tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post7572816698803688307..comments2024-02-16T00:48:56.686-08:00Comments on The Man Who Painted Agnieszka's Shoes: Not for (self/vanity/e/un)published writersAgnieszkas Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-74915065395998856282018-11-30T22:46:19.096-08:002018-11-30T22:46:19.096-08:00Amazing post, thanks for sharing this article. Tha...Amazing post, thanks for sharing this article. Thank Youarimixylhttps://www.massroids.net/post-cycle-therapy-455/arimixyl-16398.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-24577079904138446372010-07-26T03:17:32.359-07:002010-07-26T03:17:32.359-07:00Yeah, I'd like a Booker Prize one day, or a No...Yeah, I'd like a Booker Prize one day, or a Nobel. I could do without the kudos, but as a self-publisher the money would certainly be handy!Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-63933349692693368222010-07-24T09:33:05.537-07:002010-07-24T09:33:05.537-07:00It might sound a bit shallow, but I'd like a B...It might sound a bit shallow, but I'd like a Booker Prize. Mostly, I'd just like to go drinking with some of the authors who have been short-listed. Rushdie and Smith especially seem like they'd be great craic.Marcella O'Connorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05981351373981918111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-44830480685969018662010-07-23T09:44:48.028-07:002010-07-23T09:44:48.028-07:00Andy, the "maximum criteria" idea is ver...Andy, the "maximum criteria" idea is very interesting - rather like kitemarks/trade standard marks? I think what I have in mind by playing in our own playground at year Zero/eight cuts gallery is just getting on promoting the stories I want to in the formats I think they are best delivered, and not worrying about genre/length/even whether they are widely considered "books". I will be setting up a prize at eight cuts gallery for the best work each year with absolutely no bars on entry except the year the work appeared and who owns copyright.<br /><br />Andy, I think an informal small (maybe "alternative") press association with very high standards that exists as a practice/information/marketing sharing group is a very good idea.<br /><br />Tony, I promise I'll devote at least some energy to finishing aggie - you have no idea how I'm struggling with the ending :)Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-7979556058808941912010-07-23T05:25:45.598-07:002010-07-23T05:25:45.598-07:00@Tony
We already are publishers and yes, creating...@Tony<br /><br />We already are publishers and yes, creating a new prize or prize structure / organisation was what I was getting at. :-)Andy Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16914515134914503458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-43393272904834983122010-07-23T05:21:19.400-07:002010-07-23T05:21:19.400-07:00Or maybe, instead of creating a new publisher'...Or maybe, instead of creating a new publisher's, you should create a new prize? :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07546287562521628467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-68449171794812095542010-07-23T05:02:28.223-07:002010-07-23T05:02:28.223-07:00Hi Dan,
Yes, I probably am who you think I am! lo...Hi Dan,<br /><br />Yes, I probably am who you think I am! lol.<br /><br />Curator - I love that idea, so much nicer than gate keeper. It better reflects the needs of the niche writers that you are supporting too.<br /><br />I have pondered upon 'openness'. I have to agree with you. I had a quick gander at The Independent Publisher Guild site at the comp section. Their definition of independent is quite far ranging.<br /><br />IF we have to play in our own playground, how do we do this? Do we as a sector of the industry make up our own rules or do we forgo rules? I'm uncertain how one avoids the 'free for all' deluge on unrestricted submissions to any competition (or us as publishers - we don't accept any submissions from anyone - not even agents - as you may know).<br /><br />Should we form a 'UK Small Press Association' and take it from there? Then we have to find a definition for 'Small Press'! Mind you, it would be nice to see some 'maximum' criteria instead of minimums all the time.<br /><br />I shall go away and think about this more. Seriously, yes, I think we should have our own playground!<br /><br />AndyAndy Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16914515134914503458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-87259322872652603202010-07-23T04:51:00.067-07:002010-07-23T04:51:00.067-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Andy Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16914515134914503458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-84795725561683330152010-07-23T03:56:32.001-07:002010-07-23T03:56:32.001-07:00@AndyB - if you're who I think you are (and lo...@AndyB - if you're who I think you are (and looking at the blogsyou follow I'm sure you are!) then I'm alle ars for everything you have to say on the subject. <br /><br />I agree with almost all of what you say - except for the bit about competitions. In that case, it's a bit like the Olympics - there are some events (100 metres, for example) that are open to anyone - any country can send an athlete along). There are other events where you have to pre-qualify (like hockey). I really think in literary prizes we need openness about what kind of competitions each of them are, and I think we DO need competitions that are genuinely open - like the RA summer exhibition is for art. Otherwise we are just as in danger of good books getting swallowed.<br />I must admit I very much enjoy being on the curatorial side and getting to champion genuinely great writing (I'd also point out that whilst I'll be bringing one of my books out under the eight cuts imprint, I won't be doing so with Songs from the Other Side of the Wall because I know it's not good enough) by amazing writers. We need more curators who are less gatekeepers and more impresarios and champions of literature - more characters like you get in the art world. I hope I can play my part.<br /><br />@Jackie - thank you so much - I will send you copies of both Charcoal and The Dead Beat in October as soon as they're out. Oli and Daisy are two of the most extraordinary voices I've read.Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-36144446851528832882010-07-23T03:47:34.652-07:002010-07-23T03:47:34.652-07:00I love the philosophy behind your new press. I rea...I love the philosophy behind your new press. I really hope that it works for you. <br /><br />Good luck with the Booker prize - I'd love to see one of your books win!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07698068501004755678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-34187682837640272272010-07-23T02:09:16.349-07:002010-07-23T02:09:16.349-07:00Hi Dan,
It's an interesting debate that is su...Hi Dan,<br /><br />It's an interesting debate that is sure to rage on and on. When is publishing not 'publishing'?<br /><br />In my opinion it is all down to financial risk and cash flow! To be a 'legitimate' publisher in the eyes of other publishers one needs to fulfil some basic criteria. It is not enough to have a press and only publish one author, it is highly likely at the outset of any small press that there is close relationship between the author and publisher - this is tantamount to self publishing. it is Inevitable that many small presses are likely to go through this stage, we certainly did. To legitimately be classed as a 'publisher', I think you need to find, edit, package and market somebody else's work whilst taking ALL the financial risks yourself - no money should ever pass from the author to the publisher. The publisher should also hold exclusive territorial rights for the work under a formal contract.<br /><br />This becomes your acid test, you are now a gatekeeper, you become 'of the other side' however fiercely independent you are.<br /><br />It is in this way that quality control becomes an attribute of any legitimate publisher - this (again only my opinion) is of benefit to the reading public. If the mass trash self-pubber's were allowed completely free reign in the marketplace, the book industry would die. Good books would be impossible to find.<br /><br />There is a distinct difference to the large trad pub model though, being 'indie' and a 'publisher' you can select and market to a niche readership - I know this is something you are very passionate about.<br /><br />So, I think that competition entry controls are only looking for quality pre-checks. Being 'published' is one of them - the work was good enough for somebody ELSE to spend a lot of money on it. If they don't do this they risk a slush pile and the good stuff will get buried in it.<br /><br />Just my thoughts.<br /><br />AndrewAndy Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16914515134914503458noreply@blogger.com