[Stylist] basic tutorial on prepping docs for sighted readers

Wed Jul 3 16:40:18 UTC 2019

When it comes to submitting, especially to top and middle tier mags and
journals, you have to have very specific reasons for experimental formatting
and structure and better be ready to defend it, because editors are pretty
strict about following submission guidelines and sticking to standard
manuscript form. Even publications seeking experimental work, it still has
to make sense to the piece; you can't be experimental for the sake of being
experimental. Right or wrong, this is how the world of publishing works.

Beyond grammar school, I don't think I've ever seen poetry that was center
aligned. As you say, Jackie, even when the structure is experimental, it's
still left aligned.

Bridgit

From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jackie via Stylist
Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2019 10:29 PM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List' <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jackie <jackieleepoet at cox.net>
Subject: Re: [Stylist] basic tutorial on prepping docs for sighted readers

Bridgit,

according to purpose, content, line length and other factors, Yes, the
format of a poem can vary greatly. I am thinking of one category called, The
Shape It Award. My poem was called "The Crack in the Liberty Bell," and it
was shaped like the liberty bell.

I have also centered three cinquains on a page of a book, but those poems,
though in the center of the page, were still left aligned.

If you write a poem about a person who is suffering from Alzheimer's, you
might write it in fragments with ragged alignment. So content can affect the
structure.

I appreciate your thoughts. 

I suppose there are no rigid rules, just the generality that a poem itself
is usually better in its chance for publication if it is left aligned,
barring the things like those mentioned above.

Jacqueline Williams

Clarity is just questioning having eaten its fill.

     Jenny Xie

From: Stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Kuenning-Pollpeter via Stylist
Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2019 7:30 AM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List' <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter <bkpollpeter at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Stylist] basic tutorial on prepping docs for sighted readers

Jackie,

I'm not a poet but have poet friends. Structure and format all depend on the
type of poem and what experimental form you're working with. When I submit
to mags and journals, I believe it still request poems be left aligned, but
still, it really depends on why you change the alignment. Is there an
artistic choice for it? Does playing with form and structure serve a purpose
for the poem? But yes, I think centering poetry is a grade school concept
and not something actual poets do. Sorry, don't have a better answer.

Bridgit

From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org
<mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Jackie via Stylist
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2019 1:20 PM
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<mailto:stylist at nfbnet.org> >
Cc: Jackie <jackieleepoet at cox.net <mailto:jackieleepoet at cox.net> >
Subject: Re: [Stylist] basic tutorial on prepping docs for sighted readers

Annie,

This is good advice and easy to follow. 

I might disagree with centering poetry. Pauline Mounsey, publisher of The
Lucid Stone, a poetry quarterly for many years, discouraged us strongly from
this practice. Our teacher for the Granite Reef Poets for years, said it
could actually keep us from getting a poem published, or selected in a
contest.

I would like to hear from the other poets on this list about this topic.

Your submissions to this list are valuable, and I always look forward to
reading them, though I do not always get off a response.

My thanks.

Jacqueline Williams

Clarity is just questioning having eaten its fill.

     Jenny Xie

From: Stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ann
Chiappetta via Stylist
Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 6:42 PM
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<mailto:stylist at nfbnet.org> >
Cc: anniecms64 at gmail.com <mailto:anniecms64 at gmail.com> ; 'Sandra Streeter'
<sandrastreeter381 at gmail.com <mailto:sandrastreeter381 at gmail.com> >
Subject: Re: [Stylist] basic tutorial on prepping docs for sighted readers

Hi,

This subject is a very broad one, for sure so  I  will keep to a  focused
statement.

. For informational articles and essays I  use simple text blocks and no
indents. Heading can be centered and bolded to draw the eye.

One can make bullet lists, which also focuses on the subject and point for
this  type of writing.

One can also center poems. I'd like to say, that I  grew up sighted, and
want to also say simple works better than all the fancy shmancy fonts and
flourishes. If your writing is good, you don't need embellishment's. This
can take away from the writing. Also, type fonts should be simple, without
the serifs and little tails and such. Fonts with too many sweeps and tails
or angles are hard to read for folks with low vision and sometimes scanning
software confuses the letters. I  use Calibri or ariel, both well known and
used all over the web and in printed books. I used Ariel for all my own
books, too.

I  think old-fashioned typesets like times new roman will soon be a thing of
the past.

Best,

Annie 

Author and Creative Professional

www.annchiappetta.com <http://www.annchiappetta.com/>  or
www.dldbooks.com/annchiappetta/ <http://www.dldbooks.com/annchiappetta/>  

Blog: www.thought-wheel.com <http://www.thought-wheel.com> 

Facebook Annie Chiappetta

From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org
<mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Sandra Streeter via
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Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 5:27 PM
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Cc: Sandra Streeter <sandrastreeter381 at gmail.com
<mailto:sandrastreeter381 at gmail.com> >
Subject: [Stylist] basic tutorial on prepping docs for sighted readers

Not looking for something that tells me what I have done-but what
specifically to do to enhance how a doc looks to sighted readers. Mine, at
this point, are very plain, and I just want to pretty them up in ways that
are typical, but because I am not a native print user, I am not sure always
of what markings, graphics or whatever work for given situations. What I
ineffectively articulated before is, I could probably learn this by reading
a typical doc using the super-detailed settings in JAWS, but am loath to,
because of mild Aspergers that makes that kind of fine detail
crazymaking-too much of a good thing! So, I'd rather have someone explain
what works best for people, what makes docs pleasing to the eye, and how to
accomplish it (though the how-to's, I can probably learn elsewhere). So,
hope this clarifies somewhat.

Sandra

Something is wrong, I know it, if I don't keep my attention on eternity. May
I be the tiniest nail in the house of the universe, tiny but useful.

(Mary Oliver) 

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