Newark Residents Launch Fiction E-Magazine

A new e-magazine has hit the Internet thanks to two Newark residents.

Co-founders Mark Helton and Christopher Wecks have launched Fictionade Magazine – an e-magazine that also serves as a website that allows fiction writers to preserve copyright ownership for their creative works through.

In the question-and-answer below, Wecks tells you more about what Fictionade Magazine is:

Q. What is Fictionade Magazine about? What are its goals and purpose? 

A. Fictionade is a new independent, reader-supported e-magazine.  We provide engaging, moving fiction written by new and up-and-coming writers.  Our goal is to provide an avenue for these and other writers to succeed.  We do this by giving 1/3 of our subscription fees to the writers, by preserving their copyright ownership over their own work for future use in publications, and by focusing our energy and effort on improving the ongoing work of staff writers, rather than merely accepting the best submissions that come our way.  Our first issue released April 21.

Q. Where did the idea of Fictionade come about?  How was Fictionade founded? And tell me a little bit about the you and Mark Helton.

A. As a writer, I (Chris) know how difficult it is for writers to succeed out there. Contracts, low pay and a professional distance from writers by their agents, editors and publishers produce a very discouraging world for would-be writers to try and “make it”.  And yet, the publishing industry is a very profitable industry, very capable, it seems, to help a little bit more.  Fictionade came about to meet an apparent need for writers.  I think readers want to know that the magazines they subscribe to do good for the writers.  Fictionade does that.

I come from a literary background, and Mark from a business one.  We’re a good team. We both have a long history in the arts. We’re both theatre fans.  Mark actually just auditioned for Stage 1’s Aida.  My education was a heavy literary one, focusing on workshopping short and long fiction. 

Q. Who drives the content?

A. Our staff writers write all of our fiction right now.

Q. What can readers expect from a fiction magazine that makes it different than other magazines?

A. For one thing, you can expect to see these writers in bigger works in the future. By focusing on the writing craft, on promoting the writers’ work and career, and by protecting their copyrights for future publication us, our writers are more likely to succeed in their writing careers.

You can also expect a pretty social magazine.  We intend to host regular e-book clubs, meet the writer events, and other good stuff.  If you like talking about what you read, this is the right place.

Lastly, you can expect to feel pretty darn good, subscribing to a magazine that helps writers make it.

One thing that won’t be different from other great mags out there is what we fundamentally provide: Captivating fiction by talented writers.

Q. How can readers participate?

A. Most importantly, you can subscribe!  Subscription dollars drive the engine of this magazine, and the more subscriptions we have, the more writers we can take under our wing. 

We also host a flash fiction contest over on Facebook.  Anyone can participate, and anyone can vote. Come up with your best 250 word or less story. We pick two winners: One by reader support (number of “likes) and one by editor’s choice (Mark and I). The winner this time will receive a free year’s subscription to Fictionade.

Visit Fictionade at http://www.fictionade.com. Like Fictionade’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/fictionade.