The mission of the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) is to ensure a vibrant, diverse literary landscape by helping small literary publishers work better. Our 1,000+ members include literary magazines and independent literary presses located in every state in the country, which collectively make up the foundation of the publishing ecosystem.
What is an independent publisher?
Independent publishers, or indie presses, are those not owned by a large corporation or media conglomerate. CLMP’s Directory of Publishers provides information on hundreds of independent presses.
Why are indie presses important?
Indie presses are mission driven, often acquiring and publishing books because of their literary and cultural value, not merely their sales potential. As such, indie presses represent an astounding array of aesthetic and editorial literary missions, playing a vital role in our culture by connecting the greatest diversity of distinctive writers to equally diverse communities of readers.
How do indie presses work?
Indie presses operate under various business models. Some are supported by universities; some function as LLCs; many are registered nonprofits. These presses can be small or large; CLMP’s membership includes publishers with budgets of less than $5,000 and budgets of more than $4 million. While indie presses may earn a significant percentage of their revenue through sales, many also rely on some combination of donations, grants, and volunteer labor to execute their important work.
How are indie presses different from Big 5 publishers?
The Big 5 publishers (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette) are all owned by media conglomerates and beholden to the bottom line when making decisions about the books they acquire. Each consists of numerous smaller imprints, many of which were originally independent and have since been acquired; this infographic is a useful reference for understanding which imprints fall under which Big 5 umbrella.
Are indie presses the same as vanity or hybrid publishers?
The terms indie press, independent publisher, and independently published are sometimes used to refer to vanity and hybrid publishers, which charge authors fees in exchange for publication, or to companies that offer self-publishing services. CLMP does not include these kinds of companies in its definition of the terms.
What are the best ways to support indie presses?
Read, purchase, and spread the word about books from your favorite independent publishers! Requesting small-press titles from your favorite libraries and bookstores, subscribing to literary magazines, and, of course, donating to indie presses are all excellent ways to help independent publishers continue their important work. Also, consider supporting CLMP, as it’s our mission to support indie presses!
