Death to floppies? Options

[MasonEasley]

Is there ANY scenario where an indy publisher should be utilizing the 22-page pamphlet format? From a purely economic standpoint it seems to be a huge waste of money and resources, and also not a terrific buy for your consumer. I mean charging someone 3-5 bucks for a floppy when they can buy a TPB with 6 times the content for $10 bucks more seems a little ridiculous.

[MasonEasley]

Well the Japanese put out a phone book size anthology every 2 weeks on cheap paper (Shonen Jump). They usually got for about $5 and can run well over 500 pages.

Later, people buy the trades of their favorites from that phone-book sized anthology when they come out.

That's a superior model to the floppies IMO.

[wwi3313]

Well the Japanese put out a phone book size anthology every 2 weeks on cheap paper (Shonen Jump). They usually got for about $5 and can run well over 500 pages.

Later, people buy the trades of their favorites from that phone-book sized anthology when they come out.

That's a superior model to the floppies IMO.

The problem with it, at least in recreating it over here, is the consistency of its creators. There's more of a market for "self-published alliance" work over there than there is over here and its because FAR TOO commonly, creators slide on their deadlines and releases (I imagine missing a deadline in Japan is punishable by death, killing and life-takery -- and not necessary in that order!) and that production level won't be met. On the individual basis, which is what you're personally facing, the floppy is essentially that. You can produce as fast you can without being hindered by anyone but yourself.

It'd be nice if we could get that model off the ground, but that's not really conducive if you have a 9-5 on top of your creator dreams. The timeframes just aren't there...or are they...?