The Poetry Fix News
| VOL. IV, ISSUE 1 | MARCH 19, 2006 |
GROWING UP AN ANTHOLOGY: How I Got Through It and You Can Too
The dust has finally settled and there are just four weeks until the debut of Growing Up Girl: An Anthology of Voices from Marginalized Spaces. Six months ago I sent out a call for submissions and the response was overwhelming. In just four short months I received over 300 submissions from almost every place on the planet. From Seattle to the Philippines and everywhere in between; poetry, essays, and short stories came pouring in, telling tales of the transition from girl to woman. Some funny. Many bittersweet. All authentic. The anthology will feature contributors ranging in age from 14 to 59 and I am excited to have the opportunity to publish emerging writers alongside seasoned veterans. These diverse voices will provide a rich blend of stories and viewpoints.
Although this project has been a labor of love it has not been all artistic fun and games. While reading over 300 submissions, I have also had to deal with all the details that go with getting the anthology out the door. With the launch date of April 17, 2006, just around the corner, time is ticking, and I am herding a team of book elves to the finish line.
I have been blessed with many helpful souls who have come along just when I was completely stumped on what to do next. From ISBNs to permissions agreements (thanks Lisa C. Moore) there has been someone to help me along the way. With the manuscript safely at the printers, I thought I would return the favor and give a word (or two) of advice for those who are interested in publishing their own book.
Plan!
Seems like simple advice, but it can often get lost when the heady notion of seeing your name on the cover of a book is the end result. A solid plan will give you something to come back to when things get off track. In fact, have a couple plan Bs in your trick bag ‘cause things sometimes just don’t work out how you think they will. My graphic designer, Kendra Kuliga, reminds me all the time, "begin with the end in mind." Know exactly why you want this book to exist and how you plan to get it out to the masses. Keep notes and make lists. Don’t try and keep it all in your head. Be prepared to kill a couple trees in the pursuit of organization.
Do your homework
Because you will be the lead dog on this project, be sure to arm yourself with as much information as possible. If you want your book to be taken seriously, put in the time to learn how to do it right. If it means attending a workshop on self-publishing or reading up on the subject, make that your priority before you move forward. I found the book The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Self Publishing to be tremendously helpful. Also talk to people who have already been down this road. They know how to access the necessary paperwork, how to find a good printer or book designer (I think KGK Graphics rocks!), or they can clue you in on the top ten pitfalls you should avoid while trying to bring your book to life. Don’t recreate the wheel. The information is already out there.
Money
Do I really need to spell this out? Okay, if you insist. Get you’re money right! As a self-published author, the majority of the financial responsibility will fall on your day-job-having-mortgage-paying-
grocery-buying-the-cat-is-sick-AGAIN-two-hundred-dollar-vet-bill-forkin’-over shoulders. I was lucky to get a small grant from the amazingly wonderful Prince George’s County Arts Council,
but a good chunk of the production cost for the anthology came out of my poet pockets. It is not just the printer that will take a bite out of your budget. There is a shopping list of folks that need your financial attention: cover designer, book designer, photographer, proofreader (do not skimp on this!!), ISBN bar code, Library of Congress Copyright Office, postage, and Hair Club for Men/Women - after you pull it all out. Money makes the world go ‘round and you will need a nice pile of it stashed away to produce a quality product. Now if you are lucky enough to have a rich uncle - scratch all that I’ve said above.
Time
As important as it is to have money for this project you must have TIME. Putting together a book isn’t something that happens overnight. We all have busy lives and competing interests, but be clear that once you take on this task it will eat up most of your free time. So, between workshop presentations, classroom appearances, and the multitude of other ways I pay the bills I had to allot myself four extra hours (6:00– 10:00) in the morning to read, edit, answer emails, research, and think. At the end of the day I would take another hour or so with the project and then hit the sack. Since January, the anthology is only thing I think and talk about – to the distraction of my friends and family. Take your time and give the project the level of attention it deserves.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help (I’m still learning how to do this)
This is very important when you start dealing with the launch and marketing of your book. You would be surprised who and what people know and what they are willing to do to help you out. A couple of my friends, who thinks I am a cool artist-activist, just signed on to host the book launch and public reading in April. They believe in doing everything big and grand and I am happy to have them aboard.
Now the marketing of the book has been a little trickier, but it’s not been without its bright moments. Recently, I was at Waxters Detention Center teaching a poetry workshop. After the workshop I started chatting up one of the folks who sponsored the event. I was talking about the anthology (of course) and she nonchalantly offered to host a book signing at a local bookstore that had not returned any of my emails or calls on the subject. Turns out she knows someone and would be “thrilled” to work this out for me. Just like that I have a book signing. I am still scooping my jaw off the ground. Then I got an email from one of my faithful poetry groupies (yes, she calls herself that) and she wanted to put me in contact with a woman who has a local radio show. The radio host is interested in highlighting the anthology on one of her upcoming shows. Again, all I did was talk about the anthology (I’m so very good at this) and every thing else took care of its self. Now, I’m not saying all the marketing opportunities* will fall in your lap, but by talking about the project you increase the odds of someone being able to offer their assistance in getting the word out on your book. Note: help from others does not replace a well thought out and developed marketing plan.
Family and Friends
This might be a good time to make up with cousin Sally or repair any old rifts ‘cause family and friends IS your built in PR firm. They already know and love you and generally want you to succeed (there are exceptions, but I am erring on the side of sane and healthy familial relationships). Let them know about this tremendous moment in your life and the cost of the book. Trust me; they will be responsible for the first 100 copies that you sell. For my part, I already put the word out in my family via my mother. Nothing like a proud mama to increase book sales
And one last thing ...
"Begin with the end in mind."
I know it’s a little odd to have it at the end, but I wanted this nugget to be floating around in your noggin as the last thing.
Why do you want this book to exist? Knowing this answer will get you through all the other things that I have shared. Having that constant beacon to guide you will make it a little easier when things seem overwhelming or insurmountable.
When I started this project I wanted to showcase the work of the girls and women that I was meeting during my various writing workshops. I wanted their stories and poems in print so that other girls and women, who might be having the same experience, would feel a little less alone. Through the call for submissions I have been able to supplement these works and now there are international, academic, and cultural voices throughout the anthology. Not something I had planned but a development I absolutely welcome.
Now with the book complete (almost) my next big goal is to take the book on tour. My contributors are located in 25 states and four countries and I would like to get to meet them and have a public reading in all those places. I will let y’all know how it all works out.
As always, enjoy!
Michelle
Newsletter Archives