[stylist] anthology of blind poets

slery slerythema at insightbb.com
Sat Apr 4 17:19:22 UTC 2009 

The first consideration is always why do you want to put this together.

I personally see the merit of a poetry of the blind anthology but I am not
sure the same standards would apply to fiction. Fiction anthologies tend to
follow a theme if they are to have a good selling point. Otherwise, they are
just a book that people collected a bunch of random stories for the sake of
publishing because they couldn't be published on their own. One option for
fiction might be the fact that each story's main character is blind and that
all stories are written by blind authors. Feel free to disagree with me but
I simply want to point out what might or might not make this worth our time
and effort.

As for poetry, it could have a theme but simply having blind poets' work
lined up side by side for you could provide a unique reading experience.
Poetry by itself requires more thought into the reading of it and
anthologies in general tend to lead the readers into more thought provoking
analysis by the reading order they are presented in, whether poetry or
fiction.

As far as jobs go, it would be best to have a committee that can collaborate
and then bring ideas to the group. The committee would decide the
rules/composition of the anthology. There would need to be submission
guidelines and then a procedure for deciding what would make the final cut.
An editor would need to be hired to professionally edit. Depending on the
publisher, a layout designer would be needed. Simply copy and pasting from
the documents the authors send in is not adequate. Once the committee has a
formulated plan, a publisher could be approached.

