Will You Help Fund Our Fifth Year?
Self-funded since its inaugural issue in 2016, Blank Spaces has achieved a great deal without major outside investors. I'm really proud of that. Now it's time to look ahead and talk about what it would take to see some real growth. While we have reached as far as the shores of Vancouver Island and the red sand beaches of P.E.I. we dream of saturating Canada with the words and art of its very talented and underappreciated creatives.
Important things to note:
It takes more than 90 unpaid hours to put each issue together.
Sales of the print magazine do not make any money. They merely (sometimes only mostly) cover the cost of printing and shipping.
Additional events like Word on the Street are paid for completely out-of-pocket, as are all office supplies, and promotional/marketing materials.
After more than three years of carrying the weight myself, I'm reexamining my business model, humbling myself to admit I need to make some changes, and boldly asking for your investment. If everyone who has ever enjoyed a copy of Blank Spaces agreed to give just $15, it could totally change the trajectory of this little magazine. It would open doors that I couldn't afford to open before and it would allow me to share this project I believe in so strongly with a much wider audience.
I love the print version. I think it is one of the most visually stunning and high quality publications in the literary market today. I am incredibly proud of it and have no intention of stopping. That being said, selling a product that does not make money is not a viable business model and if this was not a passion project for me, I would have walked away long ago.
But Blank Spaces is more than a print magazine. Blank Spaces is a champion of the unheard. It is a launch pad for newbies and a welcoming stopover for the prolific. It is a place of encouragement, an advocate for creative living, and a torch-bearer for literary souls who want nothing more than a place to call home. The connections I've made and the relationships built through this community propel me forward and allow me to trust that all of you want the same thing I do: to see this passion project become a passion institution.
Keep buying the print version — please keep buying the print version — but also understand that without digital subscriptions, Blank Spaces has no chance of real growth.
WHY YOUR DONATION MATTERS:
In September of 2016, the first issue of Blank Spaces was released.
My heart told me to create something that champions other creatives like me who felt stuck and unheard. I wanted to be the voice of the fearful, to coax out the closet writers, artists, and dreamers, and to build something from the ground up that would put a little beauty into the world.
The outpouring of support was tremendous and overwhelming. But it was not financial. I started Blank Spaces with $0 capital. Everything that went into getting it off the ground came from my own shallow pockets. As time went on, and the magazine proved its worth, a few people stepped forward with donations, and this certainly helped to off-set my personal costs. It wasn't until the release of the second anniversary edition in September of 2018, that Blank Spaces actually paid for itself — meaning I didn't have to dip into my personal funds at all to manage production. What a victory!
So, this begs the question: what's next? I have maxed out what I can do on my own. Now that I'm no longer losing money (to be fair, I have yet to repay all the 'personal loss', though I'm considering that an investment in perpetuating the future of Canadian art and literature), I'm content to keep chugging along, doing what I've been doing, making a tiny dent in the lit world.
But, is just being content good enough?
Blank Spaces is my darling and part of me wants to hold it close and protect it from the big wide world, but why should I? It's not really mine. Not anymore. It's yours. Every one of you who have already invested by submitting, subscribing, and sharing on social media. It belongs to all of us and it deserves the attention of anyone who might benefit from its mission to champion the art of Canadian creatives.
So that brings us here. How do you grow a thing that's reached the max of one person's abilities?
You stand on a street corner, declare your goals, and hope someone drops a penny in your hat!
That's what I'm doing here. I'm asking for your partnership to help me see this thing to its fullest potential. You don't have to give a lot to change a lot. If you believe in me, if you believe in Blank Spaces, if you believe in the importance of supporting the arts in Canada, then please consider partnering with me to help raise this baby up into a full sized change-making institution!
WHAT ARE THE MAIN GOALS?
Gaining enough digital subscriptions to cover the current operating costs. (200 more)
Purchasing an annual membership with Magazines Canada which will help put us into bookstores and magazine racks across the country. (520 more subscribers)
Upgrade our equipment to make production easier. (700 more subscribers)
WHAT IS THE 'REACH FOR THE STARS' GOAL?
A brick and mortar location where we can give back into our local community by offering seminars, workshops, co-op creative work space, open mic nights, songwriter showcases, art shows, book launches (and more!) all while continuing to expand our national reach. (4000 more subscribers)
HOW WILL WE GET THERE?
That's where you come in. None of this will be possible unless the troops rally together and fight for this publication. I'm asking if you're willing to get into the ring and help by purchasing a digital subscription. That's it. You'll be helping to launch Blank Spaces into its next year and I'll get to brighten your inbox every quarter with a hot-off-the-press new issue of amazing Canadian content!
Mimicking the Patreon or Kickstarter model, I wanted to offer different levels of support options (without putting a cut into the pockets of those giants). All proceeds from whatever level you choose will go directly into helping Blank Spaces reach some huge goals! The more you give, the more I give back to you. It's that simple. The lowest tier receives an annual digital subscription. The highest gets a whole lot of additional goodies plus a manuscript critique by yours truly.
Are you ready to help?
Hands in everyone! Our fifth year begins on September 1, 2020 and I will be pushing this campaign until then. I can't wait to watch you blow my goals out of the water!
You can make your donation right now by using the for, below. Choose your amount, select BUY NOW and then click on the little shopping bag to complete the transaction...
...Or come over to the campaign page where you can learn a little more about what each level includes and confidently choose your support tier.
You can track with the campaign by checking the campaign page at any point. I will do my best to update it every time a new supporter jumps on board.
Thank you for bearing with me throughout this plea. You are the reason I am fighting for this! Remember, all it takes is $15.
— Alanna Rusnak, Editor in Chief
