The writing process: scissors and glue: reflections of an anthologist.All you need to compile an anthology is a pair of scissors scissors Cutting instrument or tool consisting of a pair of opposed metal blades that meet and cut when the handles at their ends are brought together. Modern scissors are of two types: the more usual pivoted blades have a rivet or screw connection between the cutting ends and a pot of glue, Richard Wright Noun 1. Richard Wright - United States writer whose work is concerned with the oppression of African Americans (1908-1960) Wright once jokingly remarked. He never edited an anthology. I've edited or co-edited quite a few and know what it takes to stitch together a quilt of literature. My lastest anthology, The Harlem Reader, might not have been if Rachel Kahan, my editor at Crown Publishers/ Three Rivers Three Rivers, Que., Canada: see Trois Rivières. Press, had been less diligent in reminding me of the joys. I had officially retired from doing any more anthologies. What had exasperated me most was acquiring permissions. Robert Allen Robert Allen may refer to:
Such was not the case, however, with The Harlem Reader. Toward the end of the permissions roundup, having hired two researchers as the deadline approached, I remembered why I dreaded anthologies and had retired! After an anthologist gets the permissions in a timely manner and sees how much those licensing payments eat up the advance against royalties In the field of intellectual property licensing, an advance against royalties is a payment made by the licensee to the licensor at the start of the period of licensing (usually immediately upon contract, or on delivery of the property being licensed) which is to be offset against , most of his tangible worries are over. Then comes an entirely new set of challenges: face-offs with writer friends whose essays he failed to select for the literary pastiche pastiche (păstēsh`, pä–), work of art that combines themes and styles from various sources in such a way as to appear obviously derivative. and fears the anthology will get skewered fatally by critics. Beyond the joy of completing the project, there are delightful reading pleasures along the way, the exhilaration of piecing together a beautiful literary patchwork for bibliophiles, as well as readers new to the subject. These small conceits, which only an anthologist can smile about, make it hard for us to truly retire. Add a prodding editor to the mix, and well, I just can't seem to put down my scissors and pot of glue. Anthologies and Other Works by Herb Boyd 1. The Harlem Reader: A Celebration of New York's Most Famous Neighborhood, From the Renaissance Years to the 21st Century, Three Rivers Press May 2003, $15.00, ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 1-400-04681-5 2. Race and Resistance:African Americans in the 21st Century South End Press, August 2002 ISBN 0-896-08652-6 3. Autobiography of a People: Three Centuries of African American History African American history is the portion of American history that specifically discusses the African American or Black American ethnic group in the United States. Most African Americans are the descendants of African slaves held in the United States from 1619 to 1865. Told by Those Who Lived It with Gordon Parks, Anchor Press December 2000, ISBN 0-385-492279-0 4. Brotherman: The Odyssey of Black Men in America--An Anthology with Robert Allen Fawcett Books, February 1996 $21.95, ISBN 0-345-38317-6 5. Black Panthers Black Panthers, U.S. African-American militant party, founded (1966) in Oakland, Calif., by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. Originally espousing violent revolution as the only means of achieving black liberation, the Black Panthers called on African Americans to arm for Beginners: A Writers and Readers Documentary Comic Book comic book Bound collection of comic strips, usually in chronological sequence, typically telling a single story or a series of different stories. The first true comic books were marketed in 1933 as giveaway advertising premiums. , 69 Readers & Writers, Publishing, August 1995 $11.00, ASIN 0-863-16196-0 6. Heroes of America: Martin Luther King, Jr. Playmore, Inc., June 1995 ISBN 0-866-11917-5 7. Seductive Sayings: Marilyn Monroe Her Own Words on Sex, Fame, Hollywood, and Marilyn Longmeadow Press, November 1994 (out of print), ASIN 0-681-45364-8 8. Down the Glory Road: Contributions of African Americans in United States History and Culture Diane Publishing Co., March 1994 $12.00, ISBN 0-788-19858-0 9. African History for Beginners (A Writers and Readers Documentary Comic Book) Shey Wolvek-Pfister (Illustrator) Writers and Readers November 1991 (out of print) ASIN 0-863-16144-8 10. Former Portuguese Colonies: Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe Me and Principe Franklin Watts Incorporated, April 1981 (out of print), ASIN 0-531-04273-1 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion