tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post5098748197606353909..comments2023-06-01T12:02:03.935-04:00Comments on Poets.net: Forum Thread: Publishers' Reading Fees: Pro or Con?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-68837231877817250102008-06-17T16:43:00.000-04:002008-06-17T16:43:00.000-04:00Poetssmarterthanyou'lleverbewhoknoweverything.netW...Poetssmarterthanyou'lleverbewhoknoweverything.net<BR/><BR/>Wow, great idea!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-44297109468742995082008-06-17T14:41:00.000-04:002008-06-17T14:41:00.000-04:00Berating is mean.The site said "Poets.net", not "P...Berating is mean.<BR/><BR/>The site said "Poets.net", not "Poetssmarterthanyou'lleverbewhoknoweverything.net"<BR/><BR/>Okay. I'll leave the party and head back to the woods.Gary B. Fitzgeraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17919492445467135425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-72444935483910195382008-06-17T14:28:00.000-04:002008-06-17T14:28:00.000-04:00more berating than pontificating...meanie!more berating than pontificating...<BR/><BR/>meanie!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-11693373871863493422008-06-17T09:07:00.000-04:002008-06-17T09:07:00.000-04:00I'm having fun...You?You pontifical twit?I'm having fun...<BR/><BR/>You?<BR/><BR/>You pontifical twit?Gary B. Fitzgeraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17919492445467135425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-1605138292722387972008-06-17T06:27:00.000-04:002008-06-17T06:27:00.000-04:00Why did Ezra Pound read T.S. Eliot?Uh...that was '...Why did Ezra Pound read T.S. Eliot?<BR/><BR/><BR/>Uh...that was 'editing,' not 'reading.'<BR/><BR/>You have no clue, do you?<BR/><BR/>Pound made 'reputations' through all sorts of tricks. The pudding is never eaten--it is 'sold' and put on the shelf.<BR/><BR/>Gary, I hope you are as amusing to yourself as you are to others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-41604376438909992712008-06-15T22:19:00.000-04:002008-06-15T22:19:00.000-04:00Why did Ezra Pound read T.S. Eliot?et.al., etc.The...Why did Ezra Pound read T.S. Eliot?<BR/>et.al., etc.<BR/><BR/>The proof of the pudding is in the eating, innit?Gary B. Fitzgeraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17919492445467135425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-38302911107583601462008-06-15T21:12:00.000-04:002008-06-15T21:12:00.000-04:00Credentials, Horatio, credentials! Has your book a...Credentials, Horatio, credentials! Has your book any credentials? The stamp of authenticity? Has it won something lately?<BR/><BR/>Life is short. Why should I read it?<BR/><BR/>The solitary author can keep his Leaves fresh for only so long. They wilt if they don't breathe the public air, feed from the public water, bask in the public sun. Poems perish in the dark.<BR/><BR/>POST YOUR POEM NOW, ON THE INTERNET, OR IT WILL DIEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-69160941665686883862008-06-15T20:31:00.000-04:002008-06-15T20:31:00.000-04:00And speaking of 'stone books', you should read my ...And speaking of 'stone books', you should read my poem 'Talking Stones'. But damn, you'll have to buy the (paperback) book, won't you. Well, maybe you can pickle it or freeze it or somethingGary B. Fitzgeraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17919492445467135425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-54911966580356537062008-06-15T20:20:00.000-04:002008-06-15T20:20:00.000-04:00Editor? What's an editor? Why would any good poet ...Editor? What's an editor? Why would any good poet need an editor? Duets are for singers. Poetry is a solitary thing.Gary B. Fitzgeraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17919492445467135425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-54962162522351293852008-06-15T19:47:00.000-04:002008-06-15T19:47:00.000-04:00Immortality is not found in the words; the words m...Immortality is not found in the words; the words may deserve to be immortal, but the immortality is all about the preservation of the words, and this means books, hardcover books, stone books, steel books, astute editors, wise readers, national leaders who love words, and you, Gary, you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-59103827454364134662008-06-15T17:16:00.000-04:002008-06-15T17:16:00.000-04:00Are scraps of papyrus and linen a book or not?Are ...Are scraps of papyrus and linen a book or not?<BR/><BR/>Are manuscripts copied by scribes for hundreds of years reprints?<BR/><BR/>Immortality is found in the words, not the paper.Gary B. Fitzgeraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17919492445467135425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-74878448882581318072008-06-15T10:52:00.000-04:002008-06-15T10:52:00.000-04:00What is the life of a paperback book? They fall a...What is the life of a paperback book? They fall apart in about 100 years, don't they? Immortality cannot live in a paperback book. Immortality can only live in reprints due to the content of that book. Think of all the Shakespeares who never made it to the modern era because of the fragility of paper--and a stupid editor or two.<BR/><BR/>Are a stack of papers stapled together a 'book?' Why, or why not?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-19817234513324154872008-06-15T00:48:00.000-04:002008-06-15T00:48:00.000-04:00"I just don't think paperbacks are 'real books.'"T..."I just don't think paperbacks are 'real books.'"<BR/><BR/>That's pretty ridiculous, isnt it?Gary B. Fitzgeraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17919492445467135425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-67434167782369856172008-06-14T09:30:00.000-04:002008-06-14T09:30:00.000-04:00The beach book!Let's invent it and copyright it!A ...The beach book!<BR/><BR/>Let's invent it and copyright it!<BR/><BR/>A book with a waterproof cover, rubber or plastic...<BR/><BR/>what say you?<BR/><BR/>I know there's the new 'electronic' book, but that's probably not 'beach-proof.'<BR/><BR/>We need to design a beautiful book that would look great in a library but still stand up to the elements at the beach...<BR/><BR/>There's a challenge! Would something like this be possible?<BR/><BR/>I just don't think paperbacks are 'real books.' Sorry. Or, let's put it this way: paperbacks are meant to look dirty and ragged, like Trot Nixon's baseball cap.