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We launched our Press out of concern Canadian poets still do not receive equal support in the marketplace in our own country. We launched the Zine because we hear so many Authors exclaim, “It’s not what you do, but who you know that takes you forward.” This is not a new comment on the wilderness faced by new Authors, and we know why this is said. In my experience, there were several closed doors when I emerged after a long hiatus from my publishing efforts. Brian Purdy did not pursue publishing strongly in his middle years, either, so he also met with the rejection that stirs up such comments. We can only guess the reasons those who do not remain ‘constantly active on the scene’ face closed doors upon their return. Yet, guessing the cause for closed doors invariably leans toward grand assumptions. Instead of indulging in a pessimistic worldview, I decided to found a venue which counters those closed doors by opening a new door on behalf of all serious writers. At BPR, we look for quality in the writing before we read the Author’s c.v. It does not matter who you know here. In fact, I’ve declined the work of established Authors when it did not meet our vision for the Zine and published it when it suited us. We aim to provide an accessible venue for writers at all stages of their career. As a result, we discover some fresh, new faces and we are not at all surprised to discover older writers who are returning their attention to publishing. The audience for our Zine comments on the high quality of the work included in BPR, and that remains our utmost pride. Yet, in my eyes, this is only part of our purpose. The contest we offer in each issue of the Zine is of prime importance in expressing both who we are and what we do. It is difficult to find contests accepting submissions of poetry or fiction without charging a fee these days. That means seeking publication is financially prohibitive for many Authors. Likewise, those with means gain an unfair advantage which has nothing to do with the quality of their writing. There is another point that needs to be made regarding the current trends in writing. Some venues seem to see the phrases ‘poetry reading’ and ‘spoken word performance’ as interchangeable. They are not. Poetry and spoken word are two distinct art forms. We feel poetry suffered from neglect over the past decade, so we put our support behind poetry. Yet, we have reason to be proud of our prizes also. It is our goal to provide a lasting showcase for deserving Authors. We don’t ask the winning Authors to foot the bill for their showcase. I smile when I’m asked to donate to some recognized charity at work. It is not as simple as charity, but I am putting my support behind an international pool of Authors. I do have one note of urgency to share with writers of Fiction and Essays. Please give us greater consideration than we received for this issue. We prefer to publish fewer pieces in any of our focus genres than to dip in the quality of the work that is showcased in our Zine. There is no room for further editorial, so I will step off my soapbox.
Sharon Berg Senior Editor/Founding Publisher |
