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Primer
Primer | Aaron Smith
2 posts | 1 read
In his third poetry collection, Primer, Aaron Smith grapples with the ugly realities of the private self, in which desire feels more like a trap than fulfillment. What is the face we prepare in our public lives to distract others from our private grief? Smith's poetry explores that inexplicable tension between what we say and how we actually feel, exposing the complications of intimacy and the limitations of language to bridge those distances between friends, family members, and lovers. What we deny, in the end, may be just what we actually survive. Mortality in Smith's work remains the uncomfortable foundation at the center of our relationship with others, to faith, to art, to love as we grow older, and ultimately, to our own sense of who we are in our bodies in the world. The struggle of this book, finally, is in naming whether just what we say we want is enough to satisfy our primal needs, or are the choices we make to stay alive the same choices we make to help us, in so many small ways, to die.
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LibrarianRyan
LibrarianRyan
Primer | Aaron Smith
post image

We are at the beginning of the biggest SWAP season of the year. Most of us hosts ask everyone to abide by @Litsyswaps rules, which are posted in the graphic above. However, for those new to Litsy or new to swaps I have put together this #SwapPrimer of how things work.. This has been updated from last year.

This is meant to ensure we all have a great time. If you have questions feel free to ask me or the host of the swap you are interested in

LibrarianRyan 2. Any and all specific host rules may overrule these general rules, but most do not. Most will include these rules into their rules in some form or another. They may not be word for word (I'm lazy, I copied and pasted years ago and still use it) but most rules DO NOT CHANGE.

If there is a rule you do not like in the swap THEN DON“T DO THE SWAP! It is that simple.
(edited) 2y
LibrarianRyan 3. Pay attention to the theme if there is one. Please do not sign up for a Steampunk swap, if you hate steampunk. Just putting in the additional notes that you hate steampunk but wanted to do a swap, is NOT a good way to get involved. All us hosts want you to have a great time both giving and receiving, so please don't start up on the track to fail. If you are open to trying something new, swaps ARE a great way to do so, just mention it. (edited) 2y
LibrarianRyan 4. Commit to your commitments. Do not sign up for a swap you know you can not afford. Also, If you can only afford 1 swap, do not sign up for 2.

FAIR WARNING: There is a BLACKLIST. Actually there are at least two, maybe more. We hosts talk and keep notes. Yes you can get off the blacklist, but it requires someone willing to trust you and give you a chance. Meaning, it may not be easy. (edited) 2y
See All 21 Comments
LibrarianRyan 5. In partnership with 4, if you're in trouble, say something. Let your host know. We know about and understand emergencies. Whether its illness/death in the family to hurricanes, we hosts will work with you. We talk to your swap partners and work out alternatives, switch things up, cover, etc. COMMUNICATION IS KEY. The sooner we know, the sooner we can help. We want this to be fun for all, not a burden or a concern when life happens (edited) 2y
LibrarianRyan 6. Still going with 4 and 5, please do not think that just because you change your screen name that you will automatically get off the blacklist. Sorry. Does not work that way.

You should AT NO TIME between signing up for a swap and opening day change your screen name. You should also have your account set to the public. If you have blocked specific littens, please let your host know if you end up paired.

2y
LibrarianRyan 7. Just as there are bad swappers, I will be honest there are hosts who are better than others. I know when I host swaps I can be a bit of a nag, so I would not be surprised to find out I was on someone's “nope“ list. At the same time, I personally keep track of swaps I did not enjoy and why. What makes a good host is different to everyone, so an awesome host to me, may be someone else's nightmare and vice versa. That is okay. 2y
LibrarianRyan 8. If you want to host a swap, you can. There is nothing holding you back. But know ahead of time it is a lot of work. Even the simplest smallest swap takes up soooo much time. For a newbie, think of it this way, you will probably spend one - two hours on your swap for everyone who signs up.

That means you could spend 40 hours on work for a swap of 40 people. The more you do it, the easier it gets, but not always. (edited) 2y
LibrarianRyan 9. Go into swaps for the fun, for the excitement, the joy. Don't go into swaps for what you will get out of it. Some will post spending limits, or have you pick a price range, some do not. Don't look for a me versus them: what did I spend, what did they spend. Set your own budget. What you want to do and what you can afford. And be understanding that not everyone may be in the same situation you are in. 2y
LibrarianRyan 10. Be open to not getting what is on your wishlist. If you only want and will only except books on your list, you may limit the person sending to you, to something they can not do. Wishlists are great ways for matches to get ideas, but if you are a core believer of “only want I want“ you may want to do a book store run rather than a swap. 2y
LibrarianRyan 11. Overall, what us various hosts want is for everyone to be happy. We want everyone to have fun and be energized for books! But we can not do it all. We need your help as someone who signs up for a swap to help make them all they can be. And I bet they will be great.

