The Gay Publishing Company started
exploratory operations in the middle of 2007 and, over the next year, received more than a dozen full-size novels, a few agented manuscripts, numerous short stories, a variety of flash fiction, a couple of screenplays, and some memoirs. Since then, new material has continued to arrive weekly—and, more importantly, it still does. Nonetheless, theGayEditor continues to offer a variety of opportunities for contributing or investing at all levels. Terms are flexible and can be negotiated individually.
With your support, The Gay Publishing Company is now planning to begin online publication during the spring of 2010; a virtual publication would quickly follow, and a print magazine could be produced and distributed as early as the end of 2010—with luck, in time for National Coming Out Day and the Pride festivities that surround that October event. Using the same timeline, our first book could then be scheduled for release some time in the middle of 2011. But, your support is needed to make these ambitious dates become a reality.
Where will the funds go?
Our business plan shows a dramatic potential for growth during its first few quarters; however, immediate funds are needed for the following purposes:
- meeting current operating expenses
- funding immediate promotional and advertising expenses
- exploring additional short- and long-range funding options
- finalizing a formal business plan
- setting up legal structures for profit and nonprofit sectors
- expanding the advisory board to include
an experienced publishing professional,
a publishing industry marketing professional,
a nonprofit sector advisor, and
an intellectual property and media rights attorney.
Why help fund a small publishing venture?
Small publishers like The Gay Publishing Company are currently outperforming
“the big guys,” who have been cutting budgets and staff for years. Most of these larger traditional publishing houses no longer solicit original stories, seldom consider first-time authors, and rarely accept gay-themed story lines. They no longer have development personnel who work with authors to get their stories into publishable shape nor promotional budgets to distribute publications outside the so-called big-box bookstores. In general, they do not take risks on projects that don’t promise commercial potential or film possibilities.
Small publishers, on the other hand, like The Gay Publishing Company are more flexible and more reactive to the rapid changes that are taking place today. Small publishers like The Gay Publishing Company are poised to take advantage of unsettled e-book technologies, reader blogs, online writer networks, hands-on distribution capabilities, and other current and coming opportunities. Small publishers like The Gay Publishing Company have smaller budgets and more motivated staffs, as well as more dedicated readers. Small publishers like The Gay Publishing Company do not have to focus on cookie-cutter commercialization practices to make money; they can look primarily at providing quality and variety to their audiences.
But, why help fund a start-up gay publishing venture?
Look again at the collection of material we've gathered in the past few months without even trying. Now, imagine what is going to become of these writings. In my years of experience as theGayEditor, I can tell you what is likely to happen:
- They can self-publish the works, which means paying for every part of the publishing process themselves: editing, typesetting, designing, proofreading, printing, binding, distributing, marketing, and all the hidden expenses that popup during the process.
- Or, they can pursue the “time-honored” method of trying to find an interested and supportive agent who will present the work to a traditional big-name publisher (which then leads to a whole different set of challenges, including the fact that they rarely accept gay-themed story lines).
Oh, or they could just file them away as a personal accomplishment, like most GLBT writers do, and move on to write something else that will also be appreciated by just a few friends.
The Gay Publishing Company is going to add another choice. But the timeline for implementing that choice is up to you. With the financial support of the GLBT community, The Gay Publishing Company will provide several publishing options for GLBT writers and their creations.
What can I do to help?
First, please explore our Web site for additional information about the company and its plans. We're confident that you'll be happy with what you find and hope that you will consider contributing or investing today.
General contributions can be made; or, for information on different investment options, including our unique Investor-Sponsor arrangement, where your favorite nonprofit charity can benefit from your investment in The Gay Publishing Company, please contact theGayEditor directly.
Second, spread the word. And, if you will be attending an event where potential investors might be in attendance, feel free to download and print this single-sheet, double-sided color brochure, "Answers for investors—funding an LGBT publishing venture" (this is a pdf file), take it along, and hand it out for us. (And, yes, we do offer a rather generous finder's fee!) If you know of your event in advance, you can even order copies at no charge from theGayEditor.
Third—well, even your "virtual" support helps. So, thank you for your attention and consideration. |
