Publishing


Publishing your work can be as simple as pinning up a hand written piece on a notice board.


Torn off part of notepad with writing

Notice Board

Printed Copy

Leaflet

Newsletter

In a Letter

Newspaper

Publishing

The way in which the poem that is produced is published will be governed by the requirements of the issue/s being explored.

There are three general ways in which it might be “published”

  1. First, it’s important to be clear that the primary purpose of the collective poetry tool is finding out people's attitudes and feelings about issues affecting their community. This will lead to its published use in documents reporting on their views.

  2. Using poetry helps sharpen/clarify what participants might say. It can give it a certain power. Some groups might want to harness that power in more public use of their poem to help raise awareness of an issue or to promote a campaign.

  3. It is also possible, however, that the desire to foster/promote the writing itself for its own sake as writing, may arise. This can lead to other forms of publication as, for example, pamphlets, something that celebrates the creativity involved for its own sake. The publication of the work as something creative is likely to be different from the publication of research.

Clearly it’s for the facilitator to decide whether the nature of the engagement should go past the first, primary aim.


There are so many ways to publish your work

Things you might want to think about:

  1. What is the intended audience? Who needs to see this? Whom do you want to see this?

  2. Decide on the method of publication or distribution. Handwritten/printed/digital share/recording/film.

  3. What skills are needed? Do you need to seek out assistance with skills?

  4. What resources are available to you? Do you need to access other resources like professional printing or recording/filming equipment?

  5. Do you need funding or is it free? The project can have no additional costs beyond your time or you may have a printing budget.

  6. Deciding how the work is to be published should involve participants.

  7. Where relevant and practical it may be useful to involve participants in the processes leading to publication. However, in its use as a research tool the facilitator will normally do this while keeping participants informed.

  8. Remember to consider what you want to do after the project. You may be waiting on a response or carry on making more community written art.

  9. Throughout, keep the purpose of the project at the forefront of decision making.