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Monday, November 8, 2010

Forward Press - Riddle me this...


Can someone please explain to me what the deal is with Forward Press?
A year or to ago, a poem of mine was selected to appear in a publication of theirs called The Lyrical Laboratory, a children's poetry anthology. I received a pre-order form, telling me, that as a contributor, I could get the book at a special price. Scam? I've been told you should never have to pay for a copy of a publication you're contributing to. If they have 100 contributors, and everyone orders 2 copies, that's 200 books sold immediately and its done as print on demand.
Recently, I was selected for 2 other anthologies and received the same pre-order form. To be fair, inclusion in the book was guaranteed and not dependent on my ordering. But its still a sort of scam, yes?
But how, then, does that get reconciled with the highly respected Forward Press prizes for poetry. Seamus Heaney was a recipient of one, I believe. Poetry competitions like the Francis Ledwidge and the National Poetry Competition nominate their 3 best poems to go forward to the Forward Press prize.
Can someone explain this to me?

3 comments:

  1. They're not related at all. Forward press is a sort of a vanity press. http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/apr/24/forward-press-afterschoolclub
    and the Forward Poetry Prize is funded by the Forward Arts Foundation. Not sure who they are though http://www.forwardartsfoundation.org/index.htm
    I would avoid the Forward press

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  2. I'm with Emerging Writer. Being asked to pay for what would normally be a complimentary copy sounds precious close to vanity publishing.
    Your poem above is lovely. So many blog poets take themselves sooooooo seriously, even when their "prompt" blogs say "Have Fun."

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  3. Thanks Kate - cleared that one up!!
    Ada - oh, I'm as capable of disappearing up my own back passage as the next poet!

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