SUPPORT THE JOURNAL
Help build a journal that gives back to writers
The Chronicles of What?!?!? is being built as an open, accessible publishing community. Support helps us move from a volunteer proof-of-concept toward a journal that can pay authors, maintain strong publishing infrastructure, support accessibility, and invest in the people who make the work possible.
The long-term goal is sustainability without putting the cost of participation on authors.
WHY SUPPORT MATTERS
Publishing should not depend on who can afford to participate
We do not charge authors submission fees, and we do not want the journal’s future to depend on introducing barriers simply because publishing costs money.
Instead, we want support from readers, community members, sponsors, and other partners to help cover those costs—and, most importantly, make it possible to compensate authors for published work.
Support should make participation more possible – not more expensive
WHAT MAKES SUPPORT POSSIBLE
We know where the money should go first
PAY AUTHORS
Our first funding priority is providing authors with a modest flat honorarium for accepted work. We currently envision something in the range of $25–$50 per published piece as funding allows.
KEEP THE JOURNAL RUNNING
Hosting, domains, submission systems, publishing tools, backups, security, and other infrastructure all carry costs. Support helps keep the journal dependable and available.
BUILT FOR ACCESSIBILITY
Accessibility should be part of the publishing process from the beginning. Funding can support accessible design, testing, remediation, captions, alternative text, and other improvements.
SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY
As the journal grows, funding can support editing, design, reviewer resources, community programming, contributor recognition, and other work that strengthens the people around the stories.
OUR FUNDING PRIORITES
People First. Infrastructure second. Growth after that.
- Pay Authors
- Maintain the website and publishing infrastructure.
- Support accessibilityu.
- Cover editing and design costs
- Invest in reviewer support and community programming.
ISSUE 0
The founding issue is different.
Issue 0 is our proof-of-concept. The basic site and publishing costs are being covered without dedicated outside funding, and authors will not receive monetary compensation for this first issue.
Authors whose work is published in Issue 0 will be permanently recognized as Founding Authors, and reviewers who complete reviews will be recognized as Founding Reviewers.
Recognition is gratitude. It is not payment.
Our intention is for future funded issues to provide modest author honoraria whenever resources make that possible.
HOW THIS COULD GROW
Start small. Prove the idea. Build sustainably.
01 – Issue 0
Build the proof-of-concept, test the peer-review model, publish the first issue, and learn what the community actually needs.
02 – Launch Support
After Issue 0 is built, a crowdfunding campaign such as Kickstarter could help cover launch and publication costs for the next stage of the journal.
03 – Sustainable Support
Recurring support through Patreon or a similar model could help fund author honoraria, infrastructure, accessibility, and ongoing community work.
MORE THAN MONEY
There are many ways to support a community
The Chronicles depends on more than financial contributions. Reading, reviewing, sharing stories, telling writers about open calls, providing thoughtful feedback, and helping the journal reach new readers all matter.
Support the work
Read stories. Share issues. Recommend authors. Help new readers discover the journal.
Support the community
Review a story. Submit your own work. Share expertise. Help us make the publishing process stronger and more accessible.
SPONSORS & PARTNERS
Support should never buy editorial influence.
The Chronicles may eventually accept sponsorship or institutional support. Sponsors may be acknowledged on the site or within an issue, but financial support will not determine which stories are accepted, how stories are reviewed, or what authors are expected to write.
Editorial decisions remain editorial decisions.
HELP BUILD WHAT COMES NEXT
Want to support The Chronicles?
For now, the best way to help is to participate, share the project, and help us build Issue 0. Financial support options will be added as the journal grows.