Publishing Vision Reprised

I've flirted with the idea of shelving SCORE Magazine to publish full-length collections of poetry. Someone has to do a series of books by poets long overdue for their first full-length collections. I've floated the idea of SCORE taking on such a series. I got some sobering images of book publishers: constricting social network (one of the primary thrills of a magazine, especially one such as SCORE so open to new voices), more demanding authors, pressures to get reviews, to get distribution, to get sales, and who can publish all the manuscripts received worth publishing (I turn back 2-3 a year already)?

I ponder.

In the meanwhile, I recast a vision from October 1: a collective of publishers and patrons and poets (not necessarily in that order) who seek out and publish the work of one to two poets per year deserving of a full-length collection -- focusing primarily on poets who have been widely published in journals for a significant period of time, say over a ten-twenty year time-span.

I need ten contributors at $300 to bring out the first book. Contributors serve on the editorial board that selects the poet, contribute to design, oversee printing and distribution, manage costs, and receive a share of copies after payment to author.

Score has both feet on the ladder. Who will join me?

Comments

[badgerbag]

I have been dreaming and trying this for a long time too. I wish I had boatloads of money and could swoop down from the sky and fund you. in lieu of that I will happily snail mail you some of the little books that i've made. (email me your address...) *** i pop up naked out of a cake poem confetti scatters everywhere ***

[kari]

this is an interesting idea..if you get some folks would you be interested in opening up a discussion of eash other vision and work it out collectively? in which case I would be interested...

[nico]

i will bring it up with the SubText Collective. perhaps we'll be able to offer something up moneywise. or if other money makes itself known to me - i think you have a good idea there.