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Establishing Your Own Indie: Submission Guidelines

Thursday, May 9, 2013

I am hoping to begin my own literary journal. What suggestions would you have for creating my own submission guidelines?

Submission Guidelines- the way you want it presented to you (word.doc, double spaced, typed etc..)
Terms and Conditions- the condition on which you will publish the writer’s work

Submission Guidelines

It is easier to judge submissions when they are uniform as you are generally looking at the quality of the writing as opposed to the quality of the layout. If you are accepting poetry it may be a good idea to accept PDF files rather than Word documents which will mean no fiddly formats to deal with. It also depends on how you read your submissions whether online or in print. For this reason most publishers ask for double spaced submissions which can be either emailed to a certain address- so you can keep them organised- or submitted to Google Drive forms which have a handy spreadsheet to keep track of entries.

You may want to consider the minimum and maximum word length based on your own editorial decision for the end result.

Terms and Conditions

Things to consider

-Who will own the copyright of the writing? Can it be reproduced? Is the writer allowing you to publish their work?
-Will the writer’s work be available online or as an audio production? What about digital rights?
-Will they allow sections of their work to be used to advertise your journal?
-Can the writer submit their entry to another publisher once you have published it?
-How will their work be made available?
-Do you have a theme for the submissions?
-Will the outcome for the writer be publication or will they be paid?
-When will be the submission deadline?
-Do you accept paper manuscripts?

 

If you have an Establishing Your Own Indie question submit it here

Resources

The Society of Authors- Rates and Guidelines
Arts Council England- How to pay artists PDF file
Skillset- Publishing

 

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Mirage

Monday, April 22, 2013

The Gentleman commands that you live The Poet Lifestyle….

Mirage or Man,
My weary heart can rest regardless of supposed illusion
For what I have sought is now found and I am powerless
Rendered speechless by the depths of this new emotion
You have alighted adventure in my chest
Awakened hope that had been cast away
Now I am free to cling to an old world now changed
Old daydreams that are polished and preserved for living
I have arisen, newborn and unashamed
I delight in this new ability to share my openness
I wear my weaknesses like pearls about my neck
And admire them with the world
A new destiny is now mapped and frozen
The path has widened making place for expedition
I shiver in anticipation of this new life
The solidity you have bought to this old punished heart
I am alive but unafraid to rely upon your assurance
Cast off your cloak of fantasy and embark on our new journey

 

Kimberly Redway

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Poets Become Muses

Thursday, December 20, 2012

At the beginning of September 2012 we invited poets to submit entries for Stage 1 of our Poets and Muses Competition. What we are now offering is a chance to explore the way writers become inspired by handpicked sources. What will be an interesting read for audiences will be a great experiment for fledgling writers. All The Gentlemen Press asks is that prose entrants remain open minded. 

Before you are introduced to the next stage in January 2013 you may be interested in the collection of creative pieces we are attempting to accumulate. 

penPatchwork of Story

We are always interested in the way that narrative is created by the human mind which attempts to connect events that often have no relation. The same way that a detective collect clues, writers are fond of leaving a trail of “evidence” through their work leading to the final solution. Readers are always intrigued by the process and this collection will offer a peek at this. 

penExperimental

Entrants will be encouraged to write with an open mind. Apart from the source that will be referred to through the writing process you will be able to create what you please. These fictional pieces can include, short stories, letters, diary entries, mock blog posts or even something new that we may not have seen before. 

penOriginality 

It is imagined that now that we are more connected there is no such thing as originality. The aim of this competition will be to see how true this is. With a new source we will have the ability to monitor the journey each writer has made. We can follow the path of inspiration and influence. 

penIdeas and Creative Challenge

As always, The Gentlemen Press is interested in new ideas and this will be the chance to attempt something a little different. It will be entertaining to see the evolution of the source in a new piece of prose. 

 

Even if you are not a writer, we hope you’ll join us in the new year. Join us to see the Poets become Muses. 

To see our OTP New Year’s Resolutions- click here

 

 

 

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Your OTP New Year’s Resolutions

Sunday, December 16, 2012

*This post contains some spoiler quotes from the OTP anthology which is currently available for purchase*

The Poet Lifestyle

 

The poet life is about striving for freedom when you come up against opposition and making your voice heard when silence is advised. So The Gentlemen Press encourages you to live the life of a poet finding art in everything you do. Remember to explore your creativity. Here are some quotes to remember when you feel under pressure to conform.

pen“Instead I would destroy myself. I would yank down the blinds of self love and acceptance and allow the rays of detestation to penetrate my being.”

Things Would Be Different, Lola Johnson 

When you come up against antagonists don’t fold inward, fight for your right to express yourself. Don’t allow other people to create your identity and design your  image. Don’t allow anyone to define who you are before you get the chance.

