Last Updated: 23 August, 2007
We welcome viral articles for both Astarte's Mega-zine and the Go-Make-Art members' email newsletter. Articles can be about using art as a transformative tool or they may simply be a technique or project article, as you might write for a normal printed craft magazine.
What is a "viral article"?
"Viral" means your article can be shared around, like an Internet virus, but in a good way! At the bottom of any viral article you write you include a few lines of information about yourself and a live link to your website. This generates traffic and business - back to you.
After your article is accepted for publication in either the Mega-zine or newsletter, you are free to publish it elsewhere. The copyright remains with you as the author.
If you haven't struck it before, know that viral marketing is rapidly gaining popularity as a promotional tool. In fact, we will assist contributors to find viral markets beyond this website for any articles first published by us.
Go-Make-Art does not normally offer financial remuneration to contributors, though a free issue of the Mega-Zine or Newsletter will always be supplied.
If you do not run a business that can benefit from the free publicity a viral article generates, you are welcome to "pitch" your article ideas to the publisher and discuss alternatives to the standard viral marketing arrangement.
Article topics, style and requirements
How-to Projects - Projects might involve papercraft, mixed media, collage, assemblage, art quilting, art dolls, polymer clay, beading, jewelry, clothes and accessories.
Projects that involve an element of transformative art will particularly interest us (Examples: Affirmation card sets, prayer flags, worry dolls, charms and fetishes, personal shrine, a map of your life). These are likely to find their way into Astarte's Mega-zine.
Projects that don't have a transformative aspect are more likely to feature in the weekly members' newsletter.
Other Editorials - Examples: Profile of an artist working in an unusual job, getting work as an artist in residence, ethnic artforms in a specific region of the world, using symbols and metaphor in art, the psychology of colour and pattern, goddess iconography.
Word count, style and images
Brief articles with a word count of 300 to 800 words are preferred. Longer articles may be accepted in some instances. Bullet points and side-bars will lend themselves to both the mega-zine and newsletter.
The tone should be upbeat and practical.
Project articles will generally have an introduction, a list of required tools and materials and step by step instructions.
Where possible, an article should not be designed to promote specific products. The author may, however, state a brand preference, ie: "a half-block of white polymer clay (I prefer Premo brand)".
Go-Make-Art reserves the right to conduct minor editing, including title changes, without consulting the author. Major changes will be referred back for approval before publication.
Every article should be accompanied by at least one digital image. In most cases multiple images will be appropriate. Images should be 72 dpi jpegs and around 800 pixels wide or tall. These will be reduced before publication.
Mega-Zine themes and deadlines
Each quarterly issue of Astarte's Mega-zine will have a theme and we urge you to consider how your article might address it.
| Upcoming Issues |
Absolute
Deadline |
Release
Date |
| Four:
"Eye of the Soul" |
30
September |
1
November |
| Five: "Dreaming" |
30 December |
1 February |
| Six: "Interior Journey" |
30 March |
1 May |
