5+ Ways to Support Literary Magazines like Hippocampus Magazine

In early 2023 we announced that our annual conference is going on indefinite hiatus in order to strategize a stronger path forward, a path to a more sustainable, financially stable future.

The hard truth is that our official announcement only scratched the surface of the myriad challenges facing independent, volunteer-run, reader-supported (and often editor-subsidized) publications like Hippocampus Magazine. We’re so grateful to our community and the many folks who’ve reached out to ask how they can help.

In the short-term, our most pressing need is sustaining the publication of our magazine.

Here are 5+ ways you can help us do that, from donations to simply sharing the work we’re doing with others:

SHARE CNF CONTENT.

When you read something we’ve published that you just love, share it. Email it to your friends, Tweet about it, mention it IRL. Support our contributor’s work while spreading the word about what we’re doing can encourage others to read our current issue and archives.

MAKE A GIFT…

…through our Friends of Hippocampus membership program. This can be a recurring monthly monthly gift, or make a one-time contribution. (If your membership lapsed, welcome back!) This recurring income not only keeps the magazine running and pays honoraria to our contributors, it goes towards programming that benefits YOU.

BUY A BOOK.

If you haven’t already, consider purchasing one (or more) of the books we’ve published through Books by Hippocampus, or buy other Hippocampus or HippoCamp merch!

WRITE A REVIEW.

If you’ve already read a Books by Hippocampus title, it’d mean the world if you shared an honest review on GoodReads or Amazon. (Here’s a book-by-book cheat sheet to all the review links!)

STAY IN TOUCH.

Make sure you’re on our mailing list and/or are following us on the social platforms of your choice. In 2023, we’ll be issuing a reader survey (by email) as well as hosting some pay-what-you-can virtual events, including a special one in August during what would be our conference weekend. Attending these events will keep our community coming together — perhaps even more often than before! — and will also generate some much-needed revenue. (We’ve got a few other exciting things to share this year….)

ADDITIONAL WAYS TO HELP

We wanted to keep our list to five, but we’re sharing one more that’s geared more toward our friends and readers with MFA programs, author services companies, coaching businesses, and other products & services geared toward writers: We also offer monthly magazine website sponsorships, which include an email ad and social posts. Learn more here.

 

Thank you everyone for reading this and for your support.