Tom Foster publishes first issue as INK SPOTS O.E.!
For more information, check out the Current Issue.
INK SPOTS welcomes Tom Foster as the new
Organizing Editor of our APAzine. Tom has just published
his first issue, which was mailed to the membership in March.
The current issue, #20-C, features contributions from:
Plus: Spotty's Scrapbook, a special section featuring the art of J. Allen St. John, and everyone's favorite bobcat mastcot, Spotty!
MEMBERSHIP: 25 members, including the Organizing Editor (OE).
PUBLICATION: Bi-monthly, alternating between "art" issues and "comment" issues. The deadlines for the "art" issues of INK SPOTS are April 1, August 1, and December 1. Submissions for "comment" issues are due on February 1, June 1, and October 1.
MINIMUM ACTIVITY (MINAC): 2 pages of original, artistic material for every "art" issue. Submissions to "comment" issues are not required, but strongly requested. 30 copies of each submission, plus $4.00 per issue for mailing and production costs, are also required.
SIZE: 8-1/2" x 11" (standard letter size), double-sided. Other sizes (digests, minis) allowed upon arrangement with the OE.
CONTENTS: Any original, unpublished cartoon/comic material, with an eye toward professional publication.
Publication Schedule
INK SPOTS is published bi-monthly. The
deadlines for the "art" issues of INK SPOTS are
April 1, August 1, and December 1. Submissions
for "comment" issues are due on February 1, June
1, and October 1.
Contact O.E. Tom Foster
for more information regarding the current INK SPOTS
deadline.
Contributions received after the deadline will be held for the next collation or will be returned to the contributor at their option. Late contributions will not apply towards a member's Minimum Activity (or MINAC), so mail early! INK SPOTS will be collated on the first weekend following the deadline, and mailed to the membership thereafter.
Minimum Activity (MINAC)
The responsibilities of each member of an
APAzine are called Minimum Activity or
MINAC. Minimum Activity for INK SPOTS
requires each member to print, or arrange to have
printed, 30 copies of their contribution (25 for
the membership plus 5 extras), and mail them to the
OE. The OE must receive the contribution on or
before that issue's stated deadline.
Organizing Editor (OE)
The person in charge of running the APA is the
Organizing Editor or "OE". The current OE
of INK SPOTS is Tom Foster. Contributions,
mailing accounts, questions, and all other correspondence
relating to the APA should be mailed to:
Tom Foster
55 South Alicia
MEMPHIS, TN 38112
Contributions ("'zines")
Members are requested to pre-collate any
contributions of 3 or more pages. MINAC requires
that you submit 2 pages of original, unpublished
art for every art issue. If a
member misses an art issue deadline, that member must
publish a two-page "creative" minimum in the following
comment issue. There is no
"maximum activity", but members are encouraged to use
their own discretion.
Each contribution must be submitted on standard 8-1/2" x 11" sheets of paper, with proper margins (at least 1/2 inch along each side is reccomended), and printed or copied double-sided to hold down on the size of the collated APAzine. Odd-size contributions will not be accepted unless prior arrangements with he OE are made. Digest-sized 'zines, "minicomics" or similar small enclosures will be put in a special envelope, to be included with each copy of the APAzine; the cost of the envelopes will be deducted from that contributor's mailing account. Collated APAzines will be sent via First Class Mail, unless other arrangements are made with the OE.
Mailing Accounts
Each member is requested to
maintain a mailing account to cover
costs related to publishing and mailing INK SPOTS. A
published account will be made each issue to indicate
what the previous issue cost, and how much each
member has in their account. If a member leaves
the APA the balance of their mailing account will
be refunded. If a mailing account is not established,
each contribution must be accompanied by funds
to cover mailing and distribution.
"Art" and "Comment" Issues
INK SPOTS is rather special among APAs in
that it is really two APAs in one, alternating
between "art" issues and "comment" issues. The
"art" issues will feature creative works by the
membership, and "comment" issues will serve as a
means of commenting and exchanging information
among members. Cartoon/comic submissions are not
restricted to "art" issues, and comments and
other writings are not restricted to "comment"
issues, as long as the rules of MINAC are
observed. Submitting to the "comment" issues is
not required, but it is strongly encouraged so
that everyone can get a feel for how well (or
how poorly) their work is received. Constructive
mailing comments (MCs) should be the norm here;
sniping and pointless personal attacks will be
viewed unfavorably.
Themes
Certain mailings will be "theme issues" as
designated by the OE, and members are encouraged
(though not required) to observe these special
themes.
INK SPOTS is a creative APA, so share the best you have to contribute! The OE is personally very fond of animals of any sort, and pro-animal material will be gently encouraged. "Adult" material (which generally means violent or sexual subject matter) has its place in some comics and cartoons, but contributors to INK SPOTS are encouraged to keep this to a minimum. Material will be reviewed for tastefulness should the need arise. Material unacceptable for professional publication will be rejected here, too! Remember, professionalism is not who you work for or how much you make. Rather, professionalism is a mature, intelligent attitude toward your work, the works of others, and in your relations with your fellow cartoonists. Hopefully, INK SPOTS will be an entertaining and challenging experience for everyone involved.
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