Preserving DUP: A Print-on-Demand Anthology
lepperochan said:Would it be an idea to ask people who are happy to be included into the anthology to send an open release to an email address soon as possible. start the ball rolling. we can draft them into their respective genres.
I think it’s a great idea to get the poet’s initial consent whilst DU is still up and running. I suggest we start notifying poets now that their poems are being considered for the DU Anthology. When notifying the poets, we should:
1. Ask for their initial consent to be included.
2. Request an email address so we can stay in touch throughout the process.
3. Update the spreadsheet (which I’m putting together) with confirmed poets, email address and selected works.
We’ll also need to do our due diligence to make sure the poems aren’t appearing under different profiles on other websites. Once we have a finalised the anthology selections, we’ll send out a more formal open release for official consent.
Let me know your thoughts, or if you have any other ideas on how we can make this process more efficient.
I think it’s a great idea to get the poet’s initial consent whilst DU is still up and running. I suggest we start notifying poets now that their poems are being considered for the DU Anthology. When notifying the poets, we should:
1. Ask for their initial consent to be included.
2. Request an email address so we can stay in touch throughout the process.
3. Update the spreadsheet (which I’m putting together) with confirmed poets, email address and selected works.
We’ll also need to do our due diligence to make sure the poems aren’t appearing under different profiles on other websites. Once we have a finalised the anthology selections, we’ll send out a more formal open release for official consent.
Let me know your thoughts, or if you have any other ideas on how we can make this process more efficient.
case28 said:
I completely understand the concern about potential conflicts with future publication opportunities, but I think it’s important to put this in perspective... If a publisher is going to reject a poem because it was previously made public, they would likely find it online regardless; whether it’s on DU, another poetry website, or even cached in an archive. This is the unfortunate reality for poets sharing their work online. Poets who are serious about traditional publication will often remove or not publish their best work online before submitting it to a publisher.
That being said… our intention with this anthology isn’t to claim anyone’s work or ruin anyone’s opportunity for publication, but rather to preserve pieces that would otherwise be lost when DU shuts down. I would suggest that many of the poets posting poems on DU aren’t writing for commercial publication… we write because creativity and poetry is a moment in time… it’s a snapshot of thoughts, emotions, and perspectives that would otherwise disappear.
For poets who are not active on DU, we’ll do everything we can to hunt them down on social media in our efforts to contact them. If we can’t, the curators will collectively decide how to handle those situations with respect and fairness.
At the end of the day, this is a non-profit, community-driven effort to celebrate the voices that shaped DU. And while copyright is an important discussion, we also have to ask: What is the real risk here? How many DU poets who have abandoned their poems are serious about publishing their work… and would they actually take legal action over a single poem in a non-commercial project? And, more importantly, how many amazing poems will disappear forever if we do nothing?
Last thing I’ll say and then I’ll wish you the best of luck:
Your intention might not be to claim the work or ruin publishing opportunities, but you could do it without meaning to. You can’t possibly know what someone’s plans are for their own work. I just recently reworked an old Minerva poem from 2015 that I had’t thought about since I wrote it and it’s been accepted for publication. Someone might come back and want their poem.
Also, fair use is slippery slope to try and justify and it’s mostly used for education and it’s usually only excepts, not full pieces.
Good luck! I trust you’ll have a great collection.
I completely understand the concern about potential conflicts with future publication opportunities, but I think it’s important to put this in perspective... If a publisher is going to reject a poem because it was previously made public, they would likely find it online regardless; whether it’s on DU, another poetry website, or even cached in an archive. This is the unfortunate reality for poets sharing their work online. Poets who are serious about traditional publication will often remove or not publish their best work online before submitting it to a publisher.
That being said… our intention with this anthology isn’t to claim anyone’s work or ruin anyone’s opportunity for publication, but rather to preserve pieces that would otherwise be lost when DU shuts down. I would suggest that many of the poets posting poems on DU aren’t writing for commercial publication… we write because creativity and poetry is a moment in time… it’s a snapshot of thoughts, emotions, and perspectives that would otherwise disappear.
