Today, I had a message on ‘Facebook’, the way it sometimes happens, and it was someone sort of assuming I’d do something, and it wasn’t something I really do, but it is, actually now. And because this thing seemed like an interesting thing to do, I went along with it, and said some things in reply, leading to more things back, and so it is, I am going to edit and publish, something else, someone else’s big idea thing, that is good, and community driven and absolutely fantastic, if it happens …
And part of my role is to help to make it happen, if the words come, and the story grows until the time has come for it to become a book … So it suppose it’s official, I am seen (at least by a few people) as the go to person to get a book published … At the moment, I do that as a self-published writer, doing my own thing with it all, in the best way I know how to do it.
And given I have eight books published, some self-published some not, I guess I have a fair idea about the ins and outs of publishing, in a small way. And if I wanted to make that a bigger way, not a small way, well, you learn by doing, don’t you? Step by step, doing more things, bigger things, spreading the word, and range, and bang, there you are, you’re doing it.
My first book was a bit of a joke-thing, there was an idea, and some words, and a person (Ally Hean), who was my friend, and she is a great illustrator, so we just put the words together with some of Ally’s illustrations, saw a printer and made it into a book, printing out copies of it and selling the books. After that first book, I made two more in a series, self-published a memoir and a poetry collection. I’ve had a school reader published, and two more poetry collections (the most recent one a chapbook).
As well as that writing, I’ve also been the editor of a newsletter for the town closest to my home, co-editing, then editing it, and getting it printed, for around fifteen years. I enjoy doing this and being involved with others to get their information out to other people living in and around that town (Mallala is the town, and the newsletter is the Mallala Crossroad Chronicle)
At the moment, I’m working on an Anthology, and am calling for submissions of poetry and prose from other poets/writers to feel a book of words about this Covid-19 pandemic. This is possibly my biggest writing project, and is already the one that involved the most people. I’m enjoying reading the various responses to this call, and am looking forward to getting it all put together and printed.
I’ve had people from my country, Australia submit work for this, as well as people from other countries. If you think this is an interesting project, and would like to be involved, send up to three poems of thirty lines or less, and/or up three pieces of to 3,000 words of prose (fiction or non-fiction), to me at kittycordo@gmail.com – I’d love to read your words, and if they’re acceptable, they’ll be included in the anthology. The title will be “Plague Invasion – Creative Writing in Response to Covid-19”.
This anthology-in-progress has taken up much of my time since I thought of the idea, and decided I wanted to do it. But now, today, in fact, a friend has asked me to be involved helping with a book project, one that sounds very interesting as well, but of a different genre … I’ll be writing some words for the book, and will be editing it too.
So yes, I’m a writer and poet, and I am definitely an editor as well. And the way my thoughts are going, I’m possibly going to become an actual publisher, rather than only a self-publisher … We’ll see how that goes. I can see this year and into the next is going to involve a lot of editing of other people’s words, as well as my own. And I like the sound of that, a lot!
Being a publisher though, will involve a lot of administrative work, and I don’t like that anywhere near as much. It isn’t anywhere nearly creative enough for my taste. Ah well, if that’s what it takes, I’ll have to do it, perhaps with others, not just myself … Life is made up of many things, and getting out one thing sometimes has to happen before a next thing happens, so it can work out well. I’m prepared for that.
Any advice about this Publisher thing though, will be happily and gratefully received!
Carolyn Cordon - Creative 