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Publishing in the new millennium
I've been writing for a lot of years now and I've been collecting rejections for that writing for some of that time. About 25 years ago I realised that my writing, especially my poetry, did not fit the mold of what established publishers, always following the next big thing, wanted. I also don't write in such a way to endear myself with print magazines. My work is normally highly structured, rather old-fashioned, and invokes images of pure fantasy of worlds and circumstances drifting through my mind.
Yet, in the circles where I present my work, it is welcome and desired. I get requests to recite, to relate, to perform.
So what's a cantankerous old man to do?
Self publish, of course.
In the way back, self publishing was done either through vanity press and was, many times, a scam, or it was done via copiers and booklets. Thank God technology has changed.
Not only can I purchase an ISBN and bar code for my book, but I can do the layout, proofreading, and order a proof copy for less than $15. The ISBN and bar code are extra, of course, but the proof copy of the book, delivered, is $13.50.
So, after going through my work over the last two years, I segmented out 40 poems and dropped them into a 50 page book and it'll show up on my doorstop within another week or so. I've watched and imagined this technology evolve and it still amazes me in every good way.
So I'll review my copy, make any minor corrections I've missed, and pay for a limited run at around $2.50 a book. Yes it's more than I'd pay per book if I were willing to drop $1,000 into this, but I am not. I'll spend around $200 or so and see what happens.
At the very worst I'll end up with books I can give away as presents and people can use them to start camp fires.
I'll let you know how things turn out.
Yet, in the circles where I present my work, it is welcome and desired. I get requests to recite, to relate, to perform.
So what's a cantankerous old man to do?
Self publish, of course.
In the way back, self publishing was done either through vanity press and was, many times, a scam, or it was done via copiers and booklets. Thank God technology has changed.
Not only can I purchase an ISBN and bar code for my book, but I can do the layout, proofreading, and order a proof copy for less than $15. The ISBN and bar code are extra, of course, but the proof copy of the book, delivered, is $13.50.
So, after going through my work over the last two years, I segmented out 40 poems and dropped them into a 50 page book and it'll show up on my doorstop within another week or so. I've watched and imagined this technology evolve and it still amazes me in every good way.
So I'll review my copy, make any minor corrections I've missed, and pay for a limited run at around $2.50 a book. Yes it's more than I'd pay per book if I were willing to drop $1,000 into this, but I am not. I'll spend around $200 or so and see what happens.
At the very worst I'll end up with books I can give away as presents and people can use them to start camp fires.
I'll let you know how things turn out.