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A semi-chronological timeline of the making of LEFT

A semi-chronological timeline of the making of LEFT
  • I got an assignment for a class I was taking: “Select a project and write a Creative Project Plan for taking it to the marketplace.”
  • I selected LEFT.
  • What is LEFT?
  • Carolyn DeCarlo was part of a project called DOWN.
  • Caro and I co-edited an online journal called UP.
  • UP never officially ended but we haven’t published an issue since 2013.
  • LEFT is a direction.
  • LEFT is a political position.
  • I am LEFT handed.

cover1first draft of cover by Nils Davey

  • I thought for a long time about what I wanted LEFT to be.
  • I studied other publications that had qualities I wanted to emulate.
  • I interviewed the people who ran the publications I wanted to emulate.
  • I made a tumblr and a gmail.
  • I blogged about what I wanted LEFT to be.
  • I made lists of the people I wanted to be in LEFT.
  • I emailed the people I wanted to be in LEFT, asking them to submit.
  • I made a call for open submissions.
  • I read submissions.
  • I was amazed by some of the people who responded to me.

lydiadavisemail from Lydia Davis!!!

  • I responded to emails.
  • I asked people to send more stuff.
  • I felt bad about rejecting people whose work I’m a big fan of.
  • I felt awful about rejecting people I love.
  • People said I sent the nicest rejection letters they’d ever received.
  • I pestered people to submit.
  • I made Lish-like edits to some pieces and left others untouched.
  • I blogged about the process, trying to be as transparent as possible.
  • I like the idea of going LEFT/coming out of LEFT field.

cover2second draft of cover by Nils Davey

  • I wrote a book of short stories.
  • I visited America.
  • I got into a Masters program.
  • I got a promotion at my job.
  • I didn’t do anything for a long time.
  • I avoided checking my emails.
  • I spent savings meant for printing on rent.
  • People asked me how LEFT was going.
  • I apologised for the process taking so long.
  • LEFT for dead.

cover3backcover3frontthird draft of cover by Nils Davey

  • I put all the pieces in order.
  • I changed the order.
  • I blogged about the process, trying to be as transparent as possible.
  • I struggled to find a designer who could make the book look how I wanted it to.
  • LEFT comes from the Old English lyft, meaning “weak.”
  • I asked people for favors.
  • People said they would design the book and then didn’t.
  • I signed a contract for tNY Creative to design the book.
  • I told them what I wanted it to look like.
  • They made it look like that.
  • I paid them.
  • I blogged about the process, trying to be as transparent as possible.
  • It’s easy to publish a book but it takes a lot of work.

Michael O'HaraMichael O’Hara spread

  • I made corrections to the layout.
  • I apologised for the process taking so long.
  • I made corrections to the layout.
  • I made corrections to the layout.
  • I blogged about the process, trying to be as transparent as possible.
  • I apologised for the process taking so long.
  • I copyedited.
  • I made corrections to the layout.
  • I lost the energy to blog about the process.

Paul CunninghamPaul Cunningham spread

  • I made a Big Cartel store.
  • I opened for preorders.
  • I sent out digital review copies.
  • I interviewed some of the contributors.
  • Caro organised a week of promotions leading up to the release date.

Alisha TysonAlisha Tyson spread

  • I got eight printing quotes.
  • I decided to go with Wakefields Digital.
  • I sent them files.
  • I sent them updated files.
  • Caro helped me pay for printing.
  • We picked up the books from the Wakefields.
  • Our house was full of boxes of LEFT.
  • We mailed out contributor copies.
  • We mailed out preorders.
  • We mailed a box of copies to Adam Robinson to send to people in the States.
  • I went into bookstores, asking if they would carry LEFT, and they told me to email them.

coverfinal cover spread by Nils Davey

  • Matt Bialostocki suggested we have the launch at PotockiPatterson Gallery.
  • I visited the gallery and met the owner.
  • I thought it was a great space and the people were very nice.
  • We organised the launch party.
  • Lots of my friends came.
  • My parents provided an unclassy amount of snacks.
  • People read.
  • I gave a speech while shaking from anxiety.
  • People bought copies.
  • There are still copies LEFT.

11898806_10101192779571985_4101882256012698563_n
me with a copy of LEFT!!!

Jackson Nieuwland

About The Author

Jackson Nieuwland

Jackson Nieuwland likes unicorns.

Real Pants

Good hair, crooked gait

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