What we did. What we're doing next.

Ok, so we covered lots of ground in our first class. Whew! Great to meet you all.

Since we're all focusing on print-based projects (with online shops or blogs to supplement), I will be rearranging the resource links to the right and adding new ones with those emphases in mind. I've invited you all to become members of this blog (totally optional), so feel free to post ideas, examples of inspiring projects, or any other thing that pops into your head on the topic of DIY publishing. You can also pipe up via the comments function (linked below any post).

--

For next week: In our next class we're going to get specific, and begin applying the generalities we discussed tonight to your individual projects. Check out the links in the right sidebar and/or visit the consignment section at St. Mark's Books in the East Village (address below), Clovis Press in Williamsburg (address below), or the Bowery Poetry Club's bookstore (at the top of the stairs, just between the cafe & the bar, in case you missed it) for inspiration regarding editorial content and design possibilities. I'll also bring a bunch of samples for us to look at more closely next week.

Chapbookers: Begin sifting through your work to determine your selections. If you'd like, bring copies to our next class to get others' opinions. Decide if you want to use your chapbook as an opportunity to create a themed or stylistically coherent grouping, or if your aim is to edit a sampler of your best work for readings, etc. Are you thinking of one or more long poems, a series of shorter pieces, or some combination of the two? Do you have a title in mind, or a few you'd like to run by us?

Zinester: Since you're working with new material that you'll either be writing yourself or soliciting from others, get a jump on the content for your first issue or prototype. Begin thinking about what kinds of pieces you'd like to include: reviews of albums and/or live shows, a calendar of recommended events, an interview, articles, music-related fiction or art, etc. If you're planning to solicit material from other writers, invite them now. (With a four-week deadline, you may also opt to borrow sample material from other sources to create your prototype zine, then replace it with original material at a later date when you've had time to gather everything.) Will each issue of your zine focus on the same style of music or theme? Are you envisioning sections or regular columns? Feel free to bring copies of material you've collected (original or borrowed samples) to class to get others' opinions. I'd say bring your title ideas--but you've already got a great one!

--

You'll find an assortment of zines & chaps (among other things) on consignment in these local stores:

Bowery Poetry Club Bookstore
308 Bowery at Bleecker
Manhattan

St. Marks Books
31 Third Avenue at 9th Street
Manhattan

Clovis Press Bookstore
229 Bedford Avenue
Williamsburg, Brooklyn