10-06-2011, 09:31 AM
I think that two things are essential for poetry to prosper: 1) Quality, quality, quality, quality; and 2) Marketing.
What quality is, of course, one can dispute: but it must have the ability to attract a fairly broad swathe of people. It will be somehwere between the much-despised 'Hallmark' and the pretentious clap-trap of which Leanne speaks.
One may regret the lack of a publisher as 'gatekeeper' but if notwithstanding, in some way, the quality is there, then that ceases to be relevant.
If these things can be lined up, I doubt it makes the slightest difference how a book is issued. But those things are a big ask.
What quality is, of course, one can dispute: but it must have the ability to attract a fairly broad swathe of people. It will be somehwere between the much-despised 'Hallmark' and the pretentious clap-trap of which Leanne speaks.
One may regret the lack of a publisher as 'gatekeeper' but if notwithstanding, in some way, the quality is there, then that ceases to be relevant.
If these things can be lined up, I doubt it makes the slightest difference how a book is issued. But those things are a big ask.