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Though I can understand the frustration of publishers faced with obstructions from their authors, as in Jess's examples, I warmly agree with Tim. If it goes on like this, all poets will have to have websites, blogs, facebooks etc. and twitter all day long. Nothing wrong with any of these things, if it suits the writer, and there are certainly some good blogs about poetry, but it would be ghastly if "networking" became a job requirement. On the other hand I think we should all be prepared to stop anyone we meet and ask them to buy a book. J ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Allen" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 12:30 PM Subject: Re: Authors Not Helping At Anything > Hi Jess, > > Yes, but it isn't always possible. If alternative press publishers only > published the work of those they knew could, or would, help go out there > and sell the stuff, then it would seriously limit the poets they took on. > A lot of alternative poets are already isolated from the usual channels > etc, so are disadvantaged on this issue right from the start - it's the > reason they have actually sought out a publisher in the first place. Some > poets have access to a circle of people, either local or around the > country (however limited), who might be interested in buying their books > (my own situation I suppose), but others for whatever reason, do not have > this. It might be down to the author's character or their physical > circumstances or whatever. If publishers only put out books by the first > group it would not only be unfair, it would actually skew the profile of > that particular publisher. Perhaps such a publisher should rename his > business, Extravert Press, or Socializes Easily Press or Stops Anyone He > Meets And Asks Them If they Want To Buy His Poetry Book Press. > > Cheers > > Tim A. > > On 5 Jul 2011, at 07:07, [log in to unmask] wrote: > >> I agree with Tony--especially on this point. Authors need to actively >> promote their work. It's crucial at the level of alternative press.