Sometimes the most meaningful Kickstarter projects come in the most modest packages.
Zach Alan Ginsberg is a young writer who finally decided to take the plunge and commit his poems to print. “They’ve been edited, torn apart, sewn together, and written out time and time again,” says Zach. “After writing out one of these poems into yet another journal I thought, ‘Hmm. Why don’t I try and just make this published?’ And then decided to embark on this quest…”
His goal is $400, which should help offset printing and shipping costs for an initial run.
Hey guys, my friend Zach (http://kodiakbrodiak.tumblr.com/) made a whole book of poetry called “Notes From The Bored Walk” and he’s trying to get it published! It happens to have my artwork slapped on the cover, so it would be really cool if it actually got published.
A collection of awesome poems and some of my printed work, win-win, right?
Go support it on kickstarter if you’re interested! :]
Erin Watson takes the nonsensical spewings of famed Twitter bot @horse_ebooks, and uses them to create inspired, brooding, and highly original poetry. Today’s was a real gem. (We can’t wait for the complete book — but just nine more days to back, so you better get on it!)
Poet Thomas Fucaloro reciting his work aloud at an abandoned monastery in Staten Island. Just one of the many videos filmed as part of Poetry Observed in New York City. Read more at their latest project update — back for original poetry and more on their page.
Their project is pretty cool! We’re especially digging the $1 reward: “The Great InDigest Exquisite Corpse: You’ll contribute one line to a story written collectively by other InDigest supporters that will be published in the next issue of InDigest.” (We’ve always wanted to be published authors.)
There once was a movie called BOY
That I know you will really enjoy!
It’s classic, comic, creative and fun
And needs to be seen by everyone It’s a story about a boy and his dreams,
Expectations, potential and dad so it seems.
It’s coming of age, it’s fresh, it’s real
And heart warming to, I’m sure you will feel So reach for your wallets, pledge a dollar or more
To see it hit the States with an almighty ROAR
@ kickstarter.com, may the backing increase?
In order to get the AMERICAN RELEASE!!
Based on a poetry chapbook by Andy Young, The People Is Singular will be a multimedia event using spoken word, video art, and soundscapes to explore the recent Egyptian Revolution — a presentation as dynamic as the social moment it documents. A one-night only event that will take place at Cafe Istanbul in New Orleans, we think that seeing it happen might be worth the trip. Definitely worth making it our Project of the Day.
A staged song cycle Kihlstedt wrote with poet Rafael Osés based on Borges’ Book of Imaginary Beings, “Necessary Monsters follows a young writer as she tries in vain to corral the imaginary beings that parade out of her mind in the course of a sleepless night. In this journey, she encounters many beasts - some meddlesome, some winsome, some loathesome - and discovers that she is indeed the sum of their parts.”
Portland-based writer Dan Stone is working on a crime novel about Caravaggio, an Italian Renaissance artist who murdered a guy over a bet on a tennis match and then spent the rest of his life on the run. Stone’s heading back to Italy to retrace Caravaggio’s conman wanderings, and he’s put together some sweet rewards that let backers get in on the investigation. We asked him to elaborate on the whole mysterious affair below.
What brought you to Caravaggio?
I spent the summer and fall of 2009 in Rome, and one of my favorite pastimes was walking a route through the city that hit all the Caravaggio paintings in churches. I’d stop for an espresso near the Piazza Navona, then wander into the San Luigi dei Francesi. After that, I’d head towards the Piazza del Popolo, have a glass of wine, then visit the Santa Maria del Popolo, where some of Caravaggio’s greatest works hang in the Cerasi Chapel.
While in Rome, I started reading about his life, and I discovered that the streets and piazze where I spent my time were the same places where Caravaggio engaged in sword fights and brawls and love affairs and run-ins with the cops. He was already my favorite painter, so when I became fascinated and obsessed with the details of his life, deciding to write the novel was a natural next step. I spent more than a year researching before beginning the first draft.
How’d you end up on Kickstarter?
