The Pronoia Times is Back!

Reformatted for the world wide web, TPT has joined the digital world of news reporting. Citing financial losses and competition from the New York Times and the Tokyo Tribune, the paper’s ambitions have been digitalized yet not homogenized.

If you are unfamiliar with the coined term pronoia, that is indeed unfortunate! Popularized by writer and syndicated astrology columnist, Rob Brezsny, the term implies “an alternative to paranoia.” In the context of this newspaper, the term also refers to: good news, optimism and divine order.

The new format will encourage voyeurs and viewers to copy the weekly newspaper text creating a hand-held newspaper as originally intended. Editor Gaines Steer’s quote from the first edition:

“I sense that there is yet room for a well-written, light and breezy, positive-yet-liberal, newspaper that is small enough to fit into your pocket or purse….It’s mobile and fun to read, yet thought provoking in a campy kinda way. Somewhat outrageous.” January 25, 2008

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Parameters for Article Submission to

The Pronoia Times.

Please survey a back-issue to grasp the style and flavor of the paper.

It is important to get on board with the concept of pronoia, since this “phenomena” provides the paper’s over-arching theme. The definition of pronoia is “the suspicion that the Universe is a conspiracy on your behalf". In the context of this paper, pronoia refers to good news, optimism, and divine guidance. (quote from the masthead).

There is a distinction intended here to be made between happy-happy pop culture stories and pragmatic idealism. That is, the difference between saluting happy endings and articulating the experience of the grace inherent in the news-of-living. If this explanation is not clear, you might re-read the Rumi poem: the guest house (printed on page 4 of the Winter, 2006 issue).

> Submissions need to be limited to 200-225 words, or less. The four page format dictates length.

> The paper is not local or regional. Due to its national distribution, articles should not be geographically sensitive.

> For the most part, articles we print are unlike those that mainstream newspapers typically feature. Examine an issue and you will see that this is so. (And thankfully so!)

Do please submit! Gaines Steer and Caroline Wood will make decisions re: inclusion based upon our best judgements and intuitions.

We are open to suggestions.

Sincerely,

Gaines Steer

Editor

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Unicorn Press Accepting Books for Review

Press Release

The Unicorn Press announces…..

that it will accept books for review. In particular, we will render reviews of books that are self-published and/or under promoted. Having published our own books, we have decided to provide a needed and necessary service for other brave writers who have decided not to enter the arduous world of getting a book conventionally published (and reviewed) in the politicized era in which modern writers labor.

Not only is it the task of the writer to produce a book worth reading, the emerging writer must often possess the wherewithal to manage marketing, sales, promotion and distribution of the published work. Much to the chagrin of many a fine writer, the process of gaining a book review is governed by power and influence that is designed to maintain the status quo. That may be an understatement!

The Unicorn Press will review books that it deems worthy of critical support by writing reviews that authors and publicists may use in their promotional programs. We charge $100, plus postal overhead, for a review. There is no charge if we decline to review for any reason. Typically, our reviews require about 10 days, average 250 words and can be returned digitally or via hard copy.

R. Gaines Steer, M. Ed.
Writing Facilitator and Reviewer

Email us here.

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