The Keystone Codex
Sci Fi Magazines Evolved
The Keystone Awards is not dead, just frozen in liquid nitrogen for now.
As the launch date approached, I realised getting enough authors to begin the competition would be a huge chicken and egg situation. So, I pivoted to what I think is a more manageable alternative. Indulge me, if you may, in explaining the details.
Rather than take on sci fi novels, I will to focus on the short story problem. The sci fi magazines used to be a huge cultural force, giving emerging writers a place to prove themselves to traditional publishers and audiences. That is no longer the case.
At the same time, indie authors are desperate for channels to reach readers. The surviving and emerging magazines are choking on a flood of story submissions, relying on volunteers to stretch the limited supply of editorial talent and enthusiasm to cover the workload. Adding AI writing into the mix is only making everything worse.
This is where the Keystone Codex comes along. Here is how it will work.
1. Your plucky admin (that would be me) opens for applications from writers to contribute to the next issue. I can also reach out to invite suitable indie authors to join in the fun. Each issue will have a theme chosen by the admin.
2. Unlike typical magazines, applicants won’t submit stories. Instead they will submit a short story concept that suits the theme, plus links to their published novels.
3. Admin will select suitable applicants (around 12 per issue) based on the quality of their novel and short story concept, then they can begin drafting.
4. Writers will be put into teams of around four, then offer feedback (structural, line, proofing) to produce the best possible stories. All feedback pass anonymously through the admin, who will filter it for quality, constructiveness and tact.
5. Admin will format the polished stories into a magazine, with ample space for each author to promote their novels. A small amount of paid advertising space will be available for any other indie authors, the funds from which will cover overheads.
6. The monthly magazine will be distributed as a free ebook, reaching the largest possible audience and driving sales of author’s other works.
This structure solves many of the current problems crippling science fiction magazines.
Firstly, editorial talent is the rate limiting step in the traditional model. Decentralising this key function will make it possible for a single admin to coordinate the project. Accepting authors rather than stories also solves two key problems. Most magazines waste huge amounts of energy filtering their ever-growing slush piles (a worsening problem with the flood of AI generated submissions). Authors also waste huge amounts of time writing and submitting short stories that no magazine ends up wanting. AI generated stories will be filtered out during the process.
Announcing the theme of each issue, then selecting the best applicants, will increase the market appeal of each issue. Readers who love a particular subgenre or trope will have a hand-picked selection of authors to browse at zero cost, which is more likely to lead them to purchasing a novel from their favourites.
The free ebook drives the price of short fiction to its proper level - zero.
Pulp genre fiction proliferated when the price of printing physical magazines plummeted. We need to take the next step. It is often said that when a product is free then the consumer is the product, and that is also true for the Keystone Codex. It is primarily advertising for authors, advertising that is so good that potential audiences will enjoy reading it.
The lack of direct payments to authors greatly simplifies administration. The amount of money paid for short stories by legacy magazines is frankly not worth the bother for most authors. Keeping admin minimal and streamlined will mean a single person can coordinate everything, avoiding the fragility and inefficiency of teams.
The themes of future issues could be decided by reader polls to help build engagement.
In that spirit, I invite you to vote for the theme for the first Keystone Codex.
This approach definitely has caught my interest. I do have a question regarding point number 2 where you explain that applicants will submit a short story concept that suits the theme, plus links to their published novels. Do you mean that they can link to their published novels only if it matches the theme? Thanks.