Kyle Flemmer : my (small press) writing day

My small press writing day

Recently, my small press writing day activities consists mostly of small press publishing, and, as you may know, small press publishing consists mostly of the jovial performance of repetitive tasks. As creativity is, sadly, not my means of subsistence, sometimes these tasks – like folding, cutting, and binding – must be spread out across several intermittent days. Occasionally I’m able to power through a demanding project in a day or two. So rather than document a single day in the life of my small press practice, I offer you the sum total of the actions I would perform for a hypothetical edition of chapbooks with the following characteristics: 50 copies of a 6” x 6” chapbook, 8 sheets printed on one side and folded to make 16 internal pages, bound at the loose end between 2 printed cardstock covers with a 4-hole stab binding. Let’s assume the project is fully proofed, ready to print and assemble, when we begin…

Printing cardstock covers one at a time using the rear paper feed slot on my printer: load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print load print.

Cutting cardstock covers to size, three cuts, two sheets at a time, on a swing-arm paper cutter: cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut.

Printing internal pages: print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print print.

Folding internal pages with the help of a bone folder: fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold.

Cutting internal pages to size, three cuts, four sheets at a time: cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut cut.

Collating the loose sheets for binding: sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort sort.

One at a time, each copy is fastened in position, pierced four times with a hand awl, bound with 12 stitches, knotted, unfastened, and their knot is burnished: fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack fasten stab stab stab stab stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch stitch knot unfasten rub stack.

Lastly, I press the stack to ensure each new copy of the chapbook lies flat. I use my copy of The Complete Calvin and Hobbes box set, which weighs about 20 lbs., to compress the stack overnight: squish.

And voila, a limited edition of hypothetical chapbooks ready to set loose on the world. Should you be interested in my non-hypothetical chapbooks and/or other projects, I invite you to check out www.theblastedtree.com, where you will find print media featuring the work of dozens of authors and artists!

Kyle Flemmer founded The Blasted Tree Publishing Company in 2014 as an outlet for his writing and to build a community of emerging Canadian artists. He is currently the Managing Editor of filling Station magazine, were he served as Associate Poetry Editor for two years. Kyle graduated from Concordia University with a double-major in Western Society & Culture and Creative Writing, and has released three recent poetry chapbooks: ASTRAL PROJECTION (2017) from above/ground press, Lunar Flag Assembly Kit (2017) from no press, and Pray / Lewd (2016) from The Blasted Tree.