Alyssa Tai
DARE Project: Fantasy and Science Fiction on the Canadian Market
Program(s) of Study: Professional Writing and Concurrent Education
Project Supervisor: Matthew Bucemi
I learned more than I could possibly articulate concisely here, but mainly I learned that books—as much as they’re about bringing together community and sharing stories—is also a very real business. Considering books as merely an art form and not a product leads to many great stories not receiving the recognition and platform that they deserve. Being able to pinpoint what makes a piece of media marketable, specifically identifying which type of publisher is best suited to acquire it, is extremely important. Art is subjective, so the business of marketing books should be specific in what a publisher can realistically take on. Beyond that, I also developed the kind of mentality necessary to have professional conversations with industry experts, and got a taste of what it would be like for me to actually work in this kind of career post-graduation.
Project Description:
This project developed the logistical framework required to establish an independent sci-fi and fantasy publishing house here in Canada, as well as identified the questions necessary to get a business like this started: Where will funding come from? How should the press present itself? What needs to be considered before the publication of its first book? I assisted in developing a financial plan for the press as well as charting grant resources available for creative initiatives of this sort. Furthermore, I put together documents of specific branding touchstones along with a list of possible Canadian authors to solicit for manuscripts.The Dean’s Award for Research Excellence (DARE) - Undergraduate enables our students to meaningfully engage in research projects supervised by LA&PS faculty members. Find out more about DARE.