Activities: Stories: Storytelling Magazine

			Activities: Stories: Storytelling Magazine

STORYTELLING WORLD magazine:

BACKGROUND: A few years ago we began the journal "Storytelling World" as a "real" academic (and delightfully challenging) experience. SUDDENLY... An amazing number of serious, professional, and highly-respected storytellers communicated that they wanted to be apart of this adventure. As a result I have encountered the kindest and most knowledgeable people who have written stories and/or articles for this publication--and who still continue to do so.

THEMES: Each issue centers around a theme. Issue 11 was Creating and Crafting Stories (featuring Jay O'Callahan); Issue 12 was The Storytelling Audience (featuring Ed Stivender); Issue 13 will center around Storytelling and Technology (with David Holt donning his "thunderwear"), Issue 14 has a possible topic of storytelling in therapy, etc., etc. Any theme suggestions readers? MONEY: We pay nothing to those who send stories/articles. Also, our staff is all voluntary.

ADVERTISEMENT: We do not accept ads. (This way we can't be "bought.") We "advertise" new storytelling resources only through the annual STORYTELLING WORLD AWARDS, and we advertise "tellers" (who give of their valuable time and energy through their written material) by including their photographs and a brief bio.

MARKETING: We don't. If folks hear about us and want to subscribe, we're happy. If not, we're still happy. So far we haven't really done anything to spread the word about this publication. My enjoyment with this adventure will continue as long as I don't become too entrepreneurial or get too stressed out about the business factors. Maybe this isn't financially smart, but it allows me to keep the fun and pleasure in it.

READERSHIP: Currently we have a readership in the low thousands--not an impressive number, but we're satisfied. We mail these journals across the United States and into several countries. Storytellers from two other countries (Ireland--Batt Burns; Australia--Kerry Mallan) have graced our covers.

SUBSCRIPTION COST: It's dirt-cheap: $8.95 per year (or $16.95 for two years). That really doesn't cover our costs, but who's counting? Most periodicals obtain their budget through their paid ads, but our philosophy excludes them. I'll be happy to send anyone a subscription form (or jot down your address with a check and send it to me). We publish two issues each year.

GOVERNANCE: We have a permanent editorial board in addition to a separate group of workers for each individual issue. What magnificent talent! ALL manuscripts proceed through both boards "blindly" (names of authors of all circulated manuscripts are removed). About thirty workers are dedicated to each issue. TIME: It takes us mega-months to get an issue ready. We all feel that we've earned a new Ph.D. each time we complete a publication. But what a magnificent education and positive experience!

FLAVOR: We are laid-back, fun-loving, but very serious about what goes on the printed page. We have a blast putting this journal together. What energy and talent our board, our enrollees, our volunteers, and our writers have! We are indeed honored.

MISTAKES: Yes, we make them. But we learn from them. So far we have had two major criticisms: (1) We don't have enough "white space." (This is a frequently-heard comment; however, it lets us cram heaps more content into each issue); and (2) We used to have a "favorite teller/story" page until a bulk of our readers objected to one particular storyteller we featured. (Simple solution: We never ran that column again after that.) However, having two major complaints just ain't bad, eh? We'll have more. Maybe even lots more. But we'll not get bent out of shape, and we'll learn from them as they happen.

COMPETITION WITH NSA: We don't compete. Their magazine has different goals from ours. Both are needed. I am very thankful that (in the late 80s) I was able to work with NSA's magazine. It was a magnificent experience for me, and I must give them much credit for sparking my interest in creating our non-competitive periodical. They were (and are) really terrific people to work with.

A JOYFUL ENDING TO THIS LONG MESSAGE: I wouldn't miss this experience for the WORLD (no pun intended). It's one of the numerous fantastic pleasures storytelling brings to my life.

My regular mailing address is ETSU Box 70647, Johnson City, TN 37614 (423) 439-4297. Flora Joy (editor)

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