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Dear Gerald (and others),
Thank you for your comments about the little magazines and the internet.
My own thoughts are rather unformed...but this is where I am so far:
I agree with you that it is easier to read poetry (or anything) on a page
than on a screen. When it comes to many of the more established (but still
in copyright) poets its quite hard to find more than a tiny sample of their
work through Google. I wonder if this is a trend that will persist, but
certainly the little money there is to be made in publishing poetry is more
likely to get into a poet's pocket if s/he through a book or more
'prestige' paper publication.
On the other hand, it is much easier to get a first taste of a poet's work
through the internet. I quite often read the poems on the Poetry Daily site
and when I am impressed go looking for more of a poet's work either through
Google or in a bookshop/Amazon.
As far a publishing one's own work goes, the disadvantages of time and
typos that you mention in your article make the internet a good option.
Also one's poems stay available - anyone who likes one can look up more.
(This can be embarrassing, of course, if you have second thoughts about a
poem:-) Publishing in little magazines usually means a small readership and
generally a once-only reading. And, realistically, not everyone reads right
through even the little magazines they subscribe to. Also a longer poem is
more likely to be published on the internet (where much less risk is
involved for the editor). I guess that does not mean that it will always be
read right through :-)
Little magazines seem more geographically grounded. They seem often to
reflect the work of a group of poets who do know one another face to face -
or who come to do so. Sometimes it can be quite a clicky even exclusive
thing - which has its good points as well as bad. (This can be true of
internet publications, too, I know.) But I've got to know the work of quite
of few of my fellow 'emerging Australian poets' though the small magazines
that are published here. I don't have the money to subscribe to all of them
at once - but do try to rotate subscriptions or at least read issues
through libraries or complimentary copies. Of course, I can also
(eventually) hear the work of many of these people at readings. Listening
to someone's work can make you want to read more and visa versa. So the
little magazine functions to make a local poetry community more cohesive.
The points of contact with people who also publish with the same internet
magazines are limited. (Except if you share a mailing list. Even then, my
limited experience suggests that apparently quite intense friendships will
not persist without the mailing list.)
Then again, this face-to-face community can seem limited at times. The
difficulty of 'success' when it's hard to get into print and particularly
to get a book published makes for cross currents of rivalry, even jealousy.
Sometimes even friendly support can be a bit stifling! I want to get out
and read different kinds of things. I want to try a different audience. And
- I have to admit - I want to get some damn poems out there! Then the
internet is great!
I have subscribed to American and British little magazines, but only when
strongly recommended by friends or because of special interest reasons. (I
see you are interested in haiku. I am too, and have subscribed to FROGPOND,
MODERN HAIKU etc.) But I am far, far less likely to subscribe to a small
overseas magazine. These days with THE HERON'S NEST, SIMPLY HAIKU etc I
find I am no longer much interested in the little haiku mags.
What do others think?
best, Sue
At 08:52 PM 2/16/2005, Gerald England wrote:
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Sue Stanford" <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2005 7:11 AM
>Subject: Re: Hi and little magazines
>
>
>
>Hi Sue and anyone else listening.
>
>I think most people who have been around for a few years
>will have discovered that online poetry hasn't killed off the little magazines
>just created an extra avenue for publication.
>
>Comments I made in a talk at the Purple Patch 1999 convention still apply
>
>It isn't a case of one or the other. Printed magazines score in a number
>of ways.
> a.. First they are more portable, you can stick em in your pocket read
> em on the bus or in the bath. There is also the feel of the paper in your hand.
> b.. Also the whole thing is there; you don't have to download each page
> (though of course a screen page can be several times the length of a book
> page).
> c.. On the internet you might just select a few items from a magazine;
> maybe the names of writers you know or titles that intrigue or just a few
> at random but you probably won't read or download the whole of the magazine.
> d.. With a printed magazine there is no extra effort involved to read
> the piece by a poet you've never heard of.
>The full text is at
>http://www.nhi.clara.net/pp02.htm
>
>An updated version of my talk will be published shortly in Sentinal.
>
>Like many others I do now read some poetry on the Internet but prefer to
>read it on paper.
>When I'm at the computer I'm usually reading/writing email, sorting out
>web pages or
>doing non-poetic things like playing a game.
>So I get away from the screen and read things from the comfort of an armchair.
>I'm sure I'm not the only one who
>when finding a webpage full of interesting writing
>presses the "print" key and leaves the reading for their coffee-break
>
>so much for the vision of the paper-less office!
>
>You may well be interested to check out some of the little magazines around
>by reading some reviews
>and you could do worse than starting at
>http://www.nhi.clara.net/mg.htm
>
>all the best
>
>Gerald England
>New Hope International, Haiku Talk
>reviews, poetry. travel photography and more
>http://www.nhi.clara.net/index.htm
>
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