Thread by @pollyrowena

Buckle up for a thread about #PoetryBooks, #bookshops, #booksellers, poetry presses, & how they find each other. Like many poetry lovers, I'm disappointed by the lack of range of poetry books stocked in most bookshops I go in. We all know that shelf - one shelf, mostly faber.

For years I assumed 1 of 2 things: booksellers didn't read poetry, and/or booksellers adhered to the old maxim the poetry doesn't sell. Ofc, it won't sell if you don't have it on the shelves, so that's a self-fulfilling prophecy. #PoetryBooks #Bookshops #Bookselling #Poetry

For Background: I live with a bookseller and reviewer. I'm not a bookseller but I've done event bookselling. The bookseller reads a lot of poetry and the already decent poetry shelves of @SReadBooks have flourished in the 10 yrs he's worked there. #PoetryBooks #Bookselling

Every year the list of poetry books that make it to the voting categories of the Books are My Bag awards - submitted and voted for by booksellers - support theory 1: often anthologies, often GCSE syllabus poets, not comparable to the new, exciting books subd to other categories.

I'm not dissing any of these books - last year was a bit more exciting - there were 2 anthologies on that list but they were great ones, and a great one won the category - but they do reveal something about reading habits, and stock habits. #PoetryBooks #Bookselling #Bookshops

So is it that the majority of UK booksellers, like the majority people, just aren't interested in poetry, as we're always being told, or is it a bit more complicated than that? I'm wondering about 2 things: how booksellers find out about books existing, and how they're stocked.

One of the ways booksellers find out about new books, other than through reps, is from marketing presentations, mostly in London. During the lockdowns, many went online, which for my resident bookseller saved a day of travelling and a lot of expense ... and I could eavesdrop. 🫣

I'd be sitting there thinking, ooh, I know this press does poetry and there'll be some great ones for them to talk about and ... no. Either the poetry collections didn't get mentioned at all, or as an 'also out' or 1 famous person out of 4 got a 2 second namedrop. #BookMarketing

I know, like everything, there is limited time on these talks, but surely booksellers would like to know about eg. a new collection from Jackie Kay, who they'll certainly have heard of? I was starting to understand the paucity of the average poetry shelf. #PoetryBooks #Bookshops

Another way booksellers find out about new books is through catalogues, which can take a long time to trawl through, and through trade publications eg. @thebookseller. The Bookseller has monthly previews of forthcoming books & specialist issues highlighting eg. LGBTQ authors.

In 2021 they started a monthly preview for underrepresented authors, on top of the nonfiction (inc. poetry), fiction and paperback ones. Previews can't include all books out in a given time, but give a good sense of what's new & exciting for booksellers to stock. #NewBooks

The last 2 years, I did a yearly preview for the annual #DisabilityIssue. What I discovered is that as a previewer, you have to spend a lot of time making sure people submit book info (AIs or proofs), or you end up with big gaps. Last year, I got no poetry subs at all.

At the 11th hour, after chasing, I did get subs from @brokensleep and @SerenBooks (including @MarbledMayhem's excellent collection) but I know there will be more I missed. Regular previewers - all freelancers - don't have time to chase presses up. #BooksPreviews #PoetryBooks

So I was unsurprised, but sad, when I read this month's column for underrepresented writers, in the #LGBTQ issue, and found there are no poetry books included for the month of May. I know there cannot be no poetry books by underrepresented writers being published next month.

Poetry books can't be included if they're not submitted. Do poetry presses know they can submit AIs / proofs to the bookseller every month? for the regular column & for special issues? I'm not saying it will solve all the problems of getting poetry into booksellers hands, but!

Submitting AIs and proofs to @thebookseller is one small thing smaller presses of all kinds - but esp. poetry presses - can be doing to make more readers aware of their catalogues. One day I might do a thread on access to poetry stock, but that's a whole other box of spiders.

You can find @thebookseller calendar online, with submission dates for special issues and everything. Poetry presses, especially smallers ones, send your info in! thebookseller.com/publishing-cal…
@SerenBooks @brokensleep @RedSquirrelPres @GuillemotPress @badbettypress @VervePoetryPres

I'm a strong believer that if you make poetry widely available to people, they will find the poetry that works for them. Getting it on the shelves is one small part of that. That can only happen if booksellers know about it, know why it's worth stocking, and that it's stockable.