How much money do you need?
About $2000 to start.
That's a lot. What's it going to be used for?
$1890 of that is dedicated expenses, the rest is in case something costs more than expected or if I find a writer I want to solicit for an issue or if an emergency comes up. The full breakdown (also included in the business plan) is below:
The Website
Domain--$24.62 (2 years via Namecheap, plus WHOIS protection, free one year, $2.88 the next)
Hosting--$200 (for 2 years, may be less if I catch a deal)
Website Design--$500 (the necessity of this will depend on the host I choose)
Banking
Low Account Balance Fees ($14/month)--$170 (If the ezine's account is below $3k, however, fees will incur)
Marketing
Bookmarks--$60 (company not yet chosen, but all I've checked are about $60 for 1000 bookmarks)
Business Cards--$50-75 (via MooCards)
Postage--$120
Two Issues
Fiction--$120 (15 per story * 4 stories per issue * 2 issues)
Poetry--$40 (5 per longer poem * 4 poems per issue * 2 issues)
NonFiction-- 80 (10 per article * 3 articles per issue * 2 issues)
Editing--$500
Total--$1889.62
The Website
Domain--$24.62 (2 years via Namecheap, plus WHOIS protection, free one year, $2.88 the next)
Hosting--$200 (for 2 years, may be less if I catch a deal)
Website Design--$500 (the necessity of this will depend on the host I choose)
Banking
Low Account Balance Fees ($14/month)--$170 (If the ezine's account is below $3k, however, fees will incur)
Marketing
Bookmarks--$60 (company not yet chosen, but all I've checked are about $60 for 1000 bookmarks)
Business Cards--$50-75 (via MooCards)
Postage--$120
Two Issues
Fiction--$120 (15 per story * 4 stories per issue * 2 issues)
Poetry--$40 (5 per longer poem * 4 poems per issue * 2 issues)
NonFiction-- 80 (10 per article * 3 articles per issue * 2 issues)
Editing--$500
Total--$1889.62
What if you raise more than that?
I will be able to put aside money for funding issue three. Money raised for the magazine will be used for the magazine. The first $900 extra that's raised will be set aside for issues three and four. The next $200-300 will be devoted to website upgrades and additional marketing. After that funds will be kept for future issues, additional needs, and possible special issues (something donors would get to vote on).
The important thing to realize is this: You are not funding just one or two issues. You are helping set up a business that, if successful, will continue to publish quality genre stories about queer women (quarterly starting 2014). Eventually you will be helping fund the publication of one or two bound anthologies. You are not helping make a one-time thing. You are helping start something new.
The important thing to realize is this: You are not funding just one or two issues. You are helping set up a business that, if successful, will continue to publish quality genre stories about queer women (quarterly starting 2014). Eventually you will be helping fund the publication of one or two bound anthologies. You are not helping make a one-time thing. You are helping start something new.
What do I get out of helping?
A quality ezine about queer women in genre literature, but that's not all. There are perks. Anyone who donates will get voting rights for that year. Votes will be solicited for issue themes and more. Once someone donates $5, though, special perks are added on.
Perks
Note: Perks stack, so if you give $100, you get the perk for that level and all the levels down to the $5 and "any amount" levels.
Any amount--Voting rights for that year
$5--Listed on the website as a donor, ability to suggest a future issue theme for voting on.
$10--May add a hyperlink to name on donor page, receive a handwritten letter of thanks.
$15--Two bookmarks included in the letter
$20--First 40 people will receive a read-through of their fiction or nonfiction work with comments and questions. This is meant to help with the writing process, rather than serve as a final edit.
$50--10 item annotated link list on any topic of your choosing; 100x25 button space on donors page.
$100--The first 12 people may add a 100 word dedication to either of the first two issues, first come, first serve; 125x125 button space on donors page
$500-- 468x240 permanent banner space on sponsors page.
$1000--Ability to siphon off up to $250 to create a one-time literary prize for contributors to the ezine in your name.
$2000--(For the first person only) I will use my Southwest miles to fly wherever you live, take you to lunch or dinner, and thank you in person. If you do not live in the United States, I will talk with you to create a perk of equal value.
Perks
Note: Perks stack, so if you give $100, you get the perk for that level and all the levels down to the $5 and "any amount" levels.
Any amount--Voting rights for that year
$5--Listed on the website as a donor, ability to suggest a future issue theme for voting on.
$10--May add a hyperlink to name on donor page, receive a handwritten letter of thanks.
$15--Two bookmarks included in the letter
$20--First 40 people will receive a read-through of their fiction or nonfiction work with comments and questions. This is meant to help with the writing process, rather than serve as a final edit.
$50--10 item annotated link list on any topic of your choosing; 100x25 button space on donors page.
$100--The first 12 people may add a 100 word dedication to either of the first two issues, first come, first serve; 125x125 button space on donors page
$500-- 468x240 permanent banner space on sponsors page.
$1000--Ability to siphon off up to $250 to create a one-time literary prize for contributors to the ezine in your name.
$2000--(For the first person only) I will use my Southwest miles to fly wherever you live, take you to lunch or dinner, and thank you in person. If you do not live in the United States, I will talk with you to create a perk of equal value.
How do I donate?
I don't have money right now, but I'm still interested. Is there anything I can do?
Yes! First, please spread the word about the Kickstarter campaign. Tweet, blog, link, post--just please share. The more people know about this project, the more likely Plunge is to reach its $2000 goal.
Second, you can subscribe to the mailing list (see below). The mailing list will receive an infrequent newsletter with updates regarding the ezine, previews of upcoming issues, the ongoing list of themes for voters to choose from, and exclusive 5 question interviews with some of the creators.
Second, you can subscribe to the mailing list (see below). The mailing list will receive an infrequent newsletter with updates regarding the ezine, previews of upcoming issues, the ongoing list of themes for voters to choose from, and exclusive 5 question interviews with some of the creators.
