You Scratch My Back and I’ll Scratch Yours Until We Make Each Other Bleed
Published October 5th, 2007 | 
There is nothing so odious in small press publishing as the bartering of favors in order to get published. Those identified as alternative or underground writers like to kid themselves that this sort of thing only happens with the MFA crowd. While I’m sure that stuff does happen within that community it is an epidemic among those many subliterate writers haunting small press zines and ezines. And this is how it goes: Writer A starts a zine or ezine and publishes Writer B, who in turn publishes Writer A in his zine or ezine. Then both writers turn around and publish Writer C who, himself has a zine or ezine, publishes A and B and so on and so on and so on . . . .
None of this has anything to do with merit. And because this is a small, closed community, it does nothing to enhance the reputation of the writer beyond his own set. It also leads to a dumbing down of the writer’s art. Bad writers are made to feel warm and fuzzy in the arms of their peers. Publications fold quickly because the so-called “editors” of these quickly thrown together publications don’t know anything about publishing and are too busy publishing the mediocre crap of their cronies to take the time to seek out work of genuine merit. Most of these publications don’t last past the first issue (I can see as you read this, you know of some of the publications I’m talking about). The readers are less for it. The writers are less for it. And the small press community at large is less for it. And yes, I’m sure many will shake their heads and disagree with me. “Oh, you asshole, you. You don’t know what you are talking about.”
Ah, but don’t I? While I’ve got the floor, allow me to give you guys a piece of advice:
1. Do not start a publication before it’s time. If you don’t know anything about the job of editing a publication — learn. If you are doing it right, it’s hard work. If you use the English language as if it were your second language. If you can’t tell the difference between a noun and a verb — that’s hint and a half for your sorry ass that you don’t have the right stuff.
2. I’m not saying that you can’t publish your friends — the small press is a small world after all and you’re going to bump into friends as well as enemies. What I am saying is don’t publish them just because they are your friends. Don’t be afraid to reject their ass if they send you shit.
3. Be a passionate reader and critic.
4. Separate your identity as a writer from your identity as an editor. Do not use your publication as a platform to promote yourself and your own writing.
5. Always push yourself to be better than you are.
