Amiga Collections: MegaDisc/MegaDisc 36 (1993-11)(MegaDisc Digital Publishing)(AU)(Disk 1 of 2)[WB].zip/MegaDisc 36 (1993-11)(MegaDisc Digital Publishing)(AU)(Disk 1 of 2)[WB].adf/MD_Info/Contributions/Contributions

Text File | 1993-10-29 | 13KB | 284 lines

   TO THE
     EDITOR   HOW TO CONTRIBUTE TO MEGADISC



   !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


   MD_EXTRAS DISK !!


   MEGADISC now has an MD_EXTRAS disk which began with with issue #31 (thanks
  to Paul McLachlan for the idea), to supplement each issue of MEGADISC by
  providing programs and utilities that are mentioned in the Megadisc
  articles, tutorials and reviews (if it's PD).  This saves users from
  hunting around all over the Public Domain and is nicely arranged to be
  referred to from the various articles.

   This disk may be ordered as part of a subscription from Megadisc ($20
  extra per 6 issue subscription, or $12 extra for a 3 issue sub), or as a
  separate disk for $5 individually.  simply quote MDE and the issue of
  MegaDisc that you want the extras disk for - for example, MDE_35 for that
  issue's disk. Or let us know that you want to get it when you get your
  Megadisc subscription.

   Send in the PD you mention

   To further this end, could contributors, when they write a piece for
  MegaDisc, simply place any public domain software they mention in their
  article or tutorial or whatever on the disk they send in to Tim, or at
  least info on where it can be found on our PD collection.  This will enable
  a quicker production time for the disk.



   !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


    ANY MEGADISC CONTRIBUTORS WHO HAVE A QUERY OR JUST WANT TO DISCUSS A
       CONTRIBUTION CAN OF COURSE USE OUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER 008 227 418


   !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    One of the most gratifying aspects of editing Megadisc is getting
   the mail - the quality of contributions has continued to get even
   better, even by people who've never written a piece for publication in
   their lives. Many thanks to all of you who have already sent us
   contributions. This does everyone good (not just MD) - everyone wins,
   contributors and users. It's very likely that you know things that
   many others don't, and they'd like to hear about it, if you manage to
   get it to Megadisc.

WHAT YOU GET

    If you get inspired and send us in a contribution which we use on
   a future Megadisc, whether it be a review, article, program, series of
   tips, graphics, animation or whatever, you'll be entitled to any 10
   Public Domain disks available in the PD Library (or more if it's a very
   substantial contribution; 5 if it's a single game review), as well as a
   free copy of the Megadisc issue that your piece ends up in. So when
   you do, please include a note saying which disks you'd like to have (if
   you don't I might forget to get around to asking you what you want).
   Note that we reserve the right to sell Megadisc issues with all
   contents, past and future, here and overseas at any time, in any form.

*   Some contributors have asked about getting back issues of Megadisc
   instead of PD from time to time - that's fine with me. Just ask for back
   issues at the rate of 6 pd for one back issue.


DON'T FORGET A BIO_PIC WHEN CONTRIBUTING

    When you do contribute something to Megadisc, feel free to include a
  small "bio-pic", ie a paragraph or two describing yourself, your
  interest in computing, and anything else relevant to the situation,
  whether serious or funny. I'm sure that other users are keen to know
  where you're coming from.




SUBMITTING PUBLIC DOMAIN DISKS FOR OUR LIBRARY

   Good new PD disks are always welcome - preferably NOT such things as
  cracker demos (tend to be boring and repetitive), or other quasi-PD
  diskmags such as Amiga Format (not quite PD sometimes) or simple
  compilations of utilities we already have on the current collections unless
  they have something which really distinguishes them.  What is welcome -
  material which hasn't appeared anywhere before, or isn't already in the
  collection, that may have been downloaded from overseas, for example;
  locally written stuff; interesting compilations on topics which are useful
  to end users, such as video or audio, etc.; demos of current software;
  practical data disks, interesting games... you get the idea.

       NOTE:  One thing we can't really use are coverdisks from
    magazines.  Even though the software on the disks can be public
    domain the coverdisk and the way it is set up is copyright of the
    particular publication.  In particular the game demos are
    generally "customised" for the magazine and are thus copyright.
    If you wish to send in software from a coverdisk then it is
    alright if you take off the particular program and set it up on
    its own disk.  We WILL NOT accept full version software that is
    included on coverdisks since that is piracy.  Just because a
    magazine includes a full version commercial program on their
    coverdisk does NOT make it public domain and the magazines pay a
    lot of money to have a full version program on the coverdisk.

   But whatever you send in - please put in a description of what it is, on
  paper or on disk, along the lines of what we have in the Catalogue
  (covering such items as how much ram required, where it came from, etc.);
  and please make it a ready-to-use disk, either bootable or not, so that a
  beginner can use it without problems - otherwise mention in your
  description that it's not so easy to use.

   What do you get? Well, mainly that warm glow due to adding to this user
  resource! But also, ask for 3 PD disks of your choice and if we use your
  disk we'll send them out. Chase us up if we don't!



SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS


    * Locally written software/utilities are always very welcome.
   Anything that an end user would find useful. Check any MD for the sort
   of thing that's popular.

    * Hardware do-it-yourself hacks of any kind. We're very keen to
   publish anything which people can do for a few bucks rather than a few
   hundred if they buy the commercial product. Check the various hacks
   in any MD issue for good examples.