For poets who are not active on DU, we’ll do everything we can to hunt them down on social media in our efforts to contact them. If we can’t, the curators will collectively decide how to handle those situations with respect and fairness.
At the end of the day, this is a non-profit, community-driven effort to celebrate the voices that shaped DU. And while copyright is an important discussion, we also have to ask: What is the real risk here? How many DU poets who have abandoned their poems are serious about publishing their work… and would they actually take legal action over a single poem in a non-commercial project? And, more importantly, how many amazing poems will disappear forever if we do nothing?
Last thing I’ll say and then I’ll wish you the best of luck:
Your intention might not be to claim the work or ruin publishing opportunities, but you could do it without meaning to. You can’t possibly know what someone’s plans are for their own work. I just recently reworked an old Minerva poem from 2015 that I had’t thought about since I wrote it and it’s been accepted for publication. Someone might come back and want their poem.
Also, fair use is slippery slope to try and justify and it’s mostly used for education and it’s usually only excepts, not full pieces.
Good luck! I trust you’ll have a great collection.
DaisyGrace said:
Last thing I’ll say and then I’ll wish you the best of luck:
Your intention might not be to claim the work or ruin publishing opportunities, but you could do it without meaning to. You can’t possibly know what someone’s plans are for their own work. I just recently reworked an old Minerva poem from 2015 that I had’t thought about since I wrote it and it’s been accepted for publication. Someone might come back and want their poem.
Also, fair use is slippery slope to try and justify and it’s mostly used for education and it’s usually only excepts, not full pieces.
Good luck! I trust you’ll have a great collection.
I understand your concerns, but it’s important to recognise that not all poets at DU are motivated by publication, validation, or financial gain. Many write purely for the love of creativity… enjoying the process of storytelling, expression, and growth without seeking external recognition.
From what I’ve seen, aside from a forum post, there hasn’t been any official notification to all DU members about the website’s closure. I only found out because I happened to see the forum post, and I know an ex-moderator reached out to some former DU members. But if I hadn’t logged in [and I often don’t for months or even years] I wouldn’t have had a clue that DU is shutting down.
That’s why I made a post on the DU Facebook page, and we’re actively working through possible solutions to preserve a piece of DU’s magic before it disappears. While you’re advocating for those pursuing commercial publication, I’m speaking for those whose creativity captured something meaningful… poems that will soon vanish, just as their online presence.
There will be a formal consent process, with plenty of discussion among the team involved. Transparency will be a priority at every step of the way.
Last thing I’ll say and then I’ll wish you the best of luck:
Your intention might not be to claim the work or ruin publishing opportunities, but you could do it without meaning to. You can’t possibly know what someone’s plans are for their own work. I just recently reworked an old Minerva poem from 2015 that I had’t thought about since I wrote it and it’s been accepted for publication. Someone might come back and want their poem.
Also, fair use is slippery slope to try and justify and it’s mostly used for education and it’s usually only excepts, not full pieces.
Good luck! I trust you’ll have a great collection.
I understand your concerns, but it’s important to recognise that not all poets at DU are motivated by publication, validation, or financial gain. Many write purely for the love of creativity… enjoying the process of storytelling, expression, and growth without seeking external recognition.
From what I’ve seen, aside from a forum post, there hasn’t been any official notification to all DU members about the website’s closure. I only found out because I happened to see the forum post, and I know an ex-moderator reached out to some former DU members. But if I hadn’t logged in [and I often don’t for months or even years] I wouldn’t have had a clue that DU is shutting down.
That’s why I made a post on the DU Facebook page, and we’re actively working through possible solutions to preserve a piece of DU’s magic before it disappears. While you’re advocating for those pursuing commercial publication, I’m speaking for those whose creativity captured something meaningful… poems that will soon vanish, just as their online presence.
