Describing the Dargon Project to people, I usually refer to it as a collaborative writing project for aspiring writers which has been producing fiction on the Internet since 1985. Almost invariably, one of the first questions I am asked is whether any of our writers have gone on to write on a professional level.
It’s always a slightly awkward question to answer, because most people generally equates “successful writer” with “published novelist”, and although we are all “aspiring writers”, very few of our contributors actually aspire to become paid novelists in the mass market.
For most of our writers, writing is a passion, and a pursuit which we want to be good at. However, the desire to write doesn’t necessarily imply a similar desire to find a publisher who will pay for one’s work and go through the arduous process of seeing a novel through to appearance on local bookstore shelves. In many cases, being printed in DargonZine is sufficient to fulfil a writer’s desire to have his or her works in print.
But if that’s the case, it’s a fair question to ask what *are* our goals, and how do we measure ourselves against them? If we’re not trying to become professional writers, what *are* we trying to accomplish?
For most of us, the goal of participation in the Dargon Project is to practice writing, and improve through contact with other writers, both through their critique of our works, as well as learning how other writers work. In writing for DargonZine, we are doing something we really enjoy, and hopefully are improving our skills.
We gauge how well we are doing by giving one another copious amounts of feedback, and poring over what feedback we get from our readers. The Internet is an awesome tool for aspiring writers to get experience writing for a real audience, and for establishing a dialogue between the writer and his clients. Because this is a rare opportunity for us to interact with a group of genuine readers, we enthusiastically encourage reader feedback, and hope you will drop us a line when we do something you particularly like or dislike.
Despite the fact that none of our writers are published novelists, I believe that we have met our goals in providing value to our two constituencies: our writers and our readers.
Those of you viewing this on the Web will note some new artwork gracing our story pages, contributed by Scott Kossack. Scott has been a visual artist for approximately nine years, working in pen & ink, pencil, pastels, photography, and acrylic paints. By joining the project, Scott is hoping to expand his abilities, improve his art, and receive feedback on his work. Some of his influences include Salvador Dali, Ansel Adams, Bill Watterson, and Cezanne.
In other Web enhancements, we’ve recently added a text search capability to the Online Glossary page, to make it easier to look up particular people, places and things that are specific to the world of Dargon.
Mark Murray opens this issue with a story involving his new characters, young Matty and Ben. We were introduced to them in “A Shadow of a Life”, which appeared in the previous issue. Mark encourages us to accompany them as they run into some “ordinary” people on the street in Dargon.
“The Broken Staff I” is the first in a series of stories by new writer Mike Adams which follows the life of his all-too-human character Bren kel Tomis. Expect to see more of Mike and Bren in coming issues.
And Alan Lauderdale continues his series of Mouse Tales in “Sleepers Awake”. Mouse’s story began nearly two years ago in “I Am My Lord’s Possession”, and was featured most recently in last issue’s “Falsehoods”. Alan’s wit adds a bit of humor to this story. After the long stretch of seriousness which accompanied the effort to wrap up the war storyline, it’s nice to once again be able to print a couple whimsical stories.
So enjoy the stories and the holiday season, and look for us in 1997, as we begin our *thirteenth year* of publication!!!
It waits at the edge of a frontier town.
It waits for a group of adventurers to begin an unprecedented journey.
But most of all, it waits for you.
Dargon: Deep Woods Inn.
In March the wait will be over.
It waits in a frontier Duchy.
It waits for a female warrior to guide a band of determined adventurers.
But most of all, it waits for you.
Dargon: Deep Woods Inn.
In March the wait will be over.
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