Project Narrative

Are you a story lover who doesn't have the time to invest in reading that new bestselling novel everyone's talking about? Do you crave new stories outside of what you can stream on Netflix while sitting on the couch? Do you want to support writers and creators in a more focused way? Would you rather have a physical copy than something hard to read on a screen? Then you need the subscription box Narrative in your life.

Every month, subscribers will receive a box containing three short stories as well as three to five items inspired by the stories and/or the month's theme.

Let me elaborate further on how this business model could work for both the writers producing the content and the people who will subscribe each month.

The Idea

As I grow older, I'm not someone who can focus on novels—reading or writing them. However, as much as I love stories—I read them all the time here on Vocal or on Medium—it can be aggravating to squint at a semi-bright screen all the time. On the other hand, I don't follow literary magazines or short story anthologies to see what type of short stories are out there at this very moment.

But I do so love a good short story that stays with me long after I reach that final word.

I want to give that kind of reading experience to someone else who may be delighted to read brand-new short stories straight from their mailbox every month—especially because they will be tangible things to hold and peruse, along with goodies in each month's box as well.

The Audience

This subscription service would cater to those people who already follow authors on sites like Patreon as well as subscribers to "book-themed" boxes such as OwlCrate and Illumicrate. The idea is to reach people who love stories in all spades, even if they are written by self-published or indie writers rather than strictly just traditionally published authors.

We're not trying to replace the Patreon model that already works for many writers and creators: we're just trying to enhance it and bring it to another level. Though sites like Vocal, Medium, and Wattpad exist to showcase writers of all backgrounds already, they are not strictly related to short stories, and the demographics for this box will skew towards the younger end (ages 18-25), who may not know of already-existing sites and may be willing to support rising voices in the area of short-form fiction.

The Goal

This is a way to streamline stories in a way that feels accessible to potential readers and subscribers. We want to give each member an "experience" with each month's box, and the more immersive we can make it, then all the better.

The focus would be on trying to keep as many subscribers month to month while also expanding lenses to a wider market as time goes on. Quality in content should only go higher as the subscription service grows. If there's a downturn in subscribers, then we know we've hit a wall somewhere.

There is also the goal of giving a spotlight to writers who are OwnVoices and who may not have wide platforms of their own. This subscription box could be a way to highlight their talent while also giving them a boost in readership and name recognition.

What would each box contain?

• Three short stories based on a Theme of the Month, all composed by our team of writers
• Three to five bookish and/or creative items related to the theme
• A newsletter about our writing team, our process, and any tips we have for aspiring writers
• An invitation to an online survey to get feedback from subscribers about what they loved about this month's box, along with the added bonus of being entered to win a free future box by completing the survey

What I would need:

• A dedicated team of writers (three to four) who are willing to collaborate on monthly stories to send out to subscribers (Note: writers do not need to be centralized in one location in the United States but can reside in any country as long as they are able to attend meetings via video call outlets and can use collaborative methods such as shared Google Docs.)
• A graphic designer for the logo and newsletter portions of the box
• A streamlined web site to make the subscription process easy for potential members as well as showcase our story and what we have to offer from past boxes
• Connections with small businesses on Etsy to provide bookish and/or creative products and items for each membership box
• Advertisement space on social media outlets to get the word out about what the subscription service offers

• Social media accounts on the usual suspects like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to utilize free marketing in that respect
• Influencers in the Booktube, Bookstagram, and BookTok communities to spread the word about Narrative's launch
• Eventual outreach to authors, both indie and traditionally published, who can contribute to special themed boxes relating to a specific genre (anything from Science Fiction to Fantasy to Young Adult)
• A potential eventual branding tie to a publisher or an already established literary magazine (depending on how the business grows)

Here's an example of what a mock-up for the first month's box could be:

• The theme is Stories Around the Campfire
• The three stories are "The Boy Who Fell in Love with the Woods," "A Fireside Chat with Death," and "A Study of Constellations"—each story written from our staff of writers and each one being 3,000 to 6,00o words (depending on theme and other offerings in the month's box)
• A small candle from an Etsy shop that smells of applewood smoke and spices, called "On a Summer's Night"
• A journal embossed with a bird-in-flight emblem and the words, "Stories Give Us Wings to Fly"
• A handful of postcards, each with different designs and quotes relating to the theme of the month
• A Writer Spotlight card going into details about how one writer on the team tackled one of the stories written for that month
• A newsletter introducing everyone to our team of writers and our graphic designer, including bios, interviews (a "get to know us"-type deal), social media handles, and what went into the process for the first box

• Depending on the costs involved, the price tag could be $25 a month (without shipping)

Why should you support this endeavor?

Stories are our society's life's blood. Imagine how dull life would be if we did not have the luxury of delving into the workings of the imagination and what we can create from seemingly nothing.

Further, there are so many writers out there who will likely remain undiscovered if not for a service like this. I am one myself. And, when you can't find an outlet for your writing in some way, the words begin to die within you.

I want to make stories alive again in their most brilliant way possible. This service would be one way to do that.

And we all know we can always use more stories in this bleak little world we call home.