glossy, color illustrated magazines that give any of the major markets a run for
their money. The brainchild of Jon Hodges, himself a multi-talented writer,
editor, and one of the nicest, most professional people you are likely to
encounter, Project Pulp allows readers and writers access to the bulk of the
small press markets. Both current and back issues are listed, along with brief
synopses and occasionally reader comments. It is not a market guide, nor does it
claim to be. But as an indicator of the health of any given market it can be
invaluable. Instead of hunting through endless websites, most of them
infrequently (if at all) updated, here a writer can view hundreds of issues in
one easy to access site. Looking for a specific issue, or scanning for certain
authors? This is the place to do it. The site itself is relatively straightforward. From the main
page, links direct the user to the other portions of the site, as do a pull-down
index and search engine. Newest additions are listed in side-bars with more
contact links at the bottom. The various pages are somewhat slow to load, though
not unnecessarily so given the amount of information displayed. Follow the link
marked 'Absolutes,' for instance, and you will be taken to the first of three
pages of small press periodicals, arranged alphabetically. The listings
themselves consist of a short description followed by the number of issues
available and thumbnails of the cover art. Smaller links to each issue give the
full table of contents, larger cover art, and pricing information. (The
individual pages, by the way, open very quickly, even on slow machines like
mine.) Banner adds are confined to the far top of the pages, all of which
promote various publications or spec-fic related websites. All in all, the
layout is conventional and simple to navigate, with no surprises. Ordering from Project Pulp is likewise simple, though a little
unconventional for anyone used to major booksellers such as Amazon.com or Barnes
and Noble. A small link at the bottom of each listing takes you to an order form
asking for your name, email, and the product you are purchasing. A second link
takes you to another page listing every issue available. Check the boxes, fill
in the number of copies and type of payment you will be using, and then submit
the form. The rest of the purchase is handled via email, negating any need to
give credit card information over an open connection. I ordered a back issue of
Challenging Destiny using PayPal and completed the entire transaction in less
than ten minutes, scarcely longer than a recent purchase from Amazon.com, given
load times. Payment can be made via check, money order, credit card, or PayPal.
Again, no surprises. Other links and pages offer places for prospective customers
to leave comments, suggest publications or bands, or buy advertising. There is
also a banner exchange program if you are interested in having your
writer-related site displayed. Given that the site is maintained by only three
people -- reviewers Noel K. Hannan and Forrest Agguire, and of course Jon Hodges
-- the amount of material available is nothing short of astounding. Is Project Pulp all inclusive? No. There are still small press
magazines and anthologies that aren't listed. Is it easy to use? Yes. Does it
fill a much-needed niche in spec-fic publishing? Absolutely! The next time
you're in the market for some out-of-the-way reading material, trying to find a
back issue of your favorite magazine, or just wanting to study a market you're
thinking of submitting to, be sure to check this one out. http://www.blindside.net/smallpress/
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