There will be a formal consent process, with plenty of discussion among the team involved. Transparency will be a priority at every step of the way.
summultima said:
Fir Hidden gems.. i need to fetch yet another hidden gem as me lol (Case! wow on wat u said on ‘me.. didnt know i was hidden lol.. but ever thot i was bit more visible in du .. whether a gem or not;)
Btw i thought the greatly adored hemihead would be the living love legend of a poet du had ever seen.. n was about to ask him out for Love poems curation.. sad yet glad he volunteered already for erotic;)
listing poems with a justifying divide between old n new as said by Missy .. is gonna be a challenge.. given lot wondrous old goldie poets are nowhere here active ..
Touché… you are a gem, uma… not hidden, more like a favourite piece of jewellery.
Did hemihead really volunteer to be the erotica curator? I’m sure the old seaman had a bit of a chuckle…
I’ve noticed that there’s been an increase in activity with the old goldie poets Lin the DU lobby… probably searching for buried treasure they’ve left hidden in their catalogue.
I assume, they’re too busy or not interested in helping… but I reckon they’ve already done the heavy lifting, so I suggest we raid and pillage their READING LISTS to find the golden nuggets and hidden gems that we’re looking for!
Fir Hidden gems.. i need to fetch yet another hidden gem as me lol (Case! wow on wat u said on ‘me.. didnt know i was hidden lol.. but ever thot i was bit more visible in du .. whether a gem or not;)
Btw i thought the greatly adored hemihead would be the living love legend of a poet du had ever seen.. n was about to ask him out for Love poems curation.. sad yet glad he volunteered already for erotic;)
listing poems with a justifying divide between old n new as said by Missy .. is gonna be a challenge.. given lot wondrous old goldie poets are nowhere here active ..
Touché… you are a gem, uma… not hidden, more like a favourite piece of jewellery.
Did hemihead really volunteer to be the erotica curator? I’m sure the old seaman had a bit of a chuckle…
I’ve noticed that there’s been an increase in activity with the old goldie poets Lin the DU lobby… probably searching for buried treasure they’ve left hidden in their catalogue.
I assume, they’re too busy or not interested in helping… but I reckon they’ve already done the heavy lifting, so I suggest we raid and pillage their READING LISTS to find the golden nuggets and hidden gems that we’re looking for!
That's a good idea about Facebook. I had forgotten all about that aspect. I did send out an email to Team Napo'25 and all previous team members notifying them. Additionally, I sent one out to previous registrants as well. The response has been well-received - poems accompanied by permissions.
I would strongly suggest not distributing or publishing emails ( even on the spreadsheet ), as it could be considered a violation of privacy. I address any email like this to myself and BCC all copies to maintain privacy. Allow those who the email has been shared with to contact and submit the release or permission. A simple permission in writing is legally binding without drafting an official release. Especially if it accompanies the poem.
I would strongly suggest not distributing or publishing emails ( even on the spreadsheet ), as it could be considered a violation of privacy. I address any email like this to myself and BCC all copies to maintain privacy. Allow those who the email has been shared with to contact and submit the release or permission. A simple permission in writing is legally binding without drafting an official release. Especially if it accompanies the poem.
Ahavati said:That's a good idea about Facebook. I had forgotten all about that aspect. I did send out an email to Team Napo'25 and all previous team members notifying them. Additionally, I sent one out to previous registrants as well. The response has been well-received - poems accompanied by permissions.
I would strongly suggest not distributing or publishing emails ( even on the spreadsheet ), as it could be considered a violation of privacy. I address any email like this to myself and BCC all copies to maintain privacy. Allow those who the email has been shared with to contact and submit the release or permission. A simple permission in writing is legally binding without drafting an official release. Especially if it accompanies the poem.
Thanks, Ahavati. I completely agree on protecting people’s privacy. Let’s secure as many publication agreements as possible before DUP shuts down, so there’s no need to collect members’ email addresses.
I’ve just created a DUP Preservation Project group on Facebook, open to the public. We can use it to keep DU members updated, along with the DUP Facebook page… assuming it remains active.
