Layouts & Lay Outs

SFSignal let’s us know that Paizo’s Planet Stories is/has undergone some changes, both in frequency and in format.? You can read the interplay here

Which prompts me to ask (following a statement):? I’ve not been happy with the layouts and formatting I’ve seen on e-zines, phone apps, or even in print.

I always thought that the whole purpose of multiple columns of text within a publication manifested as a way to increase the word count per page.? (It presumably eliminates widows and spaces at the end of a line – the more columns, the greater the density of words…)

Some attention was paid to reading comfort, but in general I’m familiar with the two or three column magazine, the multi-column newspaper and the single column book.

I looked at a story on the wife’s I-phone:? one column with maybe 20 words on the page (who the hell can read like that?)

And I’m very familiar with a bunch of former print publications (paintball related) that have gone digital and have chosen to reproduce the print magazine page on screen with a page-flipper program.? Simply AWFUL.

I’ve tried experimenting with a magazine-style layout for the screen. The best I’ve gotten is two columns.? Most pubs I’ve looked at are single column squished into about a third to a half of the display area (why?)

So the question is:? what should a magazine online look like? Should it try to replicate print, or should it try to create the potentially longest scrolling experience known to man?

Send me links to examples you’ve found that ‘do it’ for you or write in in the comments and tell me what you think an on-line magazine ought to look like.

LAY OUT

As in cash.

David A. Truesdale recently announced the resurrection of TANGENT ONLINE, a former print review zine that covered short fiction in the magazines and anthologies that has won several Hugos.

I inquired after a review spot on the new incarnation, only to be informed by David that, due to unforseen financial difficulties, he is unable to continue the project at this time.

I don’t know exactly how much he needs but if folks are interested in supporting the return of Tangent Online, you might want to get in touch with David (EMAIL) and see how you can help out.

Dave may lose his internet connection, so if you can’t get in touch with him, let me know.

I suspect that Bill Ward may have some things to say as well (he writes for Tangent).