A. Poetry. Critic.

A poetry critic reads a bunch of chapbooks all at once, and discovers that books, OMG, have designers. Writing in this week's Contant Critic, Joyelle McSweeney clarifies a previous review of a chapbook based on a discussion with the book's designer:

In preparing my review of Yunte Huang's Cribs last month, I went out of my way to consider the book's layout and non-verbal textual markings in developing a reading of the book as a whole. I credited Huang-the-author for the distinctive irregular stripes running up and down the book's pages, along and amid the words. Since the review appeared, communication with Huang and with Tinfish editor Susan Schultz revealed to me that these non-verbal elements of Cribs were in fact the invention of Kristina Bell, the book's designer.

I stand by my reading of Cribs, but I wonder why, with Bell's credit in the book's interior, I was still unable to 'see' her contribution for what it was, even while I was preoccupied with 'seeing' it on the pages. I'm particularly struck by my failure to see because, as the editor of my own new press, I've learned that a designer's selection of typeface and layout becomes the first interpretation of the poem, the medium through which the book's readers encounter that (perhaps?) immaterial entity, the poem itself.

Assorted Chapbooks reviewed by Joyelle McSweeney

Turns out even critics know a "McSweeney's-esque typeface" [that would be, what?, Garamond?] when they see it.

Call for Submissions

All Royal Stet Lodge members in good standing are hereby required and directed to proceed without a moment's loss of time to post as comments to this post any and all Interesting marginal notes on manuscripts, such as those directed to copyeditors, overeager or otherwise, made by our esteemed colleagues and clients, The Authors. Said authors are to remain nameless, as are their books, publishers, and all other lawyer-hiring entities related thereto. Hereof nor you nor any of you shall fail as you will answer the contrary at your peril.

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I am sad to say that I am unable to lead the action properly at this time, as I ill-thinkingly sent back unphotocopied the novel proofs we had last week that contained two Extremely Hostile marginal notes, presumably directed by the author to the copyeditor or editor. The wording of one of them was something like, facing a deletion and insertion of several words, "Words that are not the author's should not appear in the text." Another said something like "If you want this reworded, ask me; don't just rewrite it." Very firm black felt-tip printing. We see a lot of distinctive marginal notes, but rarely anything this angry. Perhaps this is because most of our books are nonfiction? Discuss.

Also available with unconvincing antlers

HAPPY NEW YEAR now available in a special copy editor edition.

HAPPY NEW YEAR