Proposal for new StarFrontiersman process

Proposed Workflow 
There are really only two types of
submissions I get: Art (seldom, but look at the gems I got from Corjay and
Shell for issue 8) and Articles. I get these in all different formats and
all forms. I can pretty much work with anything, but some types of
submissions are honestly easier to work with than others. I also get them
in many different ways: links to content on this site, emails with .doc or .rtf
attachments, .txt files, PMs, emails, heck, I've even received autocad drawings.
This all needs to be streamlined and simplified.<o:p></o:p>

<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal">Art. All
Art submissions should be in .png format, with a resolution of at minimum
150 dpi (.png isn't compressed, meaning the file will be quite large, but
it allows me to decide on compression versus quality -- there have been
some maps and submitted art that has been less than attractive in the
issues because of compressing compression). They should be emailed
as attachments to Submissions@StarFrontiersman.com (an email address I'll
create). The email must include the name by which the artist would
like to be credited and a valid return email address.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal">Articles. All
Article submissions should be double spaced and in .doc format.
Please use default template formatting (don't change fonts, sizes, colors,
use columns, etc.) and simple unthemed tables. Article submissions
may, if desired, use headings of level 1, 2, or 3, and otherwise Plain
Text. They should be emailed as attachments to
Submissions@StarFrontiersman.com. The body of the email must include
the author's real name and email address, a one-line description of the
article, and the name by which the author wishes to be credited in the
byline of the article.<o:p></o:p></li></ul>

<o:p> </o:p>

Cardinal Rules for All Editors: we
want to use every submission and we want to include every submitter. That doesn’t mean everyone’s stuff is good,
but work with them until it is good. Treat
every submitter with respect and friendliness.
We’re assembling fan-based goodness.
If we lose the submitters because they felt poorly received, it will end
this webzine.<o:p></o:p>

Submission Editor 
The Submission Editor will have access to Submissions@StarFrontiersman.com
and must be able to check it regularly (I can help you set up outlook express,
outlook, thunderbird, etc.). He/she will perform front-line triage on the
submissions, making sure the article is usable or the artwork tasteful.
May build a rapport with the submitters, praising them for what they do well,
encouraging them to submit more of what they do well at, giving ideas on
avenues to further develop. Submission Editor may also probe known
submitters for material, asking for ideas or even specific types of
articles. It's important for the Submission Editor to drum up more
submissions! When he receives a submission of artwork or article that
he's happy about, he'll go to a special page on the site that he'll have access
to (this site or over at starfrontiersman.com, not sure yet), fill out a web
form (author's name, email address, credit in byline, date, notes from
submission editor, and a place to attach/upload the submission). If it's
an artwork submission, he'll fill out an Artwork web form. Otherwise, an
Article web form. Then he's done with it... continues working on other
submissions or actively working on getting submissions from others. 
 
Art Editor 
The art editor will have access to a special page on the site where he'll
have a list of artwork submitted by the submissions editor. He'll also
have access to submit artwork, using the same form as the submission editor
(not because he doesn't need the submission editor, but because he may be
adding his own as well). The Art Editor must also have the time on his
hands necessary to probe art gallery sites like I have over this past year to
get permission to use all the great artwork I've obtained for covers.
Sometimes, a request might come to the Art editor (he'll have an
@starfrontiersman.com email address too) from the line editor or the Referee
(me!) for a specific piece of art. It's the Art Editor's job to try to
work with the artists we often work with (line art for equipment is mostly me,
Corjay does great inks and a few other mediums, and Shell does what looks like
a mixed medium that has a unique style) to produce specific pieces of art at
request. The Art Editor maintains a database of submitted art, on the
site, that he can produce at the drop of a hat. Of course, he also has to
keep track of who has given permission to use what... it's a big job! 
 
Line Editor 
Believe it or not, this is probably the least time-demanding job of
all. A line editor will have access to a special page on the site where
he'll have a list of articles submitted by the submissions editor. He'll
be in charge of editing the document, drawing conclusions where he must,
changing what he must, communicating with the author where he must, to finally
approve the article by changing its status from "submitted" to
"edited" The Line Editor must make sure the article is usable
and fits in the Star Frontiers setting. He must also know when diagrams
or artwork might make something more clear or of superior quality. If the
rules presented in the article need playtest, he must be able to test them
either in a play group or by himself with simulated gaming (dice and paper,
like normal). The line editor is not rewriting the article, just helping
it become all that it can be. Some submitters over the years have needed
nearly no editing for neither content nor grammar. Some have been quite
the opposite. All have been great, though, in the end. 
 
Referee (a.k.a. Chief Editor) 
First of all, I plan on being a prolific submitter, going through the
normal channels as everyone else. Second of all, I'll have access to the
artwork library and the "edited" submissions library, and will be
adding content to the layout as it's edited (not necessarily in the order it's
edited, though). I'll also provide a helping hand to the other editors as
needed. When enough material is gathered to release the issue (very
subjective... 70 pages isn't necessary every time, though I don't like the idea
of falling much below 48), I'll perform final assembly, do the classifieds (I
like those), build the front page from artwork submissions, and finally release
it. 
 
Final Notes 
As the webzine grows, I can eventually see adding a fifth position, Public Relations
Manager - in charge of pimping and distribution. Perhaps later, if things
get big enough, more positions will become necessary. right now I can
already see I've divided things fairly equally (though I have admittedly given
myself a very light role while still maintaining an authoritative position... I
hope nobody is bothered by that.) I'm eager to see what you all
think. This is just my initial thought, so I'm willing to bend until I
break on many of the concepts.

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