...

By: R. W. Watkins (Guest IP 142.162.88.221) on 07-07-2007 09:47

I think more and more writers of every sort are turning to self-publishing primarily because they despise the lowest-common-denominator selection criteria for manuscripts (especially poetry manuscripts) in the West these days, and the editors being assigned them by the publishing houses. Said editors are now seen almost exclusively as arbitrary: uncultured, untalented pricks who will rewrite one's work merely out of protocol--i.e., to look useful and necessary, thus insuring their continued employment.    As for self-published titles, I take them far more seriously when the author has had considerable prior publishing experience in various magazines and journals, and/or s/he is also publishing a journal or two of their own, other people's titles, etc., and has an operating name for his or her productions (e.g., Hard-Ontological Books, Pubfight Publishing--whatever). I would not have started publishing my own line of 24-page (mostly) haiku/tanka chapbooks ('Poetical Perspectives') three years ago if I hadn't already fulfilled such criteria or intended to do so in the near future.

» Report this comment to administrator

» Reply to this comment...