“…the artist book is just as appreciated as a book by another publisher. If someone likes your work and shares a bond with the words you wrote, why not have a physical item with your words on it?”
-dimitrireyespoet.com
I first heard of Artist Books in my MFA program. We had the option of taking a class called “Artist Books, Chapbooks, and Broadsides” and me being the kind of artist I am, I was into the idea of being able to create a book while getting college credits for it. I knew about chapbooks and was just discovering broadsides and it was an excellent opportunity to break up the writing and reading intensive routine of the MFA with some studio time, allowing me to focus a different aspect of my creative energies.
When I started learning more about artist books I was enthralled. I discovered how they were an extension of the zine, small books made and distributed in the underground punk rock scenes and found its usefulness among LGBTQIA+ and POC communities who couldn’t place their work with bigger publishers. They created these books without censorship and shared them with friends, sold them at readings, and published their way.
Contemporarily, artist books had split up into two main communities. One of those communities still hang onto the Anti-Establishment ideals of the original book makers. This means that these artist book producers still don’t agree with the literary publishing world’s practices. The second group uses artist books as a placeholder until they were able to publish, or as a sampler in between books.
Regardless of the reason, I’ve noticed that in many spaces the artist book is just as appreciated as a book by another publisher. If someone likes your work and shares a bond with the words you wrote, why not have a physical item with your words on it?
And why wouldn’t you? These books tend to be handmade and self- published. That means even you can do it!
I’ve found that artist books vary in style but can easily cater to any skill set. They also don’t require a great deal of knowledge, overhead, or time to create and it can help you supplement travel expenses and payment at readings that don’t offer honorariums.
Here is how you can make an artist book
in 8 simple steps.
1) Design Your Book
You’ll have some questions to ask yourself: Would you like it in portrait or landscape? What’s your title? What poems will you include? Any art? How will you order the work? Dedication page? Title page? Table of contents?
2) Create a Mock-Up Out of Paper
To do this, decide how many pages your book will be to determine how many sheets you’ll need to print. Keep in mind that once you fold a sheet of paper directly down the middle you will have four pages.
Once you have the appropriate amount of pages, start labelling. Start by identifying the front and back cover. After that fill in the other pages.
3) Create the Book on the Computer
For my first artist book that I made during my MFA, I used a program called InDesign. That program is actually used to professionally make books, so if you have the chance to learn how to use it, you should.
But the typical artist book can be made right from powerpoint or word. My second book was made using Google Sheets, one of the free programs that come with Google Drive. This is recommended if you are trying to design a book with little to no funds.
You can also use PhotoShop, PicMonkey, Microsoft Word, or any program that allows you to efficiently paste photos and text boxes.
4 & 5) Print a Mock-up & Edit
Once you think you are done creating the book on the computer, print a copy out in black and white. This is your “prototype” that people in the publishing world call a “proof.” This physical copy of the mock-up will reveal many mistakes with the program.
On the printing of my first proof, some of my mistakes included not accounting for margins, my images appearing on the other side of the sheet once the paper was folded, text boxes being too close, and the most shocking mistake was certain images and poems being printed upside down! Things WILL look different when comparing a computer program to a printed copy so DO NOT skip this step, it’s very important!
This proof should be written on, so you should circle any mistakes and annotate any changes in your booklet. When you looked it over from cover to cover, get back on the computer and fix those changes.
You can repeat this step as many times as you need. I did it 3 times, for my first artist book I had to adjust the proof at least 10 times.
6) Print Final Copies
Once the book is free of errors it’s time to print the final copies.
My first book was printed in black and white and my second one was printed in color.
Consider if you’d like to use cardstock for the cover and if you’ll decide to be printing from home or an institution/ store that offers printing services.
7) Assemble, Fold, and Staple
If you are paying someone else to print, skip this step. If not, make sure you take your time here and make it neat. These books are a representation of you.
8) Share Your Work
Go to readings and perform the house down. Have them with you at all times. After all, you wouldn’t leave your newborn baby at home.
Here are some other noteworthy tips:
- If you have social media handles or a website you want people to see, include them in your book.
- If you’re sharing work that has already been published, make sure to give credit to those publishers in your book.
- My personal cost for the book was $0.10 per page, making them $0.20 a sheet (front and back.) It cost $1.00 to produce each book and I charge $5.00 at readings. That’s a profit of $4.00 per book. Be sure to think of your overhead costs vs. profit in regards to pricing your books.
I’ve gone to 2 readings so far and earned $40.00.
I should have done this sooner and I hope you consider it for yourself, especially if you perform for free a lot!
If you need some writing help, I do offer services on my website.
If you need to get on a writing routine, for just $7.99, you can take part in my online writing community of poets. Click on the picture to learn more.
