So this poll is a two parter - one is the Poll itself - "Where is it better to be published?"
The second part is "Why" do you feel that way.

First of all I am not trying to deminish any one of these methods. I looking to find out a general concensus on attitudes about publishing media.

I see a lot of joy when people get a magazine article printed or a picture in a gallery as in FSM. I haven''t seen as much when features are put on this site.

Think about this - In a magazine you get ''seen'' for a month by only subscribers. The magazine is filed away on a shelf and its ''gone''. On a web site you are ''seen'' by a dynamic group of subscribers and your feature never goes away.

My goal is to get you all to think publishing and creating content and maybe add some to the site.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Scott,

My guess is that it has a certain amount to do with exclusivity, that is, not everyone who submits an article to a magazine gets published. In fact, most people I know who've been published were asked to submit, they didn't just send stuff in to the magazine. Raymond Giulianni of Steel Masters invited me to submit - I never would have done it on my own (the fact that I've not followed through is another matter), and I have to admit it was kinda flattering in a way, even though I'd never be able to read it since it's only published in French!

There's just something about being validated by strangers, I suppose.

Anyhow, my 2cents.

Now, if I can just get my book published - THAT would be very cool.

Regards,
Barry

Barry - I can see your point.
Only a select few actually make it to press - probably because of the lead times and production costs and that there are only certain numbers of pages that actually can get stuff printed on them

I can definitly understand that.

So - I'll toss this out - if you've been invited to publish - I'm opening that door right now as the Diorama Editor I invite you to submit some of your work.

Thanks for the feedback - thats exactally what I'm looking for.

Hey I invited Barry to publish on Armorama when I met him at AMPS in 2002.

Hey Barry...good to see you here.

Jim

i think there is all the other side in that being published in a magazine also means you get paid, and i know this is how some modellers fund there hobby.

From a personal point of view i like to post mine to web sites as i feel they get a greater exposure plus it is easier for others to ask questions on your work, something which is a little harder to do in a magazine, and for the builder to be able to answer straight away or expaline better.

i also think that some people are put of submitting articles as they feel that there work does not reach the high standard set by other modeller, so the feel they may be ridicluled in some way on the boards.

It was this that started my simple diorama series to show that it is quite easy to create dioramas, if you know how and are prepared to have a go.

hopefully i should be able to continue with this once i have a little more spare time

cheers
keith Forsyth

Hiya Scott, Interesting question. I have been published in MMiR, On Armorama, ML, and I am working on a book. I have to say I think that seeing my work in all three medias is a blast, and I really don't think one is better than the other. With that said, I have to echo the sentiments above about being compensated for ones efforts when the publishing media is print. It certainly is a draw that the web does not have.

Jim,

I was waiting for that one!

Mea culpa.

Barry

Scott:

Good topic for discussion. I was published in FSM
about a year and a half ago. The photos and article
was on the old Aurora figure, Planet of the Apes villian(sp) called General Ursus. Right after I signed
the release papers and returned them via snail mail,
I received a check for $240. However, they held the
story for over a year. I would have done it for no fee
at all. But I wouldn't be interested in writing for them
in the future. Your sentences, paragraphs, etc. belong
to them. And as a retired newspaper person, I under'
stand that. I was afraid they might take my text and
re-write it in their style. Most all print medium has a
specific style. I was hoping against hope.
They took the part of my article that was
uniquely me; the part of it that was my specific
'voice' and cut all that out. I worked hard on that story,
built up a good lead and the close was IMO, cleverly
brought back to that central point of the lead. I made
it lighthearted and put humor in it. All of that
was gone. A sterile lifeless read that anyone could
have written. So now I know about FSM.

Scott, I feel your poll is an imvitation to the members
to submit articles. And getting that point across as a
poll is a good way to draw attention that the Big A
would "consider" strongly any article w/ good photos
that is "submitted". I would also recommend that you
make clear, to the potential "authors for the Big A", that
you won't seriously cut the articles and make each one
sterile to follow the style of an editor's point about what
the voice of this on line publication should be. I would
be willing to try again, if I thought my own personality
would be allowed to come thru the text, words,
paragraphs.

