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Re: [GWL]: Gardening They Wrote - A self help for writers

Lon,

The number of subscribers of the gardening publications that will no
longer be published represent an opportunity for the members of the
GWAA.

The established garden writers will likely find new positions, but the
shrinking number of publications does represent a serious decline in
opportunities in the print media, especially for those who lack an
established reputation and the ability to network for writing
assignments.

The logical conclusion is to offer this pool of people represents an
option to fill this information void.

Since the formation of a publishing organization represents a sizable
financial obligation, I suggest the promotion of garden writer web sites
organized by GWAA members sould be considered as a project/membership
benefit.

To start each personal web page(s) of a writer would be linked to a
central site that would NOT be a PS effort by manufacturing and nursery
suppliers.

I recognize that while this approach provides a measure of pride and
accomplishment from posting editorial content on organic gardening and
other issues, it will not provide revenue to the participants.

A profit making approach is to fund a commercial site that is
financially supported by membership subscriptions. Information and hard
to find plant materials are the backbone of the numerous
horticultural/gardening societies in the USA and world wide. I would
choose this as a model for financing the site - not unlike the National
Gardening Association, but publishing electronic communications directly
to the email subscriber.

The web site would be used to publicize the benefits of receiving a
weekly email gardening newsletter. It could allow for the reader to
customize the type of articles they want to receive and information
could be modified for the climate zone.

The newsletter would provide links to the internet site where the
complete article would be posted and archived for access via a site
based search engine.

Topics could include, but limited to:
Bulbs - hardy, tender, indoor forcing
houseplants - foliage, flowering, low light, windowsill, lightstand
tropical plants - fruiting, flowering, foliage
vegetable gardens - cool weather, warm season
fruit orchards = temperate, subtropical, tropical
wild flowers
organic topics
IPM topics
Pesticide, herbicide, rodentcide topics
Fertilizer topics
Pruning topics
Transplanting topics
Propagation topics
Container growing topics

Non-profit organizations are struggling to keep a lid on printing and
mailing costs. Electronic forums related to their society activities
exist on the internet. Some are officially sponsored by the formal
organization and others have just sprung up without official permission
as growers join together to exchange information and plant materials.

My point is that people want to learn how to grow plants more
successfully in their gardens, indoors, and even greenhouses. This
potential audience could benefit from the expertise of professionals who
are represented in the GWAA.

The problem that confounds any disseminator of information is the level
of knowledge that the participant brings to the discussion. In a formal
school session the institution can establish prerequisites to take
specific classes. This tends to level the playing field, but there are
differences in how people process information. Some can listen to a
lecture and take viable notes, others require detailed handouts, some
respond better if sound is added to full color presentations - most
respond best to a combination of several sensory inputs.

I believe that individuals who would infuse such a project with capital
would expect to receive a modest return on their investment first. Staff
members responsible for publishing and general management of the
business would need to receive benefits for their services and
contributors would expect a small initial fee, plus downstream payment
based on the number of hits their articles receive. This would not be a
quick return on investment and it might be necessary to exchange cash
payments for stock options. Someone with legal expertise would have to
develop a financial organization, perhaps establish a Nevada or Delaware
corporation.

A sound business plan would have to be created to establish the various
positions necessary to operate the business, outline their
responsibilities, and develop a realistic business plan so capital
requirements could be established.

An editorial board would need to be established and prospective
contributors would need to present a list of topics and completion dates
they could provide over a 24 month period. Samples of several articles
would be required. A discussion of providing illustrations and/or photos
would be involved and also a legal transfer of rights would need to be
agreed upon to allow electronic distribution and possibly the publishing
of a CD archive.

At this stage of discussing the concept, I would not be able to suggest
what level of financial return would be available. As in any business
venture, there is an associate risk exposure to all participants. I
believe the risk would depend on the level of participation by GWAA
members.

Claude Sweet
San Diego, CA

"Lon J. Rombough" wrote:
> 
> Claude:
>     If you are serious about this, how about laying out exactly what would
> be needed to start.
> -Lon

> >Nellie,

> >The time seems to be right, even necessary, for writer/communicators to
> >pool their resources and launch a pay for fee website to provide
> >gardening/horticultural information to the general public.
> >
> >The key is to provide an annual membership fee that is affordable - $12
> >annual fee would seem to be reasonable. A trial membership could be
> >launched at $6 for a 3 month period. Automatic credit card processing
> >would reduce staff to process the traffic and eliminate any lag between
> >making a decision to participate and being able to participate.
> >
> >The more writers involved, the more subjects that could be part of the
> >database.
> >
> >I would suggest a concept that would be similar to the ZifDavis computer
> >newsletter.
> >An email message is sent to its subscriber list. It is available in text
> >or html format with links to specific articles posted on their site.
> >
> >A weekly mailing would be the initial goal and increasing the frequency
> >would be possible if more writers signed on board.
> >
> >Writers would receive shares of participation for each story accepted.
> >Of course an editorial board and various editors, layout people,
> >photographers, illustrators, and htlm code writers would be necessary to
> >make the project fly.
> >
> >I would suggest equipment and horticultural supplies be evaluated like
> >the consumer reports testing. No advertising would force all of the
> >revenues to be from membership, by it would reduce downloading costs for
> >members to access the information.
> >
> >In my opinion, to be successful in providing information via the
> >internet does not mean producing a magazine format complete with ads.
> >
> >Hosting a question and answer section could be part of the concept.
> >
> >Seed and plant exchanges might be considered as this seems to be a vital
> >part of several plant societies and accomplishing this on the
> >internet/email is especially important when acquiring perishable seed
> >with limited viability.
> >
> >There would be lots of opportunities for people to express their
> >opinions in electronic editorials and for two sides of questions to
> >engage in debate.
> >
> >Just a thought that we might consider.
> >
> >Claude Sweet
> 
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