Columnists

A fan who regularly writes articles for a fanzine is called a columnist, and the articles are called a column. This is a high-falutin' phrase based on practices found in prozines of many persuasions. A columnist can talk about anything heesh wants to, though the faned may edit hiser.

A columnist's duty is to comment on things in general in an entertaining (and, optionally, informative) way. Such fanwriters often attract notice by the Menckenesque vigor of their denunciations. A good many fans who are now known as BNFs arrived at that status because of their well-written columns in fanzines.

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959

Columnist When a guy is a columnist he can talk about anything he wants to, tho the editor may censor him. Usually a secondary duty is to give any news items or information that haven't been published elsewhere, the primary duty being to comment on things in general. Every so often a calumnist will attract notice by the Menckenian vigor of his denunciations.

From Fancyclopedia 1, ca. 1944

When a guy is a columnist, he can talk about anything he wants to, tho the editor may censor him. Usually his secondary duty is to give any news items or information that haven't been published elsewhere, and primary duty is to comment on things in general. Every so often a columnist will attract notice by the Menckenian vigor of his denunciations.

---

Publishing