An Imprint of The Center for American Studies at Concord
Photo of Henry David Thoreau’s Writing Desk.
“In most books, the I, or first person, is omitted; in this it will be retained; that, in respect to egotism, is the main difference. We commonly do not remember that it is, after all, always the first person that is speaking. I should not talk so much about myself if there were anybody else whom I knew as well. Unfortunately, I am confined to this theme by the narrowness of my experience. Moreover, I, on my side, require of every writer, first or last, a simple and sincere account of his own life, and not merely what he has heard of other men’s lives.”
~ Henry David Thoreau, Walden; or, Life in the Woods ~
July 12, 2017
Dear Friends,
When we speak, simply and sincerely, as Thoreau notes, out of the “I,” or “first person” — as opposed to the indefinite and assuming “one” or “we” — most people end up weighing their words and, thus, saying less. More to the point? For what they say has passed through their I, the eye of the needle. And, therefore, it is of the essence, literally and literarily.
Such writings find myriad expressions. From our angle of vision, they span the spectrum from tales to testaments in their most universal and, thereby, memorable forms. Out of this conviction, and with a commitment to reviving the spirit of the Word/our words in this tell-tale day and age, The Center for American Studies launches this literary offering on this bicentennial anniversary of Henry David Thoreau’s birth.
We mark this imprint with a tip of the cap to Concord’s native son, whose own tale and testament, Walden; or, Life in the Woods, remains to this day a perennial best seller in many a language of humanity here on earth. Its concluding passage is inscribed upon the hearts of countless fellow citizens, near and far:
“I do not say that John or Jonathan will realize all this; but such is the character of that morrow which mere lapse of time can never make to dawn. The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us. Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star.”
~ ~ ~
Submissions: A Veritable Concordian Approach
“To act collectively is according to the spirit of our institutions.” [And our very selves?]
Walden; or, Life in the Woods
Dear Authors,
If you believe you have a veritable tale or testament to share with others, an offering that aspires to kindle the holy flame of the heart, we invite you to proceed as follows — in the Concord spirit of “self-reliance” within the fellowship of community, i.e. many (able and kindred) hands make light work. The community includes the unfolding Concord~Walden Publishers Collaborative, which has been established to help publicize — in the collective spirit of which Thoreau speaks — not only our tales and testaments but kindred works as well, national and international.
Step 1, Identify Initial Readers: Contact 3 of your finest and most forthright critics and ask them to read your manuscript and offer their best thoughts on it — note with respect to both the letter of the word (editorial comments) and the spirit of the word. Note further: Make sure that at least one of the three has a good proof-readers’s eye in order to dot your i’s and crossing your t’s. For, if we get to Step 11 only to discover that, upon reading the first chapter of the completed manuscript, we find it needs considerable editorial work, we will send it back to start anew with this first step. Simply expressed, we invite you to do it right the first time. [These first 3 steps need not apply to seasoned or published writers.]
Step 2, Review Readers’ Feedback: Discuss the feedback with your three critics; take their thoughts, time, and effort to heart.
Step 3, Incorporate Feedback: Incorporate into your manuscript the feedback that you believe can improve it.
Step 4, Confirm Reviews: Once you have incorporated your readers’ feedback, ask them to consider writing a blurb/review for your manuscript. If their words “speak” authentically, if they resound, then reviewers do not need to have a “big name” behind them. Indeed, only a few such “big names” are universally recognized.
Step 5, Other Reviewers: Consider others you would like to review your book and contact them. (We may have some suggestions as well.)
Step 6, Dedication I: Think of at least five people to whom you believe your manuscript speaks, be it a prince (President of the United States) or pauper (laborer in life’s varied vineyards) — a fellow human being for whom your offering (manuscript) may be truly edifying, memorable and “quicken” their very life and labors… spirits.
[For those who might say: “I don’t know such folks,” (a multitude there is between paupers and princes) allow us to formulate this step otherwise. If you take your work, your manuscript seriously AND you are not writing in a vacuum, i.e. for yourself alone, rather your labors have a relevance for our time, need we note that there will be no shortage of people to whom you could dedicate your book? All that is required is that you take the time to see who comes to heart and mind.]
Step 7, Dedication II: Dedicate your book to those five people, i.e. write a paragraph or two (in your dedication), noting why you’ve dedicated the book to each of the individuals and how you envision that your tale or testament can, as expressed, serve their life and labors. Thus you can be all but assured of at least five interested readers. That is, you will know that your tale or testament is not in vain. Everyone else whom your book reaches/touches, such as through the Concord~Walden Publishers Collaborative, will be an added bonus — including (if, indeed, your tale or testament is a memorable one) the kith and kin, the expanding circle of family and friends of the five people noted in your dedication.
Step 8, Design Cover: Design your front and back covers or find someone to do so. The design can be simple; the spine of the book need not be included.
Step 9, Underwrite Initial (5) Copies: Find someone, if not yourself, to underwrite the purchase of the five books for the five people noted. Think roughly in terms of $12-$21 per book.
Step 10, Send Us Your Tale/Testament: Send us your manuscript as a pdf and as a google doc including your text, front and back covers, three (or more) reviews and five written dedications for the list of recipients — to be followed by the draft of your contract for our eventual consideration. We welcome receiving your first draft of the contract.
Step 11, Manuscript Review: We will review your manuscript. If your tale or testament is in the spirit of our imprint, we look forward to further reviewing the contract and, if we are on the same page, publishing it. If not, may the prior ten steps have started you on your way. Indeed, are the foregoing steps not what it, life itself, is all about: The striving to fulfill our individual “callings” with, and in service to, the Greater Community?
With all good wishes,
Con-cord-e,
Elizabeth and Stuart-Sinclair Weeks
email: stuartbweeks@gmail.com
P.S. Step 12: Your thoughts thereto…..?