Community of Literary Magazines and Presses

Last updated
Community of Literary Magazines and Presses
Formation1967;57 years ago (1967)
Founders Robie Macauley, Reed Whittemore, Jules Chametzky, George Plimpton, William Phillips
TypeLiterary organization
Headquarters154 Christopher Street, Suite 3C
Location
Region served
Worldwide
ServicesSupports independent literary publishers and fosters literary communities; administers the CLMP Firecracker Awards
Membership
1,000+ (2024)
Official language
English
Executive Director
Mary Gannon
Staff
6
Website www.clmp.org
Formerly called
Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines (1967–1989)
Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (1989–2015)

The Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) is an American organization of independent literary publishers and magazines. As of 2024 it has a membership of more 1,000 organizations/publishers, from "those with budgets of less than $5,000 to those of more than $1 million." [1] The organization also administers the CLMP Firecracker Awards and the Lord Nose Award.

Contents

History

CLMP was founded in 1967 by Robie Macauley, Reed Whittemore (The Carleton Miscellany, The New Republic ); Jules Chametzky ( The Massachusetts Review ); George Plimpton ( The Paris Review ); and William Phillips ( The Partisan Review ) as the Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines (CCLM) at the suggestion of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). [2]

In 1976, the CCLM received a grant of $439,636 from the Ford Foundation "for a project designed to improve the distribution of small magazines and to increase the awareness of the public to the existence of these publications, which, through the century, have been the breeding ground for many of our most illustrious writers." [3] That same year, however, the Literature Panel of the NEA terminated the $400,000 annual grant to the CCLM, claiming the organization was too "'elitist' and dominated by a few of the largest and most prestigious literary magazines." [2] The NEA funding was later restored.[ citation needed ]

In 1989, the organization was renamed as the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses. [4]

In 2000, CLMP Online was launched as an online resource providing technical assistance and information services for literary publishers and as an internet center for information about the field for readers, writers, media, and the general public.

In 2009, CLMP had about 350 members, half with a budget of less than $10,000. [5]

In April 2015, the organization took its current name.

Awards

Lord Nose Award

The CLMP administers the Lord Nose Award, "given in recognition of a lifetime of superlative work in literary publishing": [6]

Firecracker Awards

The CLMP Firecracker Awards are presented annually "to celebrate books and magazines that make a significant contribution to our literary culture and the publishers that strive to introduce important voices to readers far and wide." [7] The first Firecracker Alternative Book Awards, or "FABs", were founded in 1996 by John Davis of Koen Book Distribution, [8] and were presented through 2002. The revitalized CLMP Firecracker Awards returned in 2015. [9] [8] The awards include five categories: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, best debut in magazine, and general excellence in magazine.

In the book categories, winning presses receive $1,000-2,000, and authors or translators receive $1,000. [7] Magazine winners receive $1,000 each. [7] The winning titles are also showcased in CLMP's national publicity campaigns. [7]

See also

Further reading

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. "History". About CLMP. CLMP.org. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Editors' Choice: Books Ends". The New York Times. Sep 5, 1976.
  3. "Briefs on the Arts: Small Magazines Get Publicity Aid". The New York Times. March 30, 1976. p. 32.
  4. "CLMP History". CLMP. Archived from the original on 29 November 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  5. "Membership facts". CLMP. Archived from the original on 9 February 2001. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  6. "The Lord Nose Award". CLMP.org.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Firecracker Awards". Community of Literary Magazines and Presses. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  8. 1 2 Swanson, Clare (May 29, 2014). "BEA 2014: Firecrackers Are Back". Publishers Weekly .
  9. "The 2015 Firecracker Award Winners". CLMP. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017.