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news muse zine - compiled for alt. world scenario fans by INFOmaniac
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Guidelines for contributors
FAX 21 welcomes unsolicited contributions from writers and artists, whether your work is
previously published or unpublished.
The basic format for written contributions is faux news reports, articles, interviews and factoids,
set in an alternative or parallel (Earth) world of your choosing. The usual writing style should be
journalistic rather than conventional storytelling mode.
You may devise an otherworldly milieu and write exclusively about events in that realm, if you wish.
This setting may be as simple - or elaborate - as you like, but, generally, the emphasis should be on
(sub-) genre ideas. Wonders or atrocities might happen in a New York minute, the next half-hour, over
9 months or 50 years from today. FAX 21 condenses SF timelines so everything happens at once.
Example: take a current or actual event and add a unique twist (logical, absurd, complex), making it
science fictional or fantastic.
We prefer satirical SF, sci-fi or fantasy hoaxes, speculative narratives, items of folklore, genre
spoofs, (sub) urban myths or legends, and humorous tabloid write-ups, but FAX 21 will consider
anything that is witty, imaginative and fun to read. However, in terms of SF content, think The
X-Files and cyberpunk, not Star Trek and space opera. Among genre inspirations for FAX
21 are the adventures of reporter Carl Kolchak in The Night Stalker, Max Headroom
(both original British TV movie and US series), the alternative worlds' sci-fi odyssey of
Sliders,
The Prisoner and, of
course, The Hitchhiker's
Guide To The Galaxy. Other TV comedy influences are satirical quiz Have I Got News For
You?, witty news-room sitcom Drop The Dead Donkey, and the controversial series Brass
Eye by Chris Morris.
You might want to consider using a pseudonym (or multiple pen-names) for byline(s) on FAX 21
reports. We encourage writers to invent a character (or several such "beards") they
can use as a mouthpiece for articles produced in various styles or "voices" adding to the
range of material on this website. Want to experiment? Looking for a niche? Okay, send us your
suggestions. All submissions must be via email, to - info.maniac@virgin.net
There are no deadlines (of course), and word-counts are variable. Any length from 200 to 3,000 words
is acceptable, and shorter pieces (approx 25 to 100 words) are welcome for sidebars. FAX 21
also requires texts (10 to 500 words - plus suitable images, if possible) for fake advertisments -
"oddverts" for any product or service, whether extremely unlikely or seemingly inevitable,
are welcome.
If you can provide images (created using Photoshop, or similar program) to accompany your writings,
this would be very helpful, and possibly hasten the publication process. If you are a web-designer or
digital artist willing and able to illustrate the written work of other contributors with photo-real
images, please contact the editor to request assignment(s). All submissions of pictures must be email
attachments (formats: GIF for graphics or JPEG for photos), res: 72 dpi (web standard), preferably
less than 40 kbs (per item) in size, finished to dimensions of column-width 515 or 215 pixels. Height
varies, but is usually 300 pixels.
Unfortunately, there is no payment available for contributions to FAX 21. We are doing this
for the art (and probably as cathartic therapy, too), and nobody makes a profit from the work. FAX
21 is always pleased, however, to link to contributors' own websites (send us the URL), and a
free plug for any new products (books, magazines, CDs) that you wish to promote.
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Our staff and contributors
Charlatan-in-chief: INFOmaniac (AI)
Deputy informants:Steven Hampton, Tony Lee
Propaganda:Christopher Geary
Legal affairs:Jealousy, Resentment & Spite "specialists in frivolous litigation"
Steering Committee:Herbert West, Terry Southern, Clint Eastwood, Anthony North
Rumour control:Hugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, and Grubb
Art & photo dept:
Word wranglers:
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