I have every issue of The Fellrunner and wrote a piece about its development a few years ago. I have had 30 articles published; some were bagatelles, some I am proud of as significant pieces of work. I enjoy writing the Profiles of the people I choose to interview.
Deeko, who knows Angela Mudge, said my recent Profile of her was a “Fantastic article” but YT described my piece as “fawning”. But as the song goes, “...learned my lesson well. You see you can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself".
I personally read very little towards the back of the magazine-all those long distance pieces- and I just cannot read the stuff published by some regular contributors; but I know that some of these pieces are very much appreciated by others. So I don’t complain.
In a phrase, The Fellrunner is a broad church.
Once an issue has gone to print the Editor starts with blank pages. He/She relies on voluntary contributions coming in for the next issue. Yes, Britta knows there will be stuff from the usual suspects but much of the latest issue was from new sources.
So what is she to do? The Fellrunner is now running at 150 pages and is in full colour. For the last three years of Dave’s reign the magazine averaged just 100 pages and 14% of pages had colour. In effect Britta has expanded the magazine to include the additional contributions. So people who don’t like the stuff at the back can just stop reading at page 100.
In my opinion some of the contributions are badly written, but it is not the role of an unpaid Editor to start redrafting and editing contributor’s work.
I sit on the FRA Committee and the subject of The Fellrunner has recently been discussed. The FRA Committee has the highest regard for the work that Britta does. I suggest that 99% of Forum posters have little idea just how much work goes into editing the magazine.
Britta reads the Forum and she will be interested in any views expressed but as others have said she is reliant on the submissions made to her.
She cannot publish blank pages.
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