Summary

The undefined website content discusses the growth and development of the Microcosm publication, its writers, and the community it has fostered, alongside plans for future initiatives and contests.

Abstract

The undefined website content details the recent achievements and future plans of the Microcosm publication. The editor, Zane Dickens, expresses a preference for not focusing on earnings but rather on the growth of the publication and its writers. Microcosm has seen an increase in viewership, writer participation, and earnings, with a significant personal growth in earnings for Zane Dickens. The publication has introduced prompts, challenges, and a contest with a prize to engage its community. Future plans include a Microcosm Annual, a Supporter's Tier on Patreon, merchandise on Red Bubble, and a Scorecard Edit service. The publication's branding has been updated, and there is a sense of pride as other publications begin to emulate their ideas. The editor highlights the success of recent writing challenges and commends individual writers for their contributions, emphasizing the supportive and creative nature of the Microcosm community.

Opinions

The editor is not a fan of earnings posts due to the potential for comparison and the often-hidden efforts or privileges behind the numbers.
There is a sense of pride and accomplishment in the publication's growth, particularly in the increase in writer participation and viewership.
The editor values the personal growth of writers and the community's supportive atmosphere, which encourages creativity and mutual encouragement.
The publication is experimenting with new initiatives like the Small Medium Contest and considering an annual to showcase the best works.
There is an acknowledgment that imitation is a sign of success, as seen with other publications emulating Microcosm's ideas.
The editor expresses admiration for the diverse and emotionally resonant stories produced by the writers, highlighting specific works and their impact.
The editor is optimistic about the future of the publication and its potential to become a more significant part of the writers' lives, aiming to support them in their creative endeavors.

For the Love of Growing Up

We’re growing as a publication and as writers.

I’m not a fan of “earnings” posts, I’m too prone to comparisonitis, and I think they often hide the early starts or massive upfront effort or other “privledges” built into that large number. Because let’s be honest, unless it’s a MuddyUm article, we’re not clicking on “I made $3 this month by writing 403 fiction stories.”

But I’d like to shine a light on some of the growth that’s happening. We’re welcoming new writers nearly every day, and I love that. We’re seeing old writers from the bygone Januaries and Februaries reappear and share their takes on our prompts. We’re also rapidly approaching 6000 views per month!

We now do prompts, challenges and even a contest — with a prize!

My own earnings have grown by 120% so far, I hope it holds, but I’ll be glad to have set a new personal best. Paul Mansfield viral story knocked his PB to the moon. And more and more of our writers are getting distributed.

And I want to keep us keep growing, not just because I started this publication (in 2013!) but because I want to go from overtime to part-time and perhaps even full time. I know many other writers harbour the same dream.

I want Microcosm to grow because I truly love being a part of this community. We’re a fun, creative bunch who pour our souls into our art and cheer on the works of our fellow writers. And in times like this, that’s a glorious thing to be a part of. It’s so easy to get isolated, and it’s amazing to make friends all over the world because we all love this one thing.

As part of growing up, things are shifting and changing.

Our Small Medium Contest experiment is drawing to a close on 3rd September, and I’m looking forward to the shortlisting.
We’re considering a Microcosm Annual to share the Best of Microcosm (all your stories, Empty Worlds, Heroes for Hire and Villians to Vanquish — still gotta write that one!) as far and wide as possible. Probably aiming for Jan 2022. But, before then, we’ll start promoting our Greatest Hits, the best stories and some hidden gems.
We’re looking into a Supporter’s Tier on Patreon (like the Weekly Knob), and Red Bubble for merchandise (like the Bad Influence) and other services like a Scorecard Edit to keep adding more value.
I’ve also tidied up our branding because I like pretty things.

Another sign of growth is when other publications start to emulate your best ideas, and so we wish Sci-Fi Shorts all the best with their Empty Worlds Challenge starting next week.

We’ll be taking part and collaborating because that’s what we do. So I encourage you all to try your practised hands at their worlds too.

We wrote 30 plus stories in the last two weeks!

That blew my mind and nearly melted my MacBook when I tried to open them all at once. But it survived, so here are some of my favourites.

Don Franke’s Distant Society had a wonderfully subtle conflict, and I thoroughly enjoyed these two characters and their knowledge of each other. As a dad, I loved his other story, “Weary.”

Good to have Betsy Denson back, and I loved the little girl’s strength in the end. And in Prepare the Catacombs, I loved that Teresa Grabs created a world turned upside down by unexpected messages and unwelcome arrivals. And that she made Top Writer in Fiction too. And I loved Return to Sender.

Fox Kerry also went down below, and I love that his stories always leave me pondering. Did I mention that Paul Mansfield, MPP article, is our first Meta article, and it still got distributed? Gotta love that. Also, his Alberta Clipper is “oh so bleak” and echoed like a much larger story. So much so that it’s inspired another venture, but we’ll tease that in the coming months.

I love that Greg Proffit came out swinging with his first tale that holds no punches and imbues the Room with Brown Panelling with such emotional texture and pathos. Likewise, I loved Bradley flora’s details in How I Met my Husband.

I’m also happy to see Za’s story Advice from an Ice Cream turned out so well; that’s high praise you got there from Betsy Denson and Fox Kerry. Keep on writing.

I loved the Hippy Amish and the thematic undertones in When West Became East by Stephanie Gruner Buckley. Another odd tale, by Smillew Rahcuef and Fox, but I liked the ending, they’re so strange, but they work in weird ways. Happy to have your Two-Headed Horse Tales.

I loved Sven’s wish; it’s such a clever way to solve that riddle. Karen Traub, I love that you’re having so much fun, and the Ask the Audience was genius. Thomas Mullen (has the best username) and lines in Queen’s Gambit Decline III as he grimly surveys a thousand dead worlds.

Here’s the final prompt for August, and here’s the all-important Contest Cheatsheet. Give it your all; there’s still time to get on the shortlist.

72 Hours is plenty to write 300 + 200 + 100 + 50.

Good luck!

All my writerly love, Your editor,

Zane Dickens

PS Tomorrow’s September, so look out for a new theme. This one’s going to be a lot simpler and a little more niche.