Explorations: The Subversive Goes Public!

Here's the biggest news I've ever published in this rag: The Subversive is now open for submissions and out to change the course of the mainstream! A big change of heart for moi? Yes, I know.... But a lot has happened in the last few weeks, and don't you know I'm going to tell you all about it. But first, let me lay out this new direction for the ol' Subversive so you can see where it's headed. First of all, I'm looking for submissions in a big way. I'll consider written works both fiction and non-fiction - pictures, original artwork, comic strips, in .gif or .jpg format - audio tracks of speech, music, or whatever in .wav, or Real Audio format, URLs of nifty places to visit on the web, and whatever else you can think of that might be of interest to our readers and is in line with the editorial tone you've come to know and love. And best of all, you get PAID for it! (Just click on "submissions" above to find out how.)

In addition, The Subversive is now accepting adverstising, and publishing books, albums, and multi-media through Heart Corps. Why all the changes? All because of you! Over the last four years, your readership has made The Subversive one of the most popular, fastest growing cyberzines on the internet, and now on the web as well! Faced with this groundswell of interest, the choices were simple: close it all down before it REALLY got out of hand, or jump in full bore because, as W.C. Fields once said, "The time has come to take the bull by the tail and face the situation." Well, I've obvsiouly opted for door number 2!

Over the course of the next few issues, I'm going to give this cyberzine a complete makeover - both look and feel. You may have already noticed the nifty new "Subversive" banner that serves as our masthead. That graphic is currently being retrofitted to all previous editions as time allows. In addition, The Subversive will feature a complete multi-media experience, designed to open new horizons and trigger new experiences. For me, all this represents a new vitalitiy to the old commitment to provide fresh perspectives on topical issues of head and heart.

Speaking of heart, why the big change in mine? As recently as last issue, I published my intention to finish uploading my diary and then bail. But, life interceded in my plans...

Here's what happened: I quit Screenplay Systems! Now, many of you may know that I created the Theory of Story (along with Chris, who is the vice-president of Screenplay Systems Incorporated). We first came up with the idea in 1980, worked it on and off over the years, then put ourselves on to it full time beginning in 1991. From that time forward, our efforts were two-fold: to fully develop the theory and to implement it as story development software for SSI. This we did, and the result was released in 1994 as a software program for writers, principally programmed by company president, Stephen Greenfield. Since that time, the story development software has taken off like a shot. We've been interviewed on CNN and for Wired Magazine and Writer's Digest. The software has gotten rave reviews from all over the world, and we (Chris and I) are even teaching a series of classes in the theory at U.C.L.A.! So, how does this lead to beefing up the Subversive? Keep your pantyhose on: I'm getting to it!

Due to the software, I don't have to be looking for work. In fact, I could sit here on my dufus and surf the web until they buried me at cybersea! But, that's not me. Nope. I'm out to change the world.

I've always wanted to change the world, even as a little kid. Oh, I didn't want to control the physical stuff of the planet, or even to control the destinies of millions. No, control was never a big draw for me. What I like is influence. I like pointing eyes at new points of view, and poking holes in givens. I like exposing rationalizations and questioning the sacrosanct. And most of all, I like opening closed minds, and failing that, grinding them into dust in the teeth of predatory verbage.

Begin to get the picture? The Subversive offers a real opportunity to all of us to make a difference in the way people think, and more importantly, the way they feel. And best of all, we can do this while having a rolicking good time to boot! So, enjoy the new, expanded Subversive! (And don't forget to support the effort by submitting material, advertising, or simply browsing the Heart Corps Catalog.)

Hang on tight! (You ain't seen nothin' yet!)