By pengwen
Steppin' Out publisher/peon
Ah, innocence is bliss, isn’t it? When I first began this adventure just over 10 years ago, I thought “If 8 people can put out 8 newspaper issues a month, that easily translates down to one issue per one person per month – right?
So, figuring I’d give myself “vacation times,” I set a publication schedule of 10 times a year, taking my break at Christmas and during what for Socorro (used to be) long, hot and not-much-going-on summers.
It didn’t take too long before I realized there was an error in my 8-to-1 logic – somewhere, and during the last economic turn-down, I cut back the number of issues to six. I figured it gave my advertising supporters a break on their costs, gave me a bit more time to do what I love and gave a bit of a break to the paper-filled environment as well.
Since Steppin’ Out already was running a Dec-Jan issue, it was natural I suppose to pick up that pace and thus that has been the schedule for… well, until now.
A lot has happened in the two months since the last issue was printed. And, as I traveled around the state, I asked how’s business? How’s it going? Surprisingly, the answers I got weren’t all as negative as I’d feared I’d hear. In fact there were some places/artists doing quite well.
Of course that’s not the case overall but I reveled in the bright spots just as I enjoy the beauty of the arts and events Steppin’ Out covers.
Still, in looking around and wondering “what’s next?” I figured maybe it was time to either dodge or jump in with both feet.
Oh, what the hectic – why not do both? I guess that’s what I’m doing with this issue. I’m dodging the bullet of deadlines hoping the dust of uncertainty will settle. And, I’m jumping into a new schedule which – I hope– actually makes more sense. ‘Least we won’t end up a calendar year, straddling the fence into the next one.
SO: New schedule: March & April; May & June; July & August; September & October and November and December.
Another change you may have noticed is on our website. www.SoNewMex.com now has several different color schemes for you to choose your “viewing pleasure” as they say. But it’s actually more than skin deep because the webmaster has been quite busy upgrading and god-knows-what-all to make the site easier to use and more informative. (Yeah TG Platt!)
We’re also excited to open up our “Call for Artists” for cover art for the coming year. The guidelines are simple: The art must be original, by a regional artist depicting southwestern themes. Work will be considered along seasonal themes. Call for more information or send a short bio and small digital images of your work electronically. While I will consult with others, pengwen is the final judge for cover art.
Just ‘cause.
Meanwhile, I’ll keep “steppin’ out” around the state, meeting new folks and seeing those who’ve become friends through the years. Keep your eye on the beauty and walk in peace.
from the publisher/peon
By pengwen
Steppin' Out publisher/peon
Ah, innocence is bliss, isn’t it? When I first began this adventure just over 10 years ago, I thought “If 8 people can put out 8 newspaper issues a month, that easily translates down to one issue per one person per month – right?
So, figuring I’d give myself “vacation times,” I set a publication schedule of 10 times a year, taking my break at Christmas and during what for Socorro (used to be) long, hot and not-much-going-on summers.
It didn’t take too long before I realized there was an error in my 8-to-1 logic – somewhere, and during the last economic turn-down, I cut back the number of issues to six. I figured it gave my advertising supporters a break on their costs, gave me a bit more time to do what I love and gave a bit of a break to the paper-filled environment as well.
Since Steppin’ Out already was running a Dec-Jan issue, it was natural I suppose to pick up that pace and thus that has been the schedule for… well, until now.
A lot has happened in the two months since the last issue was printed. And, as I traveled around the state, I asked how’s business? How’s it going? Surprisingly, the answers I got weren’t all as negative as I’d feared I’d hear. In fact there were some places/artists doing quite well.
Of course that’s not the case overall but I reveled in the bright spots just as I enjoy the beauty of the arts and events Steppin’ Out covers.
Still, in looking around and wondering “what’s next?” I figured maybe it was time to either dodge or jump in with both feet.
Oh, what the hectic – why not do both? I guess that’s what I’m doing with this issue. I’m dodging the bullet of deadlines hoping the dust of uncertainty will settle. And, I’m jumping into a new schedule which – I hope– actually makes more sense. ‘Least we won’t end up a calendar year, straddling the fence into the next one.
SO: New schedule: March & April; May & June; July & August; September & October and November and December.
Another change you may have noticed is on our website. www.SoNewMex.com now has several different color schemes for you to choose your “viewing pleasure” as they say. But it’s actually more than skin deep because the webmaster has been quite busy upgrading and god-knows-what-all to make the site easier to use and more informative. (Yeah TG Platt!)
We’re also excited to open up our “Call for Artists” for cover art for the coming year. The guidelines are simple: The art must be original, by a regional artist depicting southwestern themes. Work will be considered along seasonal themes. Call for more information or send a short bio and small digital images of your work electronically. While I will consult with others, pengwen is the final judge for cover art.
Just ‘cause.
Meanwhile, I’ll keep “steppin’ out” around the state, meeting new folks and seeing those who’ve become friends through the years. Keep your eye on the beauty and walk in peace.