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DIY Poetry Publishing Cooperative

August 05, 2005

DIY spotlight: dbqp + pdqb

Visual poet Geof Huth creates mini editions (and sometimes single copies) of handmade books, leaflets, pamphlets and other printed matter for his presses dbqp & pdqb. And they are available for miraculous prices--many less than $1!

Check out Geof's dbqp catalog for some fantastic inspiration, including alternative bindings, rubber stamping, shaped papers, miniatures, etc.

More at the pdqb blog here.

August 04, 2005

Selling your stuff: Consignment

So, some of you are ready to start looking around for places to sell your chapbooks and zines. (And I listed a few NYCentric ones to try here a few weeks ago--scroll down.)

The consignment set up goes something like this: You, the publisher, ask the bookstore to stock your zine or chap. (Many stores have special sections for zines, chaps, and other consignment items. If you're dropping by for the first time look for this shelf or rack to see what kind of things they might be into and whether you'd be a good fit.) The bookstore agrees to take a small number of copies and put them on display. You and the bookstore enter into either a written or verbal agreement about the terms. Generally they will not be responsible for lost or damaged copies. You will be required to check in on them every once in a while (perhaps according to a set schedule, either by calling or coming by) and restock as necessary, deliver new issues, etc. When you check in, if you've sold copies they will pay you a portion of the cover price for each, and keep a small percentage. (For instance, they might pay you 60% of the cover price and keep 40%.) All unsold copies will be returned to you.

Some tips: Let the store know that you will send people their way--either via your web site or annoucements at your local readings, etc. Offer them a flier, poster or a stack of postcards for the counter to draw the attention of browsers. In some cases you may want to offer a complimentary review copy and check back later, to give them a chance to check it out.

Expanding into other cities: Unless your focus is strictly local, there's no reason you can't try to market your publication in other cities. For instance:

Quimby's in Chicago is a great bookstore open to selling zines and chapbooks on consignment. Here's their info page and the form you'd need to submit to get started. (Their Consignment Terms & Form is a good example of what you might run into elsewhere.)

Atomic Books in Baltimore is another great bookstore that carries DIY zines and books. Check out their info page here. (See "consignment inquiries.")

Zine & E-Zine Resource Guide: A list of stores that carry zines, with links to their individual sites and descriptions of what they carry and how to order. Check it out.

Ask friends in other cities for their suggestions. And bookstores are not the only places you can try to interest in consignment deals. Record stores, comic book stores, vintage clothing stores, newsstands, and some coffee shops are all worth a shot too. (Chain bookstores for the most part will not be willing to work with you on consignment.)

August 01, 2005

Launch party this Friday for The Tiny!

Editors Gina Myers and Gabriella Torres invite you to join them this Friday, August 5 at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate the release of The Tiny issue #1. (They are linked in the sidebar too--go check them out.)

Readings by Jim Behrle, Erica Kaufman & Maureen Thorson
Music by I Feel Tractor (Eddie Berrigan)

Pete's Candy Store
709 Lorimer Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
(L to Lorimer, G to Metropolitan)

Announcing the new issue of Carve and Carve chapbooks!

Issue #6 of Carve just arrived in the mail with poetry features by Bill Marsh, Clark Coolidge, Dorothea Lasky, Emma Barnes, Yuri Hodspar, & Mark Lamoureux. And in his letter from the editor, Aaron Tieger announces that CARVE Editions will begin publishing chapbooks in Fall 2005, with the release of birds for example by Jess Mynes and zing by Christopher Rizzo. (Rocking good news.)

Check out the web site here.

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Announcing FlatCity Press!

Editors Adam Cole, Kelly McGuinness & Betsy Wheeler just released their first book last night. FlatCity Anthology is a hand-stitched anthology of Ohio State University poets including Sam Austin, Rebecca Barry, Drew Blanchard, Jenny Burdge, David Citino, Debbie Diemont, Angie Estes, Kathy Fagan, Sean Flanigan, Jason Gray, Gay Hadley, Andrew Hudgins, Lesley Jenike, Jill Khoury, Stephen Kuusisto, Mike Lohre, Jeredith Merrin, Dan O'Dair, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Catherine Pierce, Rita Rich, Andrea Scarpino, Natalie Shapero, Carrie Shipers, Maggie Smith, Somer Sterud, Benjamin Vogt, & Ayana Wilson.

Check out their web site (and place your order) here.