From Nizar Qabbani to Wael Fathy, Poets Take Publishing Into Their Own Hands

For poets seeking to bring their work to readers, finding a publisher is not always the first step. Nizar Qabbani chose to publish his debut collection, “The Brunette Told Me,” himself rather than wait for a publisher to take the risk.

Decades later, poet Wael Fathy is pursuing a similar path with his new collection, “A Toast to the Metaverse,” through his own imprint, Wael Fathy Publications.

The connection between the two experiences lies in the decision to take on publication directly. Rather than leave a collection’s fate to a publisher, each poet made himself responsible for bringing his work into print.

Qabbani’s debut and Fathy’s new collection belong to different literary moments. Together, however, they illustrate a continuing option for poets: becoming their own publishers to put their writing before readers.