    * What about a "What is this thing called a Database?", along the
   lines of Don Sutton's Spreadsheet series in the last few Megadiscs?

    * Anyone doing anything with BlitzBasic? Any hints, suggestions,
   programs, anything? Likewise anything to do with other "hypermedia"
   and authoring stuff like "CanDo", UltraCard, Scripit, TASS, AMOS, etc.

    * Anything to do with the CLI/Shell/AmigaDos - this is an endless
   area of investigation, from tutorials/overviews to fine points of the
   CLI commands.

    * Reviews of the new MultiMedia programs, such as Scala,
   MediaShow, AmigaVision and so on; applications of them too.

    * Icons - any and all, especially small animated informative ones,
   but please send in whatever you've done.

    * Reviews of educational software, both commercial and public
   domain - this is a rather neglected section of the software market, yet
   there is great potential, especially on the Amiga.

    * Examples/tutorials on how your system is configured, along with
   startup-sequences - in short, any ways you've found to speed up the
   system, or squeeze more performance out of it. Hints and tips in
   general are always most welcome.

    * The Amiga used in productivity and business - if you're using
   your Amiga commercially, please let us know how, and the advantages and
   limitations.

    * Reviews of Public Domain software (and hardware, if possible) -
   after all, it's practically free and often better than the commercial
   versions. If there's a particular program on the public domain you'd
   like to do a review of, just give us a call and we'll send you the
   relevant disk - for free, natch!

    * Reviews of Australian-made software and hardware - let's support
   the local products, which are often very competitive.

    * Examples of using business software such as spreadsheets,
   databases - templates that you may use, comparative reviews of the
   various packages available.

    * Any information you have about making your printer work better,
   hints, new printer drivers, etc.

    * Any information about Desktop Video and Desktop Publishing -
   professional or home - how to improve your productions, any hints and
   tips, and good hardware available.

    * More info on Music on the Amiga - there's good stuff coming out
   these days so let us know what you've found out.

    * Overviews of the flood of games now available for the Amiga, or
   comparative reviews of "genres" of games. A bit of analysis rather
   than just description is useful - like what you expect from games in
   the future, shortcomings of the Amiga compared to other machines, etc.

    * Batch or script files that you've come up with, that illustrate
   a point or do something useful.

    * Comparisons of the Amiga with other computers (serious ones!).


    That doesn't exhaust the possibilities by any means, and please
   don't be limited by the above. We're interested in information to help
   people take their Amigas further than they're doing now.

    Any current subscribers who send a contribution will have their
   subscription extended by one issue, apart from getting their 10 free
   disks.


HOW TO SEND IN YOUR CONTRIBUTION


Style notes

   When writing in to Megadisc, you can save us a bit of time if you:

 1. Leave 2 spaces after full stops, ends of sentences, etc.
 2. leave 1 space after commas, and other internal punctutation.
 3. Not use capitals all over the place (people rarely do this, but it
    happens).
 4. Leave a left margin of 3, right margin of 75.
 5. Send in the contribution as "ASCII" or "text only" - ie save it from your
    word processor as such, rather than as a WP file.
 6. And if you're into it, you can add your own text attributes (colour,
    italics, etc) as well.

   None of these instructions is a demand! Just a request. And thanks for
  sending in whatever you do.


Uploading Articles

       If you have a modem you can upload your contribution to Amiga
    BBS Connection (02 970 6444).  MegaDisc has a site there in the
    Special Interest Groups (SIG) section.  Just leave a message and
    you should get a little question asking if you wish to upload a
    file with the message so that is when you upload the file.  Make
    sure it is attached to a message (don't just enter the MegaDisc
    site and start uploading, we won't get the files!) When uploading
    there are a few rules you should follow:
            - Compress the files into an archive (this saves on
    uploading time)
            - Make sure you attach an extension to the file (eg.  Name
    the file AContrib.TXT and NOT AContrib) otherwise the file may get
    lost.
            - Keep the file name to 8 letters long and 3 letters for
    the extension.
            - It helps if something goes wrong to call the upload a
    unique name (ie.  DON'T call it For_Tim.txt but Dave4Tim.TXT or
    whatever).
            - Address the Message to MegaDisc not Tim or Steve.  You
    may actually put Tim or Steve in the message though.
        If you are having trouble uploading the file then give
    MegaDisc a call and we'll try to work out a solution.  If you wish
    to upload directly to Tim you MUST call him first and arrange it.


   Likewise, anyone who sends in a letter or anything less than a
  full-fledged article on disk should mention which Public Domain disk they'd
  like to get back on their disk, and what other two disks they'd like to get
  for their trouble - just check out our public domain software catalogue, or
  the listings of PD on this Megadisc.

   The best way of getting in touch with us is to just ring up (on (02)
  9593692 or on the toll-free number mentioned at the top, and if you get a
  message, leave your name and number, or send us a fax on [phone].
  Don't worry if you don't hear from Megadisc for a while after you
  contribute something - we'll get back to you eventually, though you can
  always ring up and enquire about anything, anytime.

   So get inspired, and be digitally published! It could be the start of a
  scintillating career in the digital press (it has been for some of our
  contributors). And don't forget, what you think is obvious may be
  mystifying to someone else - they may need to know what you know. And many
  thanks to all those talented people who have already contributed so much to
  Megadisc and its users.



    ##################  END (BEGINNING?) OF CONTRIBUTIONS ###############