I’ve always admired Kickstarter’s grassroots and democratic structure. It fills a real need in the world of arts funding in two essential ways. First, by allowing people who might not have a lot of money to contribute to a project. As a backer, there’s an exciting sense of collaboration. And second, someone with a good idea for a creative project can raise the means to realize his or her goal. Raising money for art is not an easy thing.
I also appreciate the way Kickstarter is like a microcosm of the marketplace — projects are pitched, and then people decide to support them or not. There are no shady favors or backdoor deals. It’s wonderfully simple and honest.
Any tips for people bringing their book projects to Kickstarter?
In describing your book project, give people a taste, but don’t overwhelm them with material. Think of it as a movie trailer or the back-cover copy of a novel. Definitely produce a video, even a simple one, and offer a brief excerpt of your work.
As for the rewards, try to come up with something more original and interesting than simply copies of your finished book. Think of what you can offer your backers that will make them feel engaged in the process, rather than only getting a token of the result.
Digging the vile of sand reward. Was that an obvious choice for you or did you ponder that for a while?
That one came to me pretty suddenly. I’m excited to retrace Caravaggio’s path up the coast, figure out where he collapsed, and collect some sand that just might contain an atom or two of his remains. Then I get to smuggle it back into the country. Should be fun.
I see you backed Y La Bamba, also from Portland. Do you know the band?
I’ve seen them play in Portland, and I’ve served Manhattans to their lead singer. Go see them if they come to your town. Super fun show.
What writers inspire you/your writing?
For this novel, I’m reading a great deal of early crime fiction, especially Dashiell Hammett, and I’m spending a lot of time with Crime and Punishment. I’m also listening to plenty of Enrico Caruso as I work.
You’ve written poetry, prose, and translation in the past. What have you written and translated? Where can people find your writing?
And I have work forthcoming in the journal 236, including translations of the Italian poet Giuseppe Ungaretti. Here’s one:
CANTO
1932
Rivedo la tua bocca lenta (Il mare le va incontro delle notti) E la cavalla delle reni In agonia caderti Nelle mie braccia che cantavano, E riportarti un sonno
Al colorito e a nuove morti.
E la crudele solitudine Che in sé ciascuno scopre, se ama, Ora tomba infinita,
Da te mi divide per sempre.
Cara, lontana come in uno specchio…
- - - - - - - - - -
SONG
1932
I see again your slow mouth (The ocean of nights rolls towards it) And the mare of your loins In agony falling from you Into my arms that sang, And sleep returning you
To a blush and to new deaths.
And the cruel solitude That each discovers in himself, if he loves, Now an infinite tomb,
Divides me from you forever.
Beloved, far away as in a mirror…
You bartend. What bar can people find you at in the event they want to quiz you on the Italian Renaissance?
Come see me at the Slammer Tavern on Saturday nights. I’m also at Bunk Bar on sort of a random schedule.
![Taking the plunge.
Sometimes the most meaningful Kickstarter projects come in the most modest packages.
Zach Alan Ginsberg is a young writer who finally decided to take the plunge and commit his poems to print. “They’ve been edited, torn apart, sewn together, and written out time and time again,” says Zach. “After writing out one of these poems into yet another journal I thought, ‘Hmm. Why don’t I try and just make this published?’ And then decided to embark on this quest…”
His goal is $400, which should help offset printing and shipping costs for an initial run.
sarahrobbinsart:
Hey guys, my friend Zach (http://kodiakbrodiak.tumblr.com/) made a whole book of poetry called “Notes From The Bored Walk” and he’s trying to get it published! It happens to have my artwork slapped on the cover, so it would be really cool if it actually got published.
A collection of awesome poems and some of my printed work, win-win, right?
Go support it on kickstarter if you’re interested! :]
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/306529316/notes-from-the-bored-walk?ref=card](http://24.media.tumblr.com/80ee6891057adf39c1026d0e20a570b8/tumblr_mgajyhjssh1rik9r4o1_1280.jpg)