<BR/><BR/>Hardcovers are the only books worth 'designing,' and even then, I think it strikes me as bad taste to have busy cover art on a book of poetry; I would want the 'design' to go into the tangible strength and feel of the book itself.<BR/><BR/>But I would love to see the great unveiling: "Ladies and Gentleman...I present to you...the Beach Book...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-32692664841162680042008-06-13T15:37:00.000-04:002008-06-13T15:37:00.000-04:00"gary, what do you mean exactly by book design?"I ..."gary, what do you mean exactly by book design?"<BR/><BR/>I was making a broader distinction between poetry on the internet and actual books. I am a bibliophile. My library contains many kinds of books: antique and rare as well as contemporary hardcover plus many paperbacks. I have no particular preference. They all have their function.<BR/>Of course a beautifully crafted hardcover book is a pleasure to see and read (assuming it has something good in it), but I wouldn't take it to the beach.Gary B. Fitzgeraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17919492445467135425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-33211405922731740942008-06-13T12:51:00.000-04:002008-06-13T12:51:00.000-04:00"Publishers' Reading Fees: Pro Or Con" is a terrif..."Publishers' Reading Fees: Pro Or Con" is a terrific piece.<BR/><BR/>A blockbuster piece. No whining. Informative and empowering.<BR/><BR/>What did Bacon say? Knowledge is power.<BR/><BR/>jeff, that's a great addition, too.<BR/><BR/>gary, what do you mean exactly by book design? Do you mean hardcover books with high qaulity cover, binding, and paper? Or paperbacks with a glossy reproduction of some pretty painting or artsy photo on it? Paperbacks always seem cheap; it doesn't take much for the covers to start curling, etc. So what kind of quality or 'design' are we talking about. I'd much prefer a sturdy hard-cover edition that simply says "Poems" on it, to some prettily designed paperback. <BR/><BR/>And far more important, of course, is the quality of the poetry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-57648119199357607382008-06-13T09:48:00.000-04:002008-06-13T09:48:00.000-04:00Well said, Mr. Hawkins. However, I believe there i...Well said, Mr. Hawkins. However, I believe there is a 'middle' way: POD (Print-on-demand). Self-published, yes, but no boxes of books to unload. Nevertheless, a genuine paper book is produced. I think a book's design and 'feel' is almost as important as what's contained within it. But the book is marketed electronically and sold exclusively on internet sites (Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.).<BR/>Many products are offered to the 'mass market', but there is only one thing that can guarantee popularity and consequent financial success, whether books, movies or even websites, and that is word of mouth.<BR/>Cream always rises to the top.Gary B. Fitzgeraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17919492445467135425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749059681475538860.post-68591054957965965522008-06-13T02:56:00.000-04:002008-06-13T02:56:00.000-04:00I'm not a poet. I'm not a writer. I do know a lot ...I'm not a poet. I'm not a writer. I do know a lot about the Internet and the web though.<BR/><BR/>I'd think a serious poet would have a couple notebooks full of poems and at some point would consider putting the best of those into a book.<BR/><BR/>From what I've gathered here, it seems the poetry business would have a poet submit their work to a contest or some form of peer scrutiny. Remember that professional poets, editors and writers are a small group compared to the greater reading population. I'd think a poet or any other writer would want to reach a larger audience than just their peers.<BR/><BR/>Acclaim from a peer group won't hurt but the mass market is where the real money is to be made. And the peer group is much less likely to find any one poet or his work worthy. While a small portion of the mass market might like a certain poets work and that small group could actually be several times as large as the "peer group".<BR/><BR/>Vanity publishing means you'll pay some company to hopefully edit your work. Maybe they'll at least proof read a little then organize it and print that work. They'll bind the pages into a book and ship several cases of the book back to the writer/poet for a healthy fee.<BR/><BR/>Self publishing means you'll do all those tasks yourself. Either way you'll end up with cases of books and you'll still need to get them into the book stores, libraries or into the reader's yourself.<BR/><BR/>From what I've gathered you need to be extensively published before you can get a book published in most fields. So I guess "over the transom" submissions won't get you very far with a book of poems unless you're already published and have no need to go this route.<BR/><BR/>Considering the costs of publishing and the higher chance of just "being read" online, the website idea isn't bad itself. My suggestion is to get a small collection of works together, grab a domain that fits the theme of the poems or collection. When you signup for a domain name at most registrars you'll be offered some webspace for a very reasonable fee. Take that!<BR/><BR/>Most of those "registrar with webspace" providers have a free page builder you can use to design your pages then insert your poems.<BR/><BR/>Once your done building the site you can delve into getting the page ranked in search engines and getting publicity for your site. You could also offer to "publish" other peoples works on your site to help friend's get started and bring more readers to your site.<BR/><BR/>There are several sites that will provide ads to help monetize your site. Could be enough to pay the expenses. And if your work is good you might make a lot of money.<BR/><BR/>Depending on if you designed your site as a book or collection or as a showcase of ongoing works, you could then add new poems. But, I'd suggest instead you launch a new site for your next collection of writings. You'd then link both sites to each other via references, ad creatives and actual "links" pages.<BR/><BR/>After a few years you might really have a good online publishing empire going there. I'm sure for a lot less than self publishing in print or vanity publishing (less than a $100) you might find web publishing just the right formula for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com