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- 8 years 3 months ago
- Posts: 212
This is extracted from a PM I sent another member of the RJ forums who agreed it was a good idea:
Has anyone floted the idea of Retro Junk publishing a book in regards the growing collective of nostalgics and their fond memories of the 80's and early 90's?
I think it would be a great way to generate publicity for the site as well as maybe make a few extra bucks.
RJ clearly has the traffic clout to make the endevour more than worth its while. A retro book in the form of perhaps a guide (think, "Your Guide to Navigating the 21st Century with Brain Left Somewhere between an episode of GI Joe and TMNT"
. I notice that lots of popular websites have written books in the interest of generating further word of mouth (as well as to entertain, of course). There's the CollegeHumor guys, Maddox, and all the rest.
I think it would make a good addition to nostalgics who think that the best pop culture had to offer came in the form of "Spoon!" from Tick, as well as newcomers who perhaps wonder what all the fuss over Perfect Strangers is.
Just a thought. RJ has a vast writing pool to draw on from its article correspondents. It would require coming up with a unique concept/hook and marketing strategy to state the obvious.
I would craft the book around personal memoirs, punctuated with lotsa graphics and factoids. Writers could explain how and why a certain show, toy, or event made the 80-90's so special. I don't mean rants and raves like, "oh yeah, I totally loved such and such a show!" but more along the lines of how that particular show influenced your life and made you an 80's kid or an early 90's kid.
What does everyone (in particular, the admin that run the site) think? There's virtually unlimited possibility here. The retro noir, or "retroir" genre, if I may craft a phrase, is only just beginning.Are you sure you want to delete this post? Yes | No 
- 8 years 3 months ago
- Posts: 1699
While I would love to see something like this happen (and of course have my own writing published :greedy emoticon 
, I don't think it would work.
Other sites that have had books published, like Maddox and Tucker Max, are more about a strong personality or net-celebrity (netlebrity?). And College Humor has a stronger editorial presence than RJ, which leads to a better quality of writing.
I think the best shot for a nostalgia site at getting a book would be X-Entertainment. A book by Matt would be awesome.
I've often thought about suggesting that RJ get a dedicated editorial staff. It would lead to articles of better quality, but it would also take away one of the great things about the site- that anyone can have their voice heard.
A middle road option could be having 'featured articles', or 'staff writers', which are subject to greater editorial veto than the regular articles that anyone can submit. (Note that I'm not suggesting that editors or staff writers would be paid. It'd have to be volunteer stuff.)Are you sure you want to delete this post? Yes | No - 8 years 3 months ago
- Posts: 212
Daniel85 wrote:While I would love to see something like this happen (and of course have my own writing published :greedy emoticon, I don't think it would work.
Other sites that have had books published, like Maddox and Tucker Max, are more about a strong personality or net-celebrity (netlebrity?). And College Humor has a stronger editorial presence than RJ, which leads to a better quality of writing.
I think the best shot for a nostalgia site at getting a book would be X-Entertainment. A book by Matt would be awesome.
I've often thought about suggesting that RJ get a dedicated editorial staff. It would lead to articles of better quality, but it would also take away one of the great things about the site- that anyone can have their voice heard.
A middle road option could be having 'featured articles', or 'staff writers', which are subject to greater editorial veto than the regular articles that anyone can submit. (Note that I'm not suggesting that editors or staff writers would be paid. It'd have to be volunteer stuff.)
I can see where you're going with this. Except this site is nothing like Tucker Max or Maddox. This site isn't about consuming vast quanities of alcohol and "getting some" under the guise of some absurd masculinity, nor about ranting about the latest Cameron Diaz fiasco. (BTW, I'm not knocking those sites, I visit them frequently; I'm trying to create a strong distinction here--they have their place, RJ has its own).
I would tend to agree it's probably best that RJ get a dedicated editorial board to better filter submissions.
My issue here is that so many books are devoted to discussing the past in terms of politics or historical events. There is a growing nostalgic (i.e. marketable) base that wants to have its own "bible" of the 80's to mid 90's. This is 'retroir.'
I'm not sure what kind of idea or hook is needed to reign in this base, but if we build it, they will come. (Okay, sorry, I'm not a big Costner fan, but nonetheless...)Are you sure you want to delete this post? Yes | No - 8 years 3 months ago
- Posts: 74809
Dean Brooks wrote:Daniel85 wrote:While I would love to see something like this happen (and of course have my own writing published :greedy emoticon, I don't think it would work.
Other sites that have had books published, like Maddox and Tucker Max, are more about a strong personality or net-celebrity (netlebrity?). And College Humor has a stronger editorial presence than RJ, which leads to a better quality of writing.
I think the best shot for a nostalgia site at getting a book would be X-Entertainment. A book by Matt would be awesome.
I've often thought about suggesting that RJ get a dedicated editorial staff. It would lead to articles of better quality, but it would also take away one of the great things about the site- that anyone can have their voice heard.
A middle road option could be having 'featured articles', or 'staff writers', which are subject to greater editorial veto than the regular articles that anyone can submit. (Note that I'm not suggesting that editors or staff writers would be paid. It'd have to be volunteer stuff.)
I can see where you're going with this. Except this site is nothing like Tucker Max or Maddox. This site isn't about consuming vast quanities of alcohol and "getting some" under the guise of some absurd masculinity, nor about ranting about the latest Cameron Diaz fiasco. (BTW, I'm not knocking those sites, I visit them frequently; I'm trying to create a strong distinction here--they have their place, RJ has its own).
I would tend to agree it's probably best that RJ get a dedicated editorial board to better filter submissions.
My issue here is that so many books are devoted to discussing the past in terms of politics or historical events. There is a growing nostalgic (i.e. marketable) base that wants to have its own "bible" of the 80's to mid 90's. This is 'retroir.'
I'm not sure what kind of idea or hook is needed to reign in this base, but if we build it, they will come. (Okay, sorry, I'm not a big Costner fan, but nonetheless...)
Actually a collaborative effort sounds like a great idea seeing how there are many writers here already.Are you sure you want to delete this post? Yes | No - 8 years 3 months ago
- Posts: 1011
Reaper wrote:We need some artists too.
Yes we do, but first we need the stories to write down
and the artist? Well we know at least oneBack in the Day a life could change by the touch of Reaper,
Be Excellent to Each otherAre you sure you want to delete this post? Yes | No