Self Publishing: The Benefits Of Curating Your Own Voice
Written by Kate Gough
Though there are many publishing houses in the world, giving voices to marginalized artists and exploring the facets of feminism, discrimination, and inequality, there are continually barriers for poets who wish to make their mark.
International audiences have flocked to the writers of Instagram. There are people out there who self-published their debut writing collections, and their books went on to become one of the top-selling books on Amazon worldwide, establishing those who shall not be named as one of the most popular and bestselling writers of contemporary poetry. Their fame sparked “the rise of the Instapoet”, exalted by The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and even The Poetry Foundation. Because of this success, the publishing industry quickly adapted to the new fascination and revitalization of poetry, and reconsidered the way poetry is perceived, read, and distributed. Where there is a commercial success, traditional publishers see dollars flying around in their direction and will start knocking on doors after all.
Self Publishing and its Spontaneity
Waiting periods, every writer’s agonizing nightmare. From months to a year, once submitted to a literary press, you often must wait at least six months in order to query about your book, and even then, it can be uncertain. Due to the nature of understaffed publishing houses, and the thousands of submissions, it takes time to read and consider each piece of work. If and once your work is accepted, you must usually go through an editorial process, which can take months.
Whilst the tortoise at the publishing house fumbles to the finish line, the hares of Instagram publish instantaneously. There are hurdles to be had, such as short poems being more popular, as the app’s infrastructure is designed for photos easily digested, as well as videos being limited to ten minutes, which can mean that longer work has no place to shine. For the racing hare, the idea of pushing a button and releasing art into the world is a delightful one. No longer must the hare wait for months to years waiting for rejections or acceptances!
The Economic and Accessible Side to Self Publishing
For the starving artist, the publishing world can seem elitist, guarded by a paywall and a sense of superiority. Because the world of independent presses is underfunded, magazines and journals resort to contests and fees in order to function. Nearly every reputable literary magazine charges at least a three dollar fee to submit to Submittable (the submission engine), and contests can cost up to hundreds of dollars to submit to as well. The more you submit to contests, the more opportunity is afforded to you. This creates an unfair advantage that excludes marginalized artists in poverty.
All of this, not to mention the workshops, classes, conferences, and secondary education required to establish a career, are barriers to writers who want to find an audience. Publishing and reading on Instagram are free, and offers an opportunity to find your voice without spending all of your income.
The Modern Poet Finds Their Voice
Insta-poetry is an adaptation to the modern reader. Through smartphones, TV screens, e-books, and videos, we inhabit a world that is on the go, and literature moves with us.
Good poetry is relatable, from Shakespeare to Allen Ginsberg, we find ourselves through the poetry we devour. Mainstream Insta-poetry isn’t only popular because of its relatability, but because it is short and accessible, easily digested whilst commuting or waiting in line. It is free, easy, and familiar, and it allows any and every voice to be heard. In a world where we are rushing so fast through life, to sit and think about the wonders of love, the hardship of pain, and the warmth of the hearth, we slow down long enough to listen, to each other, and to our own hearts.
KATE GOUGH is a Canadian based poet and a member of the online poetry community. Her work modernizes romantic literary sensibilities and explores recovery from chronic illness and trauma. Her philosophy is one close to the Danish “Hygge” which is, the celebration of cosiness. Warm socks, hot tea, and candlelight are her favourite writing tools.