Maybe I'm Ready to Talk About What Happened - Chapbook
Maybe I'm Ready to Talk About What Happened - Chapbook
Meredith Smith
Couldn't load pickup availability
Maybe I'm Ready To Talk About What Happened is a panoramic view of the pandemic, bookended by unrelated personal tragedies. The poems and fragments within are microcosms, as isolated as the world around the author at the time, punctuated by bright spots of metaphor and emotion.
This is a standard sized chapbook with 24 interior pages of creative non-fiction, poetry, and a few things in between. We print, collate, and staple our chapbooks in our studio in the heart of Ballard. We use only FSC-certified cover stock and 32 lb interior paper.
What on earth are chapbooks?
Chapbooks are fun, bite-sized books that often resemble zines (pronounced "zeens"). And while they may be small, they can pack a powerful punch. Chapbooks usually contain poetry, but may also often contain short fiction.
Our chapbooks are printed, collated, and bound by hand in our studio in the Heart of Ballard. We use high-quality, semi-gloss 32 pound interior paper and 110 lb matte cover stock. Our books feature full color pages, inside and out.
Shown: Riley Spicer's "what are we fighting for?"
All about chapbooks
What are chapbooks?
Chapbooks are small, staple-bound or perfect-bound books, often containing poetry, usually made by hand.
Who makes all of these chapbooks?
Our chapbooks are made in-house. Although we occasionally ship out full-color projects to local printers, we collate, staple, and ship everything ourselves. We do not use SPD or store large quantities of books in warehouses. We are truly a small press.
Will there be a digital version of this chapbook available?
At this time, we do not have plans to offer our chapbooks in digital, e-Book format. While we understand the accessibility of this format, as well as the environmental impact, the joy of a chapbook is in the analog: holding something ephemeral in your hands, and experiencing the tactile nature of the poetry within.
One caveat; we may offer an audiobook at some point in the future. But those take time to plan and produce and are not available at this time.
Are your chapbooks environmentally friendly?
What eco-friendly best practices do you follow?
We eschew sourcing our paper or supplies from major corporations like those whose name rhymes with Glamazon. We work with local partners whenever necessary to reduce our carbon footprint. We use FSC-certified paper when possible for all books.
What is FSC-certified paper?
Unfortunately, the book industry is laden with practices that lead to deforestation. But an FSC-certified paper requires at least 70% of the paper to be sourced from a recycled wood or material.
Do you use bubble wrap?
As of now, we ship our packages in recylcable and recycled mailers only, and avoid the use of bubble wrap and packaging supplies made from plastics. We reuse cardboard whenever possible for backing board and stiffeners. And, in general, do our best to recycle incoming packaging.
Analog is forever
At Common Meter Press, we believe that poetry is best experienced in person, and that there is magic in the real world – if you simply know where to look. Poetry offers a glimpse into that liminal space between magic and reality. Running your hands across the words in our pages is like holding a map to the unknown. That's why we offer our books as tangible products you can hold in your hands, with words that will stay in your heart.