I prefer having my dios on the net for a couple reasons.More exposure and opportunity for feed back.Having been on Armorama for a little more than a year,more than 5800 visits to my members gallery have occured ,but only 7 comments and 0 questions in PM's .Secondly,this website's gallery is much more dependable to preserve the photos of my stuff than my own little devil box and it's CD back ups.I have tried to submit for features before,but a photo quality issue prevented that.I am determined to eliminate that as an issue by the end of this year!(you can only improve from the 'spazz' skill level,right? )
On the other side of the coin,I have learned a tremendous amount about the hobby by daily readings of the forums and features.I have avoided countless mistakes I otherwise would have made on my own if I had not gotten a 'heads up' from this site.I only hope I have helped somebody else with my contributions.
Interactions and experiances like as above are just not possible with a book or magazine.
Great question,Scott!
cheers!

I prefer the magazine as at least I get paid for my work . However having said that if it is on the web people do have a chance to ask me questions. I just dislike not having much control on how the article is published on the net.

cheers
Cliff

Couple questions for all you guys -

First, Scott: If I try to do this would you be willing to help me with formatting and other computer related stuff. I'm dense as granite when it comes to all that. I finally figured out how to use my digital camera, but.....

You guys that have been published: How much additional time did it take you, beyond the actual build?
Was doing the article fun or drudgery?

Final question: Does submitting to a web site preclude submitting to a print magazine?

As you can see, I know nothing about this.

Thanks,
Barry

Barry,
That's kind of the plus to (most) sites publishing your work. Since Armorma is not paying for it, nor asking you to transfer rights from you (the copyright holder) you still have full control over any text, photos.

Generally we only correct minor formatting issues and grammar (this tends to happen more when English is not the contributors native language).

At some point we may start actually paying for high (magazine-level) content. But that is still a while off I think.

Cheers,
Jim

Jim,

Roger that.

I'm about to finish a piece, first one in about a year, what with moving and all. Are finished pieces ok, or only from the beginning, so to speak?

The next one will be different (for me) as it will be the Italians in North Africa, but heck, at my rate it could 6 months before it's done.

Well, gotta run. It's Friday. Be back Mon. A.M.

Barry

Rick - you are absolutely right. I'd love to see some submissions.
Jim S. wants this site to have as much member content as possible.

From my point of view (and I believe other editors here also) - the features you all send in are 'yours' . At the bottom of every one of them is a copywrite statement.
I do not 're-work' submissions much at all. I do proof read them and I do offer suggestions. I will 'tweak' some things. If there are changes that may affect the feature I definitely contact the submitter before publishing.

Barry - I will definitely help you out with formatting and preparing a feature. That's fun for me.
That goes for everyone.

If I know I'm going to write a feature on a project I will integrate the photos and writing as part of it. I would estimate that it adds probably 15-20 minutes for every hour spent. So if a model takes 2 hours the write up and all will take 30-40 minutes. That's for me - it may take different amounts of time for others.

I echo most of the comments here. Although I publish a lot of articles on Armorama and other sites, I have just been asked to contribute to a leading paper magazine, and I have to admit, it is a buzz, and I don't just mean because I'd be getting paid for it.
Putting my Editor's hat on for a moment, I can assure anybody thinking of submitting that very few (if any)editorial changes would be made other than minor spelling mistakes and formatting, and if I thought any changes were necessary, I would always discuss this with the author first.
We do not have the space constraints placed upon paper publishers, and therefore changes to make something 'fit in the required space' just don't happen.

Vinnie

Money is quite a contributing factor. I would feel very good about that too.

There are not right or wrong ideas here - just ideas.

I have never been published but have given some thought to submitting stuff to magazines or websites. The main problem I have is getting decent photo's.

I would say Armorama is almost a modeling e-zine(or online magazine) as it is. With as many build articles, tips, reviews, etc this site is as good as any magazine and you have full interaction with others.

The only thing I see about publishing articles online is I am not sure where copyright issues fall and public domain falls. That is for the lawyers to battle out I guess.

Cheers,
Salvo

the other problem with producing items for a magazine is you will be working to deadlines, which means you have to finish the project within a timescale.

Some thing which take the fun out of it for me, i enjoy the time i have to build my projects with the ability to publish "In Progress" pictures on the forums.

