NOTE: The following editorial has been adapted from a post which Fanzing Fiction Editor Nic Juzda made in the Fanzing Forum. Slight edits have been made to it to make it timeless instead of affixed to the timing of the original post; otherwise, it is as Nic originally posted.

A few days before this issue's deadline, I posted that the upcoming issue was low on submissions. We did, in the end, manage to fill that issue. That's not what I'm here to talk about.

I'm here to talk about the NEXT issue. And the one after that.

I don't think that we have enough evidence to say that this past issue is the start of a trend. Maybe it was an unpopular theme. Maybe everyone just happened, by total coincidence, to be busy this month. Whatever.

But right now, obviously, we have zero fiction for next month. The deadline is about a month away. That gives everyone plenty of time to write something. Please, start now. Or, if now's a bad time, start next week. But don't wait until we're desperate and announce you have 48 hours, so that you don't have enough time and still can't produce anything. Nobody wins that way.

I imagine that the entire editorial staff feels the same way. I want your fiction. David wants your features. Chaim wants your letters. Phil wants your art. Michael wants your womenfolk.

I don't blame anyone for the low turnout. I know no one is paid for submitting to us. I especially do not want to come off as being annoyed with the people who do submit regularly but happened not to this month. Some were busy working on something other than fiction. Others have given us tons in the past, and are more than entitled to take a month (or more) off if they want to.

In fact, I'd like to take a second to thank everyone who does submit to this site, whether they have something in the upcoming issue or not. I'd try to name everyone, but I'm certain I'd leave some people out. But to you all: thanks.

All I'm saying is that this website runs on submissions.

No one's asking you to do anything you don't want to. Honest. If you don't want to write about the theme of the month, we usually take off-theme material. If you don't feel comfortable writing fiction, maybe you could consider a feature, or vice versa. If you can't write, can you draw? If you really can't submit anything yourself, I DO understand, but why not take the time to just send in a letter? You'll help fill the letters page.

And if you liked something in our magazine, tell us what it was, either in an e-mail or on the Message Board; give some encouragement to someone else, so that THEY will do what you can't, and you'll get more stuff you can enjoy. Also, if you didn't like something, we'd like to know that too.

Oh, and Michael would probably appreciate a donation. I hate to sound crass, but that is a way to support Fanzing that requires no talent or effort whatsoever. I would like to state that I see not a penny from your donations, and Michael did not ask me to say this.

Just don't expect there to be "someone else" to do it.

Michael said to me a while back (speaking completely in the hypothetical, so don't worry... yet) that if Fanzing no longer received enough quality submissions to operate, he'd eventually have to shut it down.

Let's not let that happen.

Thanks.

Nicolas

P.S.: Obviously, this plea notwithstanding, Fanzing continues to hold the standards it always has. Your work still "must not suck". I don't want that to discourage anyone, but I felt I had to mention it.

Fiction editor Nicolas Juzda is currently studying law in Saskatchewan. He fills the void that was left in his soul by contributing to Fanzing. He has twice been among the winners in the Bulwer Lytton Fiction Contest for bad writing.
AIM name: nwjuzda

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An Appeal

by Nicolas Juzda

Fanzing site version 7.1