Distressing Development in the Life of a "Schizophrenic Poet"
I wrote something here then chickened out and erased it. Sorry.
Posted by pamwagg at December 4, 2007 09:25 PM
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(JCH: you read this at your peril.)
The following is for my loyal readers and friends only, and you know who you are: it looks like the person in charge at what I will call "Femto" Press (for reasons that will become clear), the one that accepted my book of poems for publication, feels uncertain as to whether she can publish the work of a poetry-writing "schizophrenic" --- her word, not mine. Not because of the poems, mind you, those she admitted she liked. But because of me, a person with schizophrenia, she might have to deal with someone who has certain differences, or limitations, someone who might need certain accommodations in terms of the many and varied demands Femto Press puts upon its authors. And she made it clear she was not going to do that. She actually wants Lynnie (!) or Dr O to "co-sign" the contract to make sure that all her demands and requirements are met.
That seems outrageous to me. What you you, readers think? Frankly, she should consider it a privilege to publish my work. I do not consider her publishing my poems something I need to pay her for! If I do readings and community outreach, it damn well will NOT be because of any contractual obligation. What happens if I get sick and can't fulfill the contract -- she stops publishing my book? That is extortion. No, I am thinking, maybe this isn't such a great deal after all. Maybe this press is not for me. Why should I sign up to be published by someone who expects me to work for them as well, when I have given them something of mine that they can do with as they please? They are already non-profit: already I will not earn a cent from the deal. What more can they ask? I have essentially forked over all my poems for nothing! I would LOVE to do readings, I can read and review manuscripts (though I will NOT be told to, I must be asked, and politely) but I cannot arrange readings myself and I cannot always read at all... Fundraising, bookkeeping, even the ability to call strangers on the phone -- is she crazy? I've spent 8-10 years of my adult life in the hospital. I do not have those skills.
I was pleased, however, that she said the manuscript was very professionally put together, and so was my letter. But what good is all that if she essentially extorts too much in return from me. I do not have that kind of stamina, and she had better learn that now, before she takes me on. I don't much care at this point. She accepted the manuscript, she liked the poems. Now I feel confident that someone else will too, and will take the ms somewhere else if she proves too problematic or too difficult and too lacking in compassion and understanding...Which I frankly think will prove to be the case. It certainly seems that way, from her response to reading my blog entry about her letter to me. All she could talk about was how I'd...
Oh, fork, I don't give a damn if Femto publishes me or not. I don't owe her or her press a goddam thing. I'm going to write to my poet friend, Leonard, and ask him if most small presses make such demands of their poets, and what he thinks about this sort of thing. (I wonder if Graywolf does.)
Posted by: Pam W at December 4, 2007 10:13 PM
Early
Schizophrenia Screening Test
(JCH: you read this at your peril.)
The following is for my loyal readers and friends only, and you know who you are: it looks like the person in charge at what I will call "Femto" Press (for reasons that will become clear), the one that accepted my book of poems for publication, feels uncertain as to whether she can publish the work of a poetry-writing "schizophrenic" --- her word, not mine. Not because of the poems, mind you, those she admitted she liked. But because of me, a person with schizophrenia, she might have to deal with someone who has certain differences, or limitations, someone who might need certain accommodations in terms of the many and varied demands Femto Press puts upon its authors. And she made it clear she was not going to do that. She actually wants Lynnie (!) or Dr O to "co-sign" the contract to make sure that all her demands and requirements are met.
That seems outrageous to me. What you you, readers think? Frankly, she should consider it a privilege to publish my work. I do not consider her publishing my poems something I need to pay her for! If I do readings and community outreach, it damn well will NOT be because of any contractual obligation. What happens if I get sick and can't fulfill the contract -- she stops publishing my book? That is extortion. No, I am thinking, maybe this isn't such a great deal after all. Maybe this press is not for me. Why should I sign up to be published by someone who expects me to work for them as well, when I have given them something of mine that they can do with as they please? They are already non-profit: already I will not earn a cent from the deal. What more can they ask? I have essentially forked over all my poems for nothing! I would LOVE to do readings, I can read and review manuscripts (though I will NOT be told to, I must be asked, and politely) but I cannot arrange readings myself and I cannot always read at all... Fundraising, bookkeeping, even the ability to call strangers on the phone -- is she crazy? I've spent 8-10 years of my adult life in the hospital. I do not have those skills.
I was pleased, however, that she said the manuscript was very professionally put together, and so was my letter. But what good is all that if she essentially extorts too much in return from me. I do not have that kind of stamina, and she had better learn that now, before she takes me on. I don't much care at this point. She accepted the manuscript, she liked the poems. Now I feel confident that someone else will too, and will take the ms somewhere else if she proves too problematic or too difficult and too lacking in compassion and understanding...Which I frankly think will prove to be the case. It certainly seems that way, from her response to reading my blog entry about her letter to me. All she could talk about was how I'd...
Oh, fork, I don't give a damn if Femto publishes me or not. I don't owe her or her press a goddam thing. I'm going to write to my poet friend, Leonard, and ask him if most small presses make such demands of their poets, and what he thinks about this sort of thing. (I wonder if Graywolf does.)
Posted by: Pam W at December 4, 2007 10:13 PM