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A: Partly, yes... but mostly no. Makeshift Miracle is joining a web comics hub called Modern Tales. Keep reading this FAQ to get all the details of what’s in store for The Makeshift Miracle.
Q: What is Modern Tales? A: Modern Tales is a new website launching on March 1st, 2002. It’s a site dedicated to web comics with over 20 previously published, award winning or up and coming artists who have committed to producing high quality comic content for the web.
Q: How does Modern Tales work? A: It’s a website with free content every day for people to browse and read. Each of the 20+ stories on the site will have their newest page on display for free so that people can read and enjoy the stories without any problems, just like most other web comic sites. If you wish to dig through the archives of content or see other exclusive stories, you must be a subscriber to the Modern Tales website.
Q: How do you subscribe to Modern Tales? A: There is a flat subscription fee per month (or you can pay by the half year or full year, etc.). At this point for the site launch, the subscription fee is $2.00 US per month or $20 US per year. In order to make sure you obtain that $2/$20 rate, you should send an e-mail to notifyme@moderntales.com. Very soon after the launch, the price will go up to $3-4 per month. Whatever rate you subscribe at, you will keep as long as your subscription doesn’t lapse. That means the best time to get on board is right now!
Q: I can’t / won’t pay through Paypal! A: There will be an address to send cheques to for people who don't have a credit card. They've realized that Paypal isn't an option for everyone, and they'll have alternate payment options at the site's launch. If you're interested in that option, you can contact Joey Manley at: notifyme@moderntales.com for more information.
Q: So, Makeshift Miracle will be locked away and I won’t be able to read it? A: No. The latest page of the story will always be available at www.makeshiftmiracle.com. As long as you visit the site 3 times a week, you’ll never miss any of the story and you don’t have to pay for it.
Q: I don’t have a chance to visit the site 3 times a week! How can I see the pages once they’ve been archived? A: Subscribe to Modern Tales or get someone else to visit and snag the latest page for you. That’s what friends are for :)
Q: Okay, smart-guy... why should I pay to read your comic when I can get it for free just by visiting three times a week? A: You shouldn’t subscribe unless you want to, of course. Subscribing is the best way to show support for the hard work I put into Makeshift Miracle. It’s a way to show people that high quality content is worthwhile on-line. If you can’t afford to subscribe or don’t want to, there’s no one forcing you to do so.
Q: Why would I subscribe to Modern Tales just to read your story? A: Well, I think because it’s a pretty good story, but I'm sort of biased. Beyond that, there are 20+ other artists who are creating stuff at Modern Tales that are just as good if not better than I am. It’s cheaper than a single print comic or a beer each month and you get a lot of great content.
Q: I don’t want to pay for 20 other people. If I put money into Makeshift Miracle, I want it to go directly to you. A: I’m flattered, honestly. I never even expected this would be a concern. Still, if that’s what you’d like, feel free to click that Paypal button on the main page of the site and make a contribution. I’ve been using the money from that tip jar for paper, pencils and other supplies to make the story.
Q: I could just copy all the jpegs and pirate your stuff. Why should I subscribe for more than a month? A: Of course it's possible to download the archives, piracy will ALWAYS be possible if you're willing to do it. Modern Tales wants people to subscribe with the idea that they're supporting the artists. This has more in common with Public Television... watch for free when the content is there, but benefit the creators when you join and gain exclusive material at the same time.
Q: How will you grab new readers when you’re locking away your story? No one’s going to get hooked on a slow moving story like Makeshift Miracle with just one page. A: True. The first 15 pages of Makeshift Miracle will always be free to give people a way “in” to the story. That way, people get Iris' crash, background on Colby and the mysterious intro. If people aren't intrigued by then... Makeshift probably isn't their thing anyways.
Q: People won’t pay for content on the web unless it’s porn. You guys are smoking crack... A: That may be very true (the porn part, not the crack part), but someone has to change the non-existent business model of web comics. Art is either worth something to a person or it's not. If the quality is there, I think it is...
Q: There are a lot of free web comics? Why should I pay for yours? There’s nothing physical to keep from it. A: People will pay for a quality service, like cable or a movie ticket for 2 hours of entertainment even if they don’t have anything physical afterwards. Modern Tales is not newspaper (web) comic strips like Doonesbury, Garfield or Calvin & Hobbes. It's long form stories like Sandman, Bone or Transmetropolitan. It's a comic book audience that's used to paying for content instead of a comic strip audience that's used to getting it for free. If you want to see professional quality work at your fingertips, this is the way to go.
Q: Jim, you’re gonna get screwed out of cash by doing this. A: If you subscribe, you'll be asked which comic "brought you in". If you say that it's Makeshift Miracle, I benefit from that. When you view my content, I benefit (I benefit when subscribers who came from the other people view my content as well). If I can grab and keep people's attention, I'll benefit. Joey Manley (the guy behind the site) has put thousands of his own dollars into this and I’ve spent a long time thinking about it. These guys and gals are fair and if there’s profit to be had, we’ll all share in it. If not, then at least we pushed the edge and saw what the current internet market was ready for or not. Many of the top people at Modern Tales have substantial print audiences, so the chances of my audience expanding are quite good.
Q: I’d love to see a print version of Makeshift Miracle instead. A: I'd love to have one made up for the San Diego Comic Con this year. Any I don't sell there would be sold here at the site. I could probably take "pre-orders" as well, ensuring people that they get theirs. Joining Modern Tales doesn't impede any print plans in the slightest.
Q: Where do I find Modern Tales? A: The main site is here: http://www.moderntales.com Details of the site and their proposal to creators is here: http://www.moderntales.com/creators.html
Q: I’m not convinced... A: Sorry I couldn’t bring you aboard. I hope you’ll come by to see the story three times a week anyways.
The Makeshift Miracle is hosted on Keenspace, a free webhosting and site automation service for webcomics. |