Wordslingers introduces listeners to the thriving poetry community in Chicago. Wordslingers has featured poets from all walks of life as well as different styles- performance, slam, academic, political, erotic, haiku, jazz, and blues.

On Sunday, March 5 listen to Kathy Kubik along with local poet Erika Mikkalo.


From 8:00 PM-9:00 PM on 88.7 FM WLUW


Listen Live: http://www.wluw.org/index.html

Posted on Tuesday 07 of February, 2006 [02:48:28 UTC]

So you've poured your sweat and tears into this one magnificent masterpiece. It looks great, the cover exactly as you like it, the proof looks perfect. Now what do you do?

Fortunately, with Lulu you won't have a box full of books that will sit and collect cobwebs while trying to figure this out. That is the benefit of POD publishing.

Here are some tips I've collected that help sales soar - including the number one thing you can do to get that chapbook sold.

Attend readings

Participate in open mics, become known in your neighborhood/city as a poet

Work on reading/delivery technique and presentation style

Be a poet the audience wants to hear

Let venue directors know you have a chapbook out now and are available as a featured reader

At your readings, set up a good-looking display where people come into the room, not up front where you are. Most people won’t make it up there and therefore won’t see your book.

Offer “special event” discounts if possible.

Add a kicker line or blurb about your chap to your personal or professional stationery.

Copy the cover and some of the back info i.e. ISBN and price and make your own flyer. Send out your own direct mail announcement with order form so they can order from you.

Get local coverage in a newspaper if you have an angle, an interesting story that community members might be interested in. Do a press release and include a copy of the book when sending to the newspaper.

If your book appeals to special interests, send press releases and samples to those folks, i.e. Vivian Shipley’s Fishing Poems went to a couple of gift shops around popular fishing spots. Al Ferber’s Gus went to a Union 76 Station counter where they sold some.

READINGS AND PERFORMANCE—ARE NEARLY ALL THAT MATTER

Readings, more than anything else, sell chapbooks.+text*text

Posted on Wednesday 25 of August, 2004 [05:20:13 UTC]