Poetry Bonanza
by Magdalen Ng, The Straits Times Life!, Oct. 28 2010

Poetry books do not sell well, but publishers here believe in poets enough to publish at least 10 new ones

The poets are (back row, from left) Yong Shu Hoong (striped
shirt), Mika G. Yamaji, Cyril Wong, Teng Qian Xi, Yeng Pway
Ngon, Eleanor Wong and (front row, from left) Dr Tan Chee Lay,
Grace Chua and Chiu Wei Li. -- PHOTO: JOSEPH NAIR

There is no rhyme or reason to it. But then again, there is. Suddenly, in a burst of creativity, at least 10 books of poetry are being published by Singapore poets this month and next.

Normally, the publishing scene here sees a few collections a year.

Both veterans of verse and narrative newcomers are contributing to the stanza bonanza. Those launching their first collections include Straits Times journalist Grace Chua, film-maker Mika G. Yamaji and freelance writer-translator Teng Qian Xi.

Veterans include Cultural Medallion recipient Yeng Pway Ngon, poet-writer Cyril Wong and playwright Eleanor Wong.

The largesse of lyrics is despite the fact that sales might flail. Even print runs of a meagre 500 can take years to sell, says Enoch Ng, owner of firstfruits publications.

In contrast, a best-selling local literary fiction author might have a print run of 1,000, says publisher Fong Hoe Fang of Ethos Books.

However, Ng, who is publishing eight of the titles, is undeterred. His release of a cluster of collections is a deliberate strategy. The books will be launched on Nov 6 at the National Museum of Singapore.

Ng says: 'I've waited till all the books are ready before launching them together because this way, we can show that a writing community exists in Singapore, and that we believe in them.'

On the difficulty of being a publisher who wants to cultivate an audience, the 43-year-old adds: 'It's hard to convince others that you want to build a wall with one brick. But with 10 bricks, it will be more believable.'

For Fong, there is an added personal interest in seeing books that he feels makes a point in a beautiful way on book- shelves. 'If I believe in the book, I will still publish it even if it doesn't do so well,' he says.

Ng thinks there is a growing group of readers, although he concedes that developing a following is not something that can be cultivated overnight.

Most of the books are hitting the shelves courtesy of a publishing grant from the National Arts Council. It pays for about one-third to half of the publishing cost. The total publishing cost for a print run of 500 is about $5,000 to $6,000.

Other poets are chipping in from their own pocket too. One grant recipient, Dr Tan Chee Lay, deputy executive director of the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language, who is publishing a collection of Chinese poems, contributed more than $1,000 for some of the pages to be printed in colour.

The 37-year-old, who has penned a series of poems based on his time at Cambridge University studying for a doctorate from 2004 to 2007, said: 'Writing poetry is a way of life for me and still is, even if the books do not sell. Poetry is seldom a popular genre anyway.'

Cyril Wong, who is publishing his eighth collection, says poetry has a longer shelf life than fiction, and adds that there is a market to sustain poetry books.

He is often labelled Singapore's confessional poet and his latest book, titled Oneiros, the Greek word for dreams, contains poems based on his dreams and nightmares.

'I've had readers who tell me they are touched by my work. It's okay that no one is writing academic papers about how my poems discuss socio-political issues, as long as they have touched someone,' says the 33-year-old. He won the Singapore Literature Prize in 2006 for his fourth collection, Unmarked Treasure (2004).

The prize was shared with Yong Shu Hoong, who coincidentally will be publishing his new book, From Within The Marrow, next month as well.

Yong, a freelance writer and part-time lecturer at Republic Polytechnic, says: 'As a poet, if you are so hung up on the print run, you are better off being a fiction author or writing self-help books.'

The 43-year-old adds: 'Poetry is about expressing how you feel, a love and discipline for language, and deriving pleasure from writing and compiling the book.'