 

pen“She was never one to indulge in frivolous activities but she was proud to be a social pariah.”

The Girl With Kaleidoscope Eyes, Candice Nembhard

Whether you’re a Indie God, Lit Freak, Sone, Skeptic, Geek or even Twihard stay aware of your beliefs and don’t allow anyone to eclipse your understanding of the world. Remain open-minded and aware of your path towards truth but always stand by your opinion. Debate, dispute and don’t be afraid of reaching agreement but put your argument forward.

 

pen“For years we have looked to the past to guide us, tried to replicate great leaders who are long gone but perhaps it is time to lead ourselves.”

The Statue, Joel Hunt

For some the path is clear and has already been forged ahead and all it needs is followers. A few among us must take on the role of pioneer and tread out their own trail. To do this you will have to abandon the status quo and prepare for judgement. It will be worth it.

 

pen“Humming a tune is dangerous. It’s a pathway to the subconscious mind and that’s where the corporations dump their ideas”

Corporation Street, Antony Szmierek

Buy mass produced if you chose but occasional create your own products. Buy from local artists and don’t forget that what connects us is ideas. Don’t be afraid to own something unique and untested.

 

The Gentlemen Press wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. When you return to us we will be introducing some new poets.

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Poetry Espionage- Andy Cashmore

Sunday, December 2, 2012

The Six Eight Kafé, host to past poetry events like Word Up, was the venue for Gentlemen Press’s Poetry Espionage last Saturday. The evening was a chance for poets and musicians to show off their talents in an intimate venue.

For those who haven’t been to a literary event at the Six Eight Kafé, the underground section provides a cosy environment for all. The Espionage set up a small performance space lit up by the low light of lamps and candles creating a relaxed mood which was maintained throughout the evening.

Joe Sale was the MC for the evening: his charismatic hosting abilities able to entertain the audience without breaking the ambience. He started and ended the evening with two parts of the poem ‘The Court of Deathless Song’. The whole six part collection will be available in a chapbook from Gentlemen Press soon.

The acts Joe introduced to the performance space consisted of acoustic musicians Max Merrick-Wren, Italiano Duo, Sean Neil and Aliana and Peter as well as poets Carl Sealeaf, Elisha Owen, Giles Longley-Cook and Ben Norris. These brilliant acts alternated between musician and poet so the audience wasn’t overwhelmed with either performance style at any one time.

Overall the evening was laid back, calm and most importantly enjoyable. The audience left the warmth of the Six Eight Kafé feeling pleasantly satisfied with the performances the young talents showcased.

 

 

Andy Cashmore is a flash fiction writer and can be found here

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The Apprentice

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Alice Perry- (bio to come )

The Gentlemen Press would like to thank Joseph Sale for writing such “epic” poetry to set the mood for our second event, Poetry Espionage.

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The Musician

Monday, November 26, 2012

Max Merrick- Wren was born and raised in Taunton, but is currently studying English literature and history at the University of Birmingham. He  has developed a keen interest in the works of Vladimir Nabokov and James Joyce through this course. He has only recently started writing his own creative pieces and is  starting to enter short story and writing competitions around Birmingham. Alongside this interest in writing prose he also write and perform songs as a solo acoustic artist.

Max was also published in the OTP anthology and to follow his music updates click here

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The Storyteller

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Sarah Bratby (bio and links to come )

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The Poet

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

 

Our evening’s Bard and MC Joseph Sale….

Bio: “Joseph Sale is a writer, poet, musician, and performer. He lives in Birmingham, Edgbaston, where he studies creative writing and literature. He is passionate about the classics, and about what they can reveal about modern ethos, life, and mindset. He is also particularly concerned with how they have permeated our current literature. Joseph regularly does performances of his poetry, and sometimes his short stories, and loves sharing his writing as well as listening to the ideas and creative works of others.”

His Website

For your own opportunity to buy “tailored” poetry come along to our Winter event- Poetry Espionage

 

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The Necromancer

Monday, November 12, 2012

 

Kimberly Redway is a 24 year old publisher who currently lives in Birmingham. She  founded The Gentlemen Press in 2011 and graduated from university in 2010 after studying Creative Writing with English Literature. She is also an aspiring YA writer. 

She is The Necromancer

“‘Necromancer’ holds up a mirror to my deepest hidden identity and displays it in this elegantly crafted poem. It reveals to an audience an image of myself that I imagined was hidden. I am awed that Joseph Sale has managed to unearth my innermost being, detect it and present it to others for contemplation. In it there is beauty and vulnerability.Thank you.”

Kimberly Redway

For more about Joseph Sale, click here 

 

There will be an opportunity coming soon to get personal commissioned poetry at our next event which is coming soon…

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