Keith Forsyth

Hmm this is a tough one, I have thoroughly enjoyed doing the articles I have writen for this site. Its great to have so many people around the world look and possibly learn from somthing you have shared here....
I can also see the plus or buzz a few have talked about with getting your articles on paper but then again the editing and losing your right to tha article is a big pill to swallow as my friend Rick has mentioned. So its a tough call from my stand point. Hmmm Scott, looking for more articles? I may have a couple things in the works to submit Cheers Kevin

My personal thoughts on this is as follows. I am finding it much more pleasurable to take part in the internet activities. The relaxed atmosphere, the ability to be "published" without hassle makes it more enjoyable at least for me.

As for being published in "print" well is does have its appeals, and the exclusiveness that follows with it in gaining a reputation as a modeler has some rewards...

With that said, I have been a professional artist all my life. I do not like "prostituting" my "art" to serve whatever or whoevers purpose. The internet, and Armorama allows me to do what I like staying within the bounds of my own opinions and ethics. I have been to modeling contests, I have met "professional modlers" some of which are really great people and have made a difference in many peoples lives who enjoy the hobby. I have some met some on the other hand who feel a certain superiority that I find truly offensive. They guard their work, their "secrets" like it is some treasure that can't be shared with others. They will not contirbute their knowledge to the hobby, they have become "currupted" by greed.

The internet in its conception was originally to be a source of information for learning. This is important to me, this idea of learning... Armorama in my opinion is one of the best sources for our hobby. It provides a source where the "commonman" can come to learn, share, "get published" (regardless of their skills level), and to have fun along the way. I am all for the sharing of knowledge. In time I WILL continue to contribute, and share my knowledge here. As some of you know I have my own business, I make little profit, I do not try to force it upon others here. My purpose is not about making money. I try to reinvest that money into the friends I have made here, to encourage, support the hobby, and help people improve their skills if they like. To me it is more important to be published here not in print. Learning is a key in the door of life...

Dear All
Really funny to see this topic in Armorama, publishing results in a well know paper, sound familiar to me.

Editor asking the guy to publish article. And the ultimate question where to publish ?

I didnot find any impact factor for modelling journal, i think we should start to rank the journal and magazines depending on level, etc...
Is it aslo a peer review process ?
Editors can send the article to review to other well know modelists ?
there are more question that this one.

On the principe, i do agree with Slodder, but then for me it is an hobby not a competition, i do publish my profesional results on scientific journals and the question Where is it best to be published ? in armorama seems off topic.
I will still publish my creation and vehicles here in Armorama. It is more relax.
IMHO, publishing articles on modeling journal i think it is for very talented guys. It is a great source of inspiration for all of us.
in conclusion, i dont want to see the pervetion of publishing stuff that i saw on daily basis at work in my hobby. But this happens so quickly...

Cheers
Seb

Have to agree with Sebastien about how much of a chore it is getting published in a professional journal. Watching the years roll by as you wait for the external editor to wade through your text.... and then you don't agree with him/her anyway....

I don't think modelling articles are (or should be) peer-reviewed as too many of the methods used are going to be personal ones, after all there is no one true way to finish a model. They're always going to reflect the opinions and preferences of the writer in a way that scientific, or too a lesser extent archaeological (my field) publications ever can. And all the better for it.

And why is it either/or?

Wow - love the thread some very interesting points and ideas.

As far as publishing on this site, there isn't much a turn around problem from submission to publishing. The reason is, the content is yours and not a staff members to re-work. Our staff members do review all the work and they do some editing but not like in the big publications and journals.

I love multiple articles on one subject. I 'get' that there are more ways to do individual techniques and it's refreshing to see them.

Dear All
At certain point you have to publish stuff to , but then for example you developpe a new techniques or you use new tools, are you going to really to explain everythink ?

Of course not, and i'm damn right please check this example below of the limitation of publishing stuff that have a certain commercial value.
example

You can publish your own work, but i think the good question is
Can everyboby publish article in journal ?

Web like Armorama can give a broader view on these different subject as well as level .
That why i deeply sure that publishing my work here is more valuable than sending to journal, it is more reactive and people give you better comments.

Seb

Exactly