Jamie,
I see it as no more difficult to compile an anthology from webzine poetry as it is from print magazine poetry. It all depends on how seriously one is prepared to undertake such an enterprise. It would be interesting to see it done someday. It certainly would be a first for poetry.
I think you are being a little unfair to webzine poetry. Most webzines I am familiar with have just as much stringency in their poetry selection process as print magazines do.
On the wider issue of self-publication (to which you allude), that, in my view, is a very respectable thing. Many respectable poets have done it at some point or other; Geraldine Monk for one, who, although I have been critical of regarding my comments about Robert Sheppard’s journal (which I will not repeat again, so have no fear—it can be quite tiresome getting banned from this list!) has, nevertheless, a considerable regard within innovative poetic circles.
Other self-published poets, equally as respected within innovative circles, are Keston Sutherland and Andrea Brady, with their Barque Press. I can’t mention respected mainstream poets who publish themselves, as I can’t think of any off-hand.
Best,
Jeff
Original message:
Jeffrey,
I don't want to argue about this anthology which so far I've not properly
read, but I'm not convinced by your statement:
"Ideally, poets should be drawn from the Internet, also. Not to do so seems
remiss."
I wouldn't discount the possibility that the editor is aware of the internet
(as many of the poets in the anthology can be found there) but at least if I
were assembling an anthology of contemporary poets, it's probably the last
place I'd look. Just consider the work load! You could spend years
navigating from one site to another and find little reward. Bad enough
having to read all those books, but at least in those cases someone other
than the author has considered it worth the risk of publishing it.
Jamie
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