Deadline: 15 October 2010
What is Paper Monster Press?
Paper Monster Press was first thought to be a poetry pamphlet that would work to bring new poetry to a wider range of audiences. Of course, the question of why and how arises. Why poetry? When the whole publishing world is inundated with it? And what exactly did I mean when we say “a wider range of audiences”? Who still reads poetry?
First things first, what is new? And what are the criteria that each editor brings to the final decision making process, of who gets into each issue. (As each issue is composed of 10 poems each in English and Filipino.) And how do the editors get chosen?
New poetry means experimentations with sound and language, new images, and fresh perspectives and insights on the world/s of meaning/s. Of course, the editors bring to the table their own tastes, their own understanding of the genre and craft of their specialization. And the editors change with each edition? Why? To ensure that a wider range of artists with varying leanings get to be published by Paper Monster.
It started out as a poetry pamphlet. Years ago, I read a biography of Vachel Lindsay (author of the Congo), and it told of how he wrote down his poems on sheets of paper and tried to sell it to people for 20 cents each. He was never able to sell a lot, but just the experience of “selling poetry” fired him and he wrote and wrote charged by that experience. In a way, yes, Paper Monster is like that. I still have stacks of Issue 1 at home (proof of poetry’s unsaleability?), but with every person who buys, or promises to buy, or just reads, my heart grows with gratitude, and sometimes I can’t believe that people will buy or read poetry, and that they still do, and I am thankful, thankful, that there is still some place for art in our lives.
The future of Paper Monster is uncertain of course, but as of now, I know its not going to specialize in poetry anymore. I especially am interested in seeing trans-genre art, and other forms: microfiction, letters, essays, pop art, and yes, even critical theory, and music. The pamphlet form will change too. (And no, we still don’t have money), but a zine format would be better able to highlight an artist’s work.
The editors are now in the process of making Issue 2. And we hope you’ll be part of it! We are accepting the following:
1. 1-3 poems in English or Filipino
2. critical essays/ reviews of Paper Monster issue 1
3. 1-2 artworks in black or white
E-mail submissions to papermonsterpress@yahoo.com. ;)
The extended deadline is on October 15, 2010. We hope to be able to read your work. Thank you very much!
What is Paper Monster Press?
Paper Monster Press was first thought to be a poetry pamphlet that would work to bring new poetry to a wider range of audiences. Of course, the question of why and how arises. Why poetry? When the whole publishing world is inundated with it? And what exactly did I mean when we say “a wider range of audiences”? Who still reads poetry?
First things first, what is new? And what are the criteria that each editor brings to the final decision making process, of who gets into each issue. (As each issue is composed of 10 poems each in English and Filipino.) And how do the editors get chosen?
New poetry means experimentations with sound and language, new images, and fresh perspectives and insights on the world/s of meaning/s. Of course, the editors bring to the table their own tastes, their own understanding of the genre and craft of their specialization. And the editors change with each edition? Why? To ensure that a wider range of artists with varying leanings get to be published by Paper Monster.
It started out as a poetry pamphlet. Years ago, I read a biography of Vachel Lindsay (author of the Congo), and it told of how he wrote down his poems on sheets of paper and tried to sell it to people for 20 cents each. He was never able to sell a lot, but just the experience of “selling poetry” fired him and he wrote and wrote charged by that experience. In a way, yes, Paper Monster is like that. I still have stacks of Issue 1 at home (proof of poetry’s unsaleability?), but with every person who buys, or promises to buy, or just reads, my heart grows with gratitude, and sometimes I can’t believe that people will buy or read poetry, and that they still do, and I am thankful, thankful, that there is still some place for art in our lives.
The future of Paper Monster is uncertain of course, but as of now, I know its not going to specialize in poetry anymore. I especially am interested in seeing trans-genre art, and other forms: microfiction, letters, essays, pop art, and yes, even critical theory, and music. The pamphlet form will change too. (And no, we still don’t have money), but a zine format would be better able to highlight an artist’s work.
The editors are now in the process of making Issue 2. And we hope you’ll be part of it! We are accepting the following:
1. 1-3 poems in English or Filipino
2. critical essays/ reviews of Paper Monster issue 1
3. 1-2 artworks in black or white
E-mail submissions to papermonsterpress@yahoo.com. ;)
The extended deadline is on October 15, 2010. We hope to be able to read your work. Thank you very much!
