Greetings, loyal readers and new visitors! The fireworks are not only to celebrate the Fourth of July here in the United States, but also to celebrate the fact that we finally got this issue out. After all, as some of you may have noticed, the May/June issue has become the July/August issue.
Since the editorial side of this endeavor is a one-woman operation at the moment, life can easily derail the process. I won’t bore you too much with the details, but it would be nice if, when one schedules a rare two-week vacation, the Universe could hold off on also dealing your family broken hips and car wrecks while also dangling rare opportunities for dwellings and pay checks that you must jump on right away because they may never materialize again. But of course, the Universe does as it pleases, with no concern for the limitations of solo editors of small webzines. So I can only thank you all for being patient. (And thank you also for the kind concern many of you expressed upon hearing about the family crises. Everyone concerned is doing very well now.)
We’re Looking to Expand Our Team!
That said, it is my dream that Third Factor grow robust enough not to come to a screeching halt just because one person is managing a super-sized dose of life. That’s why I’m putting out a call for editorial help. The specific call for applications is here, and the scope of work can vary to fit a candidate’s interest and availability. The main qualification, however, is editorial ability. There’s a lot that goes in to putting out an issue of Third Factor, but the main demand for time and energy is in working with authors to get their pieces ready for publication. Right now, I work with every single author to develop their themes and make their work clear, accessible, and focused. We have many contributors who are experts in the subject matter but not used to writing—or not used to writing for a popular audience, which can be just as big a hurdle. That’s why people who have some expertise in writing and editing, even without any understanding of the subject matter, would be enthusiastically welcomed on board right now.
What would a hypothetical team member get out of the deal? In addition to the ability to shape the course of Third Factor, I can also offer letters of recommendation that would be particularly suitable to anyone interested in working with the written word to go alongside a line on your LinkedIn profile. There’s also the possibility, if not the promise, of monetary bonuses to the extent that you can help us grow.
Even as I point out the work that goes into every article, I’d also like to increase submissions. To this end, I’m taking a few big steps:
We’re Paying (Some of) Our Writers!
Thanks to the generosity of our patrons, I’m delighted to announce that we can begin paying some contributors a modest sum for their contributions. Contributors who are not experienced, expert writers will be eligible for payment beginning with their second accepted piece. First-time contributors will be eligible for payment if they are experienced writers or experts who submit polished, professional articles. (We’ll discuss this individually with each new author at the beginning of the process.)
Should we pay everyone starting with their first piece? Yes, ideally. Unfortunately, our bottom line still precludes that. Still, I want to start paying, because the work that goes into this magazine deserves compensation. If you’re not a writer but want to help out, consider making a one-time or monthly PayPal donation or beoming a monthly contributor to our Patreon. Thank you!
We’re Holding a Fiction Contest!
I’m also a big fan of fiction and have always welcomed submissions, because I think stories are one of the best ways to convey powerful ideas (like, for instance, the theory of positive disintegration) to a popular audience. So far, however, we haven’t heard from many who are up for this challenge.
That’s why I’m announcing that Third Factor will hold a fiction writing contest. Specific details are forthcoming, but here are the basics: we’re looking for engaging fiction that depicts themes related to the theory of positive disintegration, and we’re offering cash prizes for the winner and for two honorable mentions. The deadline is Sunday, January 19, 2020, so you’ve got over six months to write something and get your friends to read it and let you know if it’s any good. If we don’t get anything we love by then, we’ll extend the deadline. The judges will include the editor in chief (me) as well as at least two guest reviewers. Entries can be as long or as short as you need them to be; the only guidance is that if your submission is too long to read in one sitting, it’ll have to be intriguing enough that the average distracted modern reader remembers it and wants to come back and finish it.
I’ll have a post formally announcing the contest written up soon, but as you may have heard, life steamrolled me these past few months and I didn’t get it done. So consider this an insider tip to all you writers who actually read our letter from the editor.
And there’s one other big thing on my plate….
We’re Going to the SENG Conference!
I’m also delighted to announce that I’m going to be presenting at the annual conference of Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) in Houston on Friday, July 19. If you’re going to be at SENG, drop me a line. I’d love to meet up.
So that’s the State of the Magazine in this, Issue 7, which marks Third Factor’s first anniversary. To all of you who have written for us, supported us financially, and of course, read our content, I sincerely thank you for your support. I’m looking forward to engaging with you going forward, and I always welcome feedback from readers.
And now I hope you’ll enjoy this small but robust issue. We’re delighted to introduce to you Lotte van Lith, who tells the story of overcoming her eating disorder and harnessing her emotional intensity, and Laura Stavinoha, who reveals just how overexcitability can show itself through your voice. We’re also happy to welcome back one of our fan favorites, Krystyna Laycraft, with the story of the founding of her school in Poland in 1990.
All the best,
Jessie Mannisto
Editor in Chief
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