The Fabler

Hi Everyone! It’s me again. I’d like to take a few minutes to give everyone an update on what’s in store for our little comics community. As I’ve iterated a few times in my previous blog posts, we are working on building more than a web comics social portal. So I’m here to let you all in on a few little secrets, but not all, that we’ve been working on diligently. Understanding of course that in the forth-mentioned, we’re not trying to promise farm but rather goals that we’re committed to achieving.

It’s been a few months since we launched TheFabler v1.5 and admittedly so, we’re never going to get it right the first time every time. That’s where you come in!

First I would like to thank all those who have helped us with your feedback, submissions, and participation. Your opinions, thoughts and ideas are firepower to our cause! To summarize some of what we’ve heard so far…

– I registered for the site but have not received my activation email.
– Comics can be created by more than one person.
– The Flash Viewer is slow and doesn’t always work properly.
– I don’t understand what TheFabler.com is when I first visit the site.
– Updating comic submissions is clunky.
– I’d like to submit more than just 10 pages of a comic.

We’ve heard you and are continuing to listen to you. Between now until the end of December, we are working on fixing some of the above mentioned based on your feedback as well as committed to completing our 2009 roadmap goals. So over the course of the coming weeks, expect updates to the site with some radical changes! With your help we can continue to improve on the existing features of the site as well as add new features that will benefit you.

2009 Roadmap:
We had quite a bit planned this year for The Fabler, and we’re coming near the end of this years plan. Our goal was to create the core features of the site that would help establish an online community where comics can continue to thrive in their traditional form and in emerging digital mediums. To quickly establish who our “community” is, it’s you! You the comic creators (writers, artists, small press, etc.), you the fans (readers, collectors, reviewers, etc.), and you the retailers (grassroots stores, franchises, etc.). These major components include:

1. A Free social platform that comic creators can showcase their work to the rest of the world in an easy to use environment.
2. Simplified, cost effective self-publishing solution (print on demand & digital direct to market distribution) for creators with traditional format comic products.
3. Retailer Network where creator owned properties can have an opportunity for shelf space, and retailers can manage these products from a single source.

2010 Roadmap:
1. TheFabler.com will launch our very own weekly regularly updated comic.
Q. What does this mean?
A. Founders of Thefabler.com have come up with our own stories to tell and we’d like to share them with you. We’ve been working hard on a story that we think everyone can enjoy which will consist of 2 pages updated each week.

2. More Blog content!
Q. What does this mean?
A. New columns, more interviews, reviews, how to’s and more!

3. Fabler Publishing Inc. will open it’s doors with a submission program.
Q. What does this mean?
A. It’s apparent that we love comics. The building of a sophisticated custom social website to support them should be evidence enough. We also value the resulting creativity in this powerful visual storytelling medium. We are prepared to explore this creativity with you in support of creator controlled properties. We want to hear about your ideas. Submission program details and guidelines will be announced in early 2010.

4. TheFabler.com will launch a global localization and distribution campaign.
Q. What does this mean?
A. To put it bluntly, North America isn’t the only landmass with comic creativity on the planet. We’ve had interest and requests from creators, retailers and fans alike in other countries to support their cause as well. In 2010 we will start localization efforts to enable Thefabler.com to be multi-country friendly!

The roadmaps that we’ve outlined is a 40,000ft view of what’s in store. We’ll be making more detailed announcements each month on what’s in store for TheFabler! In summary, we’re dedicated to creating an online environment where comics, and the imaginations they can inspire can continue to thrive. Oh, and don’t forget, We really do love comics as much as ______________________________________________.