It’s finally launch day! W00t!!!
Sorry about the lack of fanfare and hype, but were hoping the topics, articles, and features will be the draw. Besides, shameless self promotion is coming, we just need stuff to promote first.
Speaking of which, introductions are in order.
My name is Pat and I’m the defacto Content Wrangler here at baD kARmA INk. The site itself started as part of a larger project, namely a different take on publishing. Earlier this year, an old friend of mine, Chris Helton (you’ll see something from him on Friday), approached me with an idea that went something like this:
Chris: Dude, have you seen this (this being a link to lulu.com)
Me: Yeah man, I’ve checked out a lot of places like that.
Chris: Wow cool. Maybe we should do something like that.
Me: Like what?
Chris: Like an anthology, dude. You know, to get our stuff out there.
Now Chris isn’t the most tech-savvy guy out there (sorry bro, but it’s true), so when he suggests something like this, it usually means a lot of tech work for me, so I was originally reluctant to get involved.
Thing is the more I thought about it, the more I liked idea.
For the past couple of years I’ve been studying publishing, writing (never stop learning, folks), social media, writing tech, reading tech, and just about anything that bridges all of these disparate topics. Course, I’m mostly doing this from the outside, but in this day and age, info is just a Google away.
Somewhere in my head, some random neurons made a connection, and this anthology thing was the catalyst. In this changing time, why not just eschew the traditional publishing industry? What do they offer? (Before sending me angry emails, just remember, I’m simplifying this quite a bit for times sake.)
Editing? That’s easy enough, after all, gangs of grammar-Nazi’s wander the internet looking to prove they know what they are talking about.
Promotion? Hell, the point of promotion is to get eyes on your stuff, and the internet has made that a lot easier. The big cost is putting in the time.
Content? I know a bunch of writers in similar positions who would love to be included just to get their names out there..
Turns out, I have the most of the resources to pull this off. (Again, I was simplifying.)
The idea for badkarmaink.com started as a way of promoting this anthology, but it’s mutated into something more. The idea is to talk about storytelling in it’s myriad forms and the way the technology has changed the way we produce and consume it.
The anthology is still coming, and most of the stories will appear here first, but it’s turned into a separate project as this site has taken on a life of it’s own.
But enough about the anthology, were talking about the website.
We’re shooting for new content here on a daily basis. There are a couple of regular features scheduled, and a lot of random articles planned, not to mention fiction from some of the best writers you’ve never heard of. Here’s the schedule.
Monday: Ben Kenneally’s regular column. Like me, Ben has been watching technology change things and, frankly, I like his taste in books, music, movies, and comics (he was the person that introduced me to Transmetropolitan). The man has good insights, so I talked him into a column.
Tuesday through Thursday: currently nothing fixed, but we have a lots to talk about. Topics currently lined up include a Twilight rant, Podcasts We Like, and maybe a holiday gift guide/wish list or two. Eventually we’d like to get a day for specific topics, like Music, Comics, etc.
Friday: Fridays are for fiction and this week we are going to lead with a story from Chris Helton (cause this is all his fault, damnit). But we won’t just be doing just original stuff. We’ll also have links to our favorite free fiction and fiction sites for you weekend reading enjoyment.
Weekends: Well, when do you think we write this stuff?
We’ll also have other things, links, etc, showing up throughout the week so check back often.
Speaking of which, if you’d like to contribute original stuff, point us to cool links, or otherwise contribute, feel free to submit something. (FYI, submitted fiction has the possibility to end up in the anthology.)
Now, without further adieu, a special Launch Day column from Ben Kenneally.
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