SAVANT is a weekly comics magazine with an activist bent, aimed at readers, retailers, and professionals of all stripes interested in the comics industry. We're here to make things better.

Welcome to the front lines.

 

 

HOW TO BE A SAVANT:
SUBMISSION MADE FUN AND EASY


Okay.

SAVANT publishes on a four weeks on, one week off schedule, in both HTML and PDF formats.

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If you want to write, send a sample to Savantmag@aol.com, but keep reading, first.

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Content will remain fixed; the writers will rotate. This is done to keep the writers from burning out and to keep the columns changing.

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This is the breakdown for the mostly regular content that will appear on SAVANT:

Start: this is the most fixed and immovable of the columns. The editorial staff will always handle start. It is the intro essay of the week. The Letter from the Editor, as it were. You don't need to worry about writing for it if you're submitting.

Essay: This will be an essay. Freeform, anything goes. Only rule: If you're talking about a problem with the industry or any of its parts, you MUST offer a way to fix that problem. This is the backbone of SAVANT. Write a critical essay on the use of color in the Acme Novelty Library. Write a rant about how a bad retailer screwed you over. Try answering the important questions in life: Why do you love comics? Why are comics a valid art form? How did a comic save your life? Get you laid? Make you weep? WHY THE FUCK SHOULD ANYONE CARE?!? Here.

Essential: An extended review of a trade paperback or graphic novel (NO SINGLE ISSUES OR UNCOLLECTED WORKS) that EVERYONE should own: the Sgt. Peppers, the Ulysses, the Citizen Kanes of the comic world. Please: do not send in reviews of Watchmen or The Dark Knight Returns. Unless you have anything new to say about them. In which case, I will make out with you in thanks and awe.

Reviews: This will be a listing of reviews for books not covered by ESSENTIAL (unless we start getting lots of copious preview copies). This is where we discuss the floppies or singles. Spines already have their own dedicated column.

Quick Takes: Invitation only, sorry. You have to be contributing that issue or have contributed in the past to be invited to participate in our round table discussion of current events and issues in the comics industry.

Extra: Reader mail, interviews, and anything else that doesn't really fit in the above categories. It runs pretty irregularly, whenever we want to run it.

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Do not, under any circumstance, emulate such metajournalistic tropes as referring to anyone as your "Pigfucking Editor" or anything like that. Do not describe large and imaginary amounts of drugs that you have not consumed really for the writing of your piece. Do not discuss the creation of your piece unless it is relevant to the piece. Many of us want to be Hunter S. Thompson, or Spider Jerusalem. Most of us are not.

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If you are uncomfortable with being re-written (beyond basic issues of grammar, clarity, etc.) then please say so when you contact us. It will save everyone a lot of time and trouble, and we'll know when it's best to just walk away. If you want comments, suggestions, or other help, we will offer it. Everyone will have the opportunity to read his or her corrected piece.

Now: Deadlines will be tight. If you send us your piece late, and we respond to you late, and you have agreed to let us monkey with it (if we think it needs monkeying with), and we post it without your final approval, well, what can we do?

Anyone can contribute. Contributing doesn't obligate you to do it on a regular basis. There's no pressure, so don't panic.

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So, becoming a SAVANT is easy. Write something. Send it to Savantmag@aol.com. We will see how you fit. If you fit, you will then be on-deck to have your piece published.

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We can change our mind about any of this shit at any time.

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The response to SAVANT has been overwhelming. It is still going strong because of you, the reader. Don't be afraid to let your voice be heard.

Discuss this column on the SAVANT forum.