DUP Preservation Project group link:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15ivCy3PiS/?mibextid=wwXIfr
I would strongly suggest not distributing or publishing emails ( even on the spreadsheet ), as it could be considered a violation of privacy. I address any email like this to myself and BCC all copies to maintain privacy. Allow those who the email has been shared with to contact and submit the release or permission. A simple permission in writing is legally binding without drafting an official release. Especially if it accompanies the poem.
Thanks, Ahavati. I completely agree on protecting people’s privacy. Let’s secure as many publication agreements as possible before DUP shuts down, so there’s no need to collect members’ email addresses.
I’ve just created a DUP Preservation Project group on Facebook, open to the public. We can use it to keep DU members updated, along with the DUP Facebook page… assuming it remains active.
DUP Preservation Project group link:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15ivCy3PiS/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Indie said:I'm in
That’s fantastic, Indie! I really appreciate you offering your time and expertise. [Much respect to the Aussie poets involved [Kate, get your shit together]. Every helping hand makes a difference, and it’s great to have more voices involved in this project.
Indie, there are plenty of categories to choose from, please let me know what category you’d like to work on.
Also, curators, you’ll be pleased to hear that I’ll be in contact by the end of the week with further details and instructions to access to the promised spreadsheet and folders.
Thank you all for your patience and help!
List of Curators
Foreword - TBC
The Best of DUP Poetry (by Category)
Love Poems - summultima (help)
Dark Poems - Casted_Runes
Erotic Poems - free and available… yearning
Spiritual Poems - Ahavati
Anger Poems - curator required
Upbeat & Inspirational Poems - curator required
Observational Poems - curator required
Self Poems - Duende
Drugs Poems - curator required
Story Poems - curator required
Song Lyrics - curator required
Fictional Prose - curator required
Non-Fiction Prose - curator required
Miscellaneous Poems - curator required
Best Poetry Collaborations - Magdalena
The Best Poetry Competitions
DU Poetry Competitions - Magdalena
NaPoWriMo Challenge - Ahavati
Iconic DUP Moments & Features
Forum Rants - CraicDealer
Best Questions from "Ask a Question" - CraicDealer
The Muggle - CraicDealer
DUP Podcast - CraicDealer
Hidden Gems & Underrated Poets - summultima
Memorials & Tributes - Ahavati, LunaGreyhawk, Grace, and Hatful-of-hollow
That’s fantastic, Indie! I really appreciate you offering your time and expertise. [Much respect to the Aussie poets involved [Kate, get your shit together]. Every helping hand makes a difference, and it’s great to have more voices involved in this project.
Indie, there are plenty of categories to choose from, please let me know what category you’d like to work on.
Also, curators, you’ll be pleased to hear that I’ll be in contact by the end of the week with further details and instructions to access to the promised spreadsheet and folders.
Thank you all for your patience and help!
List of Curators
Foreword - TBC
The Best of DUP Poetry (by Category)
Love Poems - summultima (help)
Dark Poems - Casted_Runes
Erotic Poems - free and available… yearning
Spiritual Poems - Ahavati
Anger Poems - curator required
Upbeat & Inspirational Poems - curator required
Observational Poems - curator required
Self Poems - Duende
Drugs Poems - curator required
Story Poems - curator required
Song Lyrics - curator required
Fictional Prose - curator required
Non-Fiction Prose - curator required
Miscellaneous Poems - curator required
Best Poetry Collaborations - Magdalena
The Best Poetry Competitions
DU Poetry Competitions - Magdalena
NaPoWriMo Challenge - Ahavati
Iconic DUP Moments & Features
Forum Rants - CraicDealer
Best Questions from "Ask a Question" - CraicDealer
The Muggle - CraicDealer
DUP Podcast - CraicDealer
Hidden Gems & Underrated Poets - summultima
Memorials & Tributes - Ahavati, LunaGreyhawk, Grace, and Hatful-of-hollow
