stately/Plump Publishing

Years ago, Lucas and I had a simple thought:  what if we can find content that we believe in – content that’s interesting, clever, whatever – and then develop tailored strategies to publish and market that content.  This broad (admittedly very broad, ill-defined, and unwieldy) mandate fuelled our conversations, and a list of project ideas grew and grew and grew like a fairytale beanstalk busting the blue-sky ceiling corporate brainstorming meetings extol.

“These ideas are like magic beans,” I said.
“OK,” said Lucas. “But can I have what you’re on?”

So how do you grow a publisher, we wondered?  Depends on what kind of publisher you want to be, we may have responded.  At stately/Plump publishing (s/Pp) we’ve been exploring that for a while now.  We still can’t tell you what kind of publisher we are or want to be, but we chucked magic beans at Jason anyway – hid them in his tea, stuffed them in his pockets, lodged them between his computer keys – and convinced him (and his formal education/training in publishing) that he really wanted to see what would grow, too.

“These ideas are like magic beans,” Jason said.
“OK,” said Lucas. “But I still want what Jonathan’s on.”

What interests us at s/Pp is the process, just as much as the products, of publishing – processes that succeed and fail, products using whatever formats and platforms of delivery interest us.  Hopefully, s/Pp will be recognized not only for its print and digital publications, but also for engaging the critical discourse of publishing, particularly the process, challenges and opportunities of publishing as a creative industry in the 21st century.

“Those are dizzying claims,” I said after writing them on a napkin.
“That’s because we’re too high up the beanstalk,” Lucas said.
“Can I have what the two of you are on?” asked Jason.

So we began with roots, began with a question: how do you grow a publisher? And we came up with a provisional three-part “answer” (which isn’t an answer at all):

1. We drafted a “living” document that became “The Plan” – a plan about s/Pp’s mandate, brand, and marketing aspirations; a plan that gathered up all those errant ideas for publishing projects for closer examination; and a plan for financing and development of those ideas.
2. We planted one of those ideas in a cold-frame and it became WONK. And as it began to grow we realized we needed a few things we didn’t have. We also realized we needed to refine a few other things that we did have.  But most of all we simply marvelled at what we had and what resulted, both as a (near-) monthly thingymajig, but also as a process for what we are doing and why.
3. We started telling people about s/Pp and WONK through social networks, through this blog/website, through word of mouth – and people (writers, publishers, booksellers, you) were actually intrigued.

We don’t know where our beanstalk will lead us, whether to golden eggs or a giant waiting to stomp on our resident Englishman.  We don’t know if we’ll have a green publishing thumb or if weeds will choke our best endeavours. And, frankly, we don’t need to know.

So how do you (attempt) to grow a publisher? If you’re interested (and even if you’re not), we’re going to record and explore the art and business of the process here and elsewhere. And, while we’re at it, we’re also going to produce engaging and diverse publications that won’t rely on clumsy allusions to fairy tales.  But more about those publications next time.

~jm

Working on WONK has been a continual (and potentially valuable) learning experience for me. Going in, I was more than a little nervous to be approaching talented writers and artists and asking them to submit (for free) to our little experiment. Fortunately, everyone I’ve been able to get in contact with has been extremely supportive and really awesome to work with. Really, the biggest obstacle in getting even more amazing contributors in WONK  is me and my big mouth.

The best/worst example of this (so far) is my exchange with a very agreeable and cool Todd Babiak, who not only took the time to write me back, but also asked for our submission guidelines. In my attempt to be the perfect mix of professional, approachable and extremely cool I reply:

“Our submission guidelines are very lax. In fact, if you sent us some poop in a beret we’d find a way to print it. Alright, that might be a little too graphic. But you get the idea. We reek of desperation. And, actually, if you’ve ever been to Wetaskiwin, there are a lot of other kinds of smells too (one less since the mink farm closed).”

That’s the exact moment when we lost Todd Babiak.

Admittedly, it’s not my crowning moment as an editor. But, in my defence, he is living in France — the beret capital of the world.

Amber, needless to say, was not happy. Quite embarrassed actually. She says we owe the entire Babiak family (past, present and future) an apology. And, of course, she’s right. But how do you go back and even apologize for something like that? First, you’d have to address it and then apologize for it. No thanks, I’ll just chalk it up to a lesson learned: just shut your big yap and stop trying to be clever.

PS. Sorry Todd.

Alright, so WONK is go and maybe it’s a big mistake, we’ll see.

But if it’s a mistake, then let’s make it a glorious mistake. Right? Well. Maybe.

The good news? So far, everyone I’ve talked to has been excited about the project. Even strangers. I think they’re curious as to how it’s going to look. And, to be honest, so am I.

Continue reading »

Original e-mail from Lucas Warren to Jonathan Meakin re: the wonk or something
August 10, 2009

amber’s on board and told me she wants to put out (hahaha) a monthly sheet (front and back) of wetaskiwin fiction/poetry and generally art-ti-ness. 12 issues. 24 pages. 1 year. september to septmber. something, you know, to make the time pass. you know any guys/girls around here (or anywhere) that might be interested? minimal compensation to start. perhaps a few cookies but i can’t even promise that.

first deadline will be at the end of august for mid-september release. if i don’t get anything, i’m going to run a 2,000 word fake interview with national tv star and wetaskiwin’s favourite son jackson davies (beachcombers).

you have anything whismical floating around that you can spare?

hope all is well!
- luke

ps. i think we’ll call it ‘the wonk’ but if you have a better name; let me know.

pps. the first paper venture of statelyplumppress.

ppps. haha.