In 2017, after many years of helping to launch publications for other companies, I resolved to create one of my own. The Steampunk Explorer came into this world in March 2018, and since then it has become a top online destination for steampunk fans and creators.
In case you’re not familiar with the term, steampunk began as a science fiction/fantasy subgenre in which stories were set in the 19th century. This gave rise to a subculture that fuses futuristic, historical, and fantastical elements. (For a more thorough explanation, read my “What is Steampunk?” article on the website.)
Steampunk is a small, largely grassroots subculture, and given the state of the publishing business, I was under no illusion that the website would be a big money-making operation. However, I’ve picked up enough skills over the years to perform everything needed for a publication like this, including web development, photography, and graphic design in addition to writing and editing. This kept my costs to a minimum.
The site also required considerable database know-how, since it features an extensive events calendar as well as regional shopping and travel guides.
The calendar, one of the most popular parts of the site, includes steampunk gatherings as well as sci-fi conventions, comic cons, anime cons, Renaissance fairs, book festivals, and other events likely to interest my readers.
Shortly after launching the site, I introduced Steampunk Digest, a weekly e-newsletter with news summaries and links to steampunk-related stories on other websites. It goes out Thursday morning and is posted online the following day.
Stories Told in Pictures
Among other things, The Steampunk Explorer offers opportunities for what I call visual storytelling. I have found that many stories, especially those about events, are best told in photo galleries. But they’re not quick photo dumps like you’ll find on Facebook. In most cases, I carefully organize the photos and use intros and captions to add context.
You’ll find lots of these galleries on the site. I produce them with Juicebox, the only gallery software I’ve found that allows me to put HTML code in captions.
In 2022, I took the visual storytelling concept a step further by introducing The World of Steampunk, a video series on YouTube and Vimeo.
Wide-Ranging Content
One of the nice things about steampunk — at least from the standpoint of a one-person publishing operation — is that it’s small enough not to be overwhelming, but large enough to encompass many different interests. The site includes sections on art, books, events, movies and TV, music, and even travel.
I’m based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and most of my event coverage originates here. However, the site has helpful guest contributors who provide photos from events in the U.S., U.K., and mainland Europe.
Most content on the website is fun and light-hearted, but occasionally I dive into serious issues. For example, I’ve run stories about Jeff Mach, a controversial event organizer from New Jersey. I’ve also covered the rise of generative artificial intelligence, which is of grave concern to many authors and artists in the steampunk community.
Under the Hood
You can’t produce a website like this simply by placing a bunch of HTML pages on a server. Instead, you need a content management system (CMS). I initially developed The Steampunk Explorer in Drupal 7. But in 2024, as the CMS was approaching its end-of-life, I rebuilt the site in Backdrop, an offshoot of Drupal.
I’ve developed websites in WordPress, but The Steampunk Explorer has a complex structure and Drupal (later Backdrop) appeared to be the better choice. Avoiding WordPress is also cheaper, because I can do everything with contributed modules instead of hiring a developer and/or paying for plugins.
The site earns a small amount of revenue from Patreon supporters and advertising (I also accept one-time tips via PayPal). However, The Steampunk Explorer also serves as a showcase for my editorial and production skills, and it has helped me land freelance clients. In 2022, it led to a project in which I contributed educational panels to Discover Steampunk, a traveling museum exhibition from Imagine Exhibitions in Atlanta.
Photos (from top): Yours truly in The Time Machine at the Clockwork Alchemy steampunk convention; Renegade Opera at The Edwardian Ball; 19th century print shop at the Great Dickens Fair; Unwoman on stage at Clockwork Alchemy; Rhino Redemption art car at the Mad Hatter Parade. Top photo by Clara Blackheart. All others by Stephen Beale.
