Do not adjust your television sets.
Welcome to March 2010, and the PoetCasting guest blogging month. As part of Save Our Presses I will be highlighting the riches of regional Arts events and introducing you to some new ways of engaging with small presses through the Internet.
First, though, I should introduce myself. Since April 2007, I have been Director of PoetCasting, a not for profit poetry podcasting initiative. Since April 2007, I have traveled the length and breadth of the UK recording poets reading their own work, and seen in this task the very great value various forms of publishing bring to readers.
I’m currently doing a MA in Modern Literature at the University of Leicester, and in the course of that study I’ve come across lots of canonical literature. While that has been wonderful, what attracted me most to modern and contemporary literature was the great works found not in anthologies or classics editions but in presses I’d never heard of before.
Emily Dickinson calls March ‘the Month of Expectation’, so to whet your appetites, here is a round up of what I’ll be blogging about. I’ll be reporting from and about events in the East Midlands – including the Writing Industries Conference 2010 and States of Independence (regional press day). I’ll also be posting weekly small press podcasts by compiling some representatives of magazines and presses which have been included on PoetCasting.
Throughout the whole month I’ll be asking the friends and followers of PoetCasting on Facebook and Twitter to tell me the name of a small press they love, and in the last week I’ll be compiling a compendium of links and recommendations. If you want to get involved today, post your suggestion here, to @PoetCasting on Twitter or join the PoetCasting group on Facebook.
Texture
6 months ago
I was going to recommend RED SQUIRREL PRESS, a very forward-thinking poetry imprint based in Newcastle, then I saw them on your links! Good stuff.
My own Flash Fiction / Short Story site, Weaponizer, is publishing a collected edition this year – would be amazing if you could check out our site and let us know what you think.
http://www.weaponizer.co.uk/
James Walker
6 months ago
Hi Alex, Looking forward to reading your blogs and I’ll see you at the Writing Industries Conference…where I’ll be chatting about blogs. James
Angela France
6 months ago
I have to recommend Ragged Raven Press, who have no ACE funding and keep on producing fine poetry collections and anthologies
http://raggedraven.co.uk/
alexpryce
6 months ago
I’m accepting suggestions that are in my links on PoetCasting too – the listing will be on Inc Writers (and most likely adding to the PoetCasting links too).
Interesting site – will make sure to mention it during the ‘Writing in the digital era and telling stories that fight back’ panel on Saturday at the Writing Industries Conference!
Adele Ward
6 months ago
It’s wonderful to see you blogging on Incwriters because I’ve been meaning to look more closely at your project. This will let be really get up to speed with what you’re doing. I’m very keen on podcasting and other types of broadcasting myself. What a great job you do.
I’m very fond of Cinnamon Press myself. There are so many things I like about them. Jan Fortune-Wood is a wonderful poet and editor, they choose original and innovative writers, and I also like it that they publish poetry in translation. They actively seek out new talent too.
Adele Ward
6 months ago
I do like this Poetcasting project. I’m going to put links to it on Camden and Lumen Poetry and on the virtual world of Second Life in prominent writing areas.
alexpryce
6 months ago
Thanks for your suggestions – I’ve also had some via Twitter and Facebook.
I’m aware that all such a links list can do is hope to be half comprehensive, but if it comes from the community it also shows any publisher not included that they need to work on their marketing!
Thanks Angela and Adele. Ragged Raven is actually tomorrow’s showcase press – you heard it here first!
See you on Saturday, James (I expect to be much more stressed than in Birmingham).
Caroline Gill
6 months ago
This sounds a terrific idea, Alex. I’m wondering if we are only allowed/encouraged to nominate ONE small press?
alexpryce
6 months ago
Hi Caroline. Please nominate as many presses as you wish! The more the merrier…