Cindy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert Newman
> Sent: Saturday, April 04, 2009 7:48 AM
> To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [stylist] anthology of blind poets
> 
> 
> If people were interested in this project, what would be the 
> steps to put it together? (What I am saying and asking is: 
> This would be a good learning project for everyone on this 
> list. Do we have interest here? Who is willing to step up and 
> take a leading role; what roles are there? Should we have a 
> poetry and a short fiction volume? --- what are the 
> considerations here?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Robert Leslie Newman 
> Email- newmanrl at cox.net
> THOUGHT PROVOKER Website- 
> Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of slery
> Sent: Saturday, April 04, 2009 1:50 AM
> To: 'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [stylist] anthology of blind poets
> 
> Actually, I know the founder of Sarabande Books. He is a poet 
> and if our book is put together with strong enough pieces, 
> this might be an avenue we could pursue for publishing. It is 
> a small press and we are more likely to have success.
> 
> Cindy
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> > On Behalf Of John Lee Clark
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 11:49 PM
> > To: 'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'
> > Subject: Re: [stylist] anthology of blind poets
> > 
> > 
> > Robert:
> > 
> > There should be an anthology for fiction, too.  But the 
> problem with a
> > mixed anthology is that it is usually less credible and taken less 
> > seriously.  I am not sure why this is so, but it's a fact.  
> Take the 
> > anthology Despite This Flesh--by disabled writers, in a variety of 
> > genures.
> > Everything in it was great.  But collectively it wasn't strong, in 
> > spite of the strength of the individual pieces.
> > 
> > So that's why I would rather focus on one writing category.
> > It so happens my favorite is poetry.
> > 
> > But we can work together to just try and get our hands on as many
> > pieces in any category, but you can lead the way for 
> fiction or, more 
> > generally, prose pieces.  I'll help find anything that may be 
> > relevant.
> > 
> > There is one possible high-profile publisher for such a poetry
> > anthology--Library of America.  It has a series of small 
> collections 
> > of poems, some selected poems of one poet and others 
> anthologies, but 
> > quite specific ones, such as Civil War poems, 
> African-American poetry, 
> > poems of WWII, humorous verse, and erotic poetry.
> > 
> > What do you think?
> > 
> > John
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> > On Behalf Of Robert Newman
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 5:09 PM
> > To: 'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'
> > Subject: [stylist] anthology of blind poets
> > 
> > John, I'd like to see some of us working with you to put this
> > together. The book, Anthology of Blind Poets.
> > 
> > 
> > Robert Leslie Newman
> > Email- newmanrl at cox.net
> > THOUGHT PROVOKER Website-
> > Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> > On Behalf Of John Lee Clark
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 3:26 PM
> > To: 'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'
> > Subject: Re: [stylist] History, Heroes, and Authors
> > 
> > Fred:
> > 
> > That's great!  I was sure there were a good bunch, and I am relieved
> > to find that someone can name names like you did!
> > 
> > I'll check out the books you mentioned.
> > 
> > What about poets?  Who are the more well-known contemporary or at
> > least modern blind poets?
> > 
> > Maybe I will be interested in doing research into the 
> poetry of blind
> > people and assemble an anthology.  Do you think that would 
> be a good 
> > contribution to the blind community?  There was an 
> anthology of blind 
> > poets that was very popular at the end of the nineteenth 
> century--and 
> > I do mean popular; it was a bestseller--but since then 
> there doesn't 
> > seem to be a definitive anthology.
> > 
> > John
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> > On Behalf Of Fred Wurtzel
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 12:04 AM
> > To: 'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'
> > Subject: Re: [stylist] History, Heroes, and Authors
> > 
> > Hello John,
> > I believe we have a great assortment of celebrity scholars and
> > performers.
> > 
> > Mary Manes (I probably have her name wrong) wrote the story of Eva
> > Perrone, Evita which became a big Broadway hit and movie.  
> She was a 
> > member of NFB.
> > 
> > Gary Vermeij is a "Genius Award" winner and author of a really good
> > autobiography, titled "Privileged Hands" and several more 
> scientific 
> > books.
> > 
> > Andre Bocelli is a very popular Opera singer, today.
> > Worldwide he is nearly as popular as Stevie Wonder.
> > 
> > Ronnie Milsap carries an NFB cane.  He has written an autobiography.
> > I cannot remember the title, presently.
> > 
> > Mike Hinkson was in the World Trade Center on 9/11.
> > 
> > Dr. tenBroek was and remains, a constitutional scholar who wrote
> > extensively.
> > 
> > I am not sure if any of these people have written books, 
> but they are
> > or were  certainly celebrities.  Ginny Owens, Diane Schuur, Blind 
> > Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie McTell, Bryan Lee, Blind Boys 
> of Alabama 
> > (2 grammies in the past 3 or 4 years), Doc Watson, Tom 
> Sullivan Terry 
> > Gibb and Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.
> > 
> > This is not a complete list.  I am doing this off the top 
> of my head,
> > so I certainly have missed some of our blind brother and sister 
> > celebrities and writers.  I hope others can add to this list. 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org
> > [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of John Lee Clark
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 9:08 PM
> > To: 'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'
> > Subject: Re: [stylist] History, Heroes, and Authors
> > 
> > Angela:
> > 
> > Is that history book available in Braille?  If so, where 
> can I buy it
> > or borrow it?
> > 
> > Thanks!
> > 
> > John
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> > On Behalf Of Angela fowler
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 4:54 PM
> > To: 'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'
> > Subject: Re: [stylist] History, Heroes, and Authors
> > 
> > John,
> > 	I'm not sure if there are books which are uniquely 
> appreciated by
> > blind people in the way you mention. As for a book on the 
> history of 
> > the blind movement, have you read WALKING ALONE MARCHING 
> TOGETHER? It 
> > is a history of the NFB, from its beginning to 2000 or so. It also 
> > talks about the quests for independence of blind people in earlier 
> > centuries, which I find very interesting.
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> > On Behalf Of John Lee Clark
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 3:21 PM
> > To: 'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'
> > Subject: [stylist] History, Heroes, and Authors
> > 
> > Hey, all:
> > 
> > I have some questions for you to have the pleasure of answering.
> > 
> > I've been trying to find books on the history of the blind 
> community,
> > but without much luck.  Can you recommend some titles?
> > 
> > Who are the biggest legendary figures or heroes of the blind
> > community?
> > 
> > Who are some of the blind authors that are celebrated and highly
> > esteemed in the blind community?  Has anyone written the 
> Great Blind 
> > American Novel? What are some of the classics in the blind literary 
> > canon that are found on the shelves of almost every blind person's 
> > home?
> > 
> > Your answers will be most helpful!
> > 
> > John
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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> > 
> > 
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