2y
LibrarianRyan 12. Last thought, as mentioned Halloween Swaps are the biggest time of the year Last year there was at least 5. So be on the look out. Have a great time, and as always, if you have any questions, please ask. If I don't know the answer, I can usually get it for you.

Happy Reading.

 2y
JoeMo Thanks for the info! It‘s appreciated as I was just thinking about signing up for one for the first time….now I can definitely say I was warned about all of the ins and outs that are involved 2y
LibrarianRyan @JoeMo Yeah. a few of us hosts got together a years ago to find a way to mitigate problems. We had one bad year... so now every year right around the Halloween mark, I post the primers. Divided up on what to know about before you sign up and a second on “stalking“. I hope you enjoy your swap. @wanderinglynn and @sprainedbrain (if I put down the wrong person I know she will correct me) are great hosts for your first time if u need help deciding 2y
wanderinglynn Thanks for posting this Ryan! 2y
sprainedbrain Thanks for doing this, Ryan! 🥰 2y
AllDebooks I'm new to swaps so thank you posting the rules x 2y
LibrarianRyan @AllDebooks you are welcome. There is also a part 2 that talks about stalking etiquette that is further down if you are interested 2y
AllDebooks @LibrarianRyan thank you. I'll have a read. I'm so excited, it's a wonderful thing to be part of. I LOVE picking out gifts for people ☺️ 2y
TheBookHippie I‘m ready for the Christmas card swap 😂😂😂 2y
LibrarianRyan @TheBookHippie I promise it‘s coming. Already have it prepped and on my schedule. 2y
TheBookHippie @LibrarianRyan I saw holiday cards on clearance 😂😂😂😂 so I am all set ! Ha. Also post office has stamps out already! 🤯 2y
57 likes21 comments
blurb
LibrarianRyan
LibrarianRyan
Primer | Aaron Smith
post image

We are at the beginning of the biggest SWAP season of the year. Most of us hosts ask everyone to abide by @Litsyswaps rules, which are posted in the graphic above. However, for those new to Litsy or new to swaps I have put together this #SwapPrimer of how things work.. This has been updated from last year.

This is meant ensure we all have a great time. If you have questions feel free to ask me or the host of the swap you are interested in

LibrarianRyan 2. Any and all specific host rules may overrule these general rules, but most do not. Most will include these rules into their rules in some form or another. They may not be word for word (I'm lazy, I copied and pasted years ago and still use it) but most rules DO NOT CHANGE.

If there is a rule you do not like in the swap THEN DON“T DO THE SWAP! It is that simple. 4y
LibrarianRyan 3. Pay attention to the theme if there is one. Please do not sign up for a Steampunk swap, if you hate steampunk. Just putting in the additional notes that you hate steampunk but wanted to do a swap, is NOT a good way to get involved. All us hosts want you to have a great time both giving and receiving, so please don't start up on the track to fail. If you are open to trying something new swaps ARE a great way to do so, just mention it. 4y
LibrarianRyan 4. Commit to your commitments. Do not sign up for a swap you know you can not afford. Also, If you can only afford 1 swap, do not sign up for 2.

FAIR WARNING: There is a BLACKLIST. Actually there are at least two, maybe more. We hosts talk and keep notes. Yes you can get off the blacklist, but it requires someone willing to trust you and give you a chance. Meaning, it may not be easy. 4y
See All 17 Comments
LibrarianRyan 5. in partnership with 4, if your in trouble, say something. Let your host know. We know about and understand emergencies. Weather its illness/death in the family to hurricanes we hosts will work with you. We talk to your swap partners and work out alternative, switch things up, cover, etc. COMMUNICATION IS KEY. The sooner we know, the sooner we can help. We want this to be fun for all, not a burden or a concern when life happens. 4y
LibrarianRyan 6. Still going with 4 and 5, please do not think that just because you change your screen name that you will automatically get off the blacklist. Sorry. Does not work that way.

You should AT NO TIME between signing up for a swap and opening day change your screen name. You should also have your account set to public. If you have blocked specific littens, please let your host know if you end up paired. 4y
LibrarianRyan 7. Just as their are bad swappers, I will be honest there are hosts who are better than others. I know when I host swaps I can be a bit of a nag, so I would not be surprised to find out I was on someones “nope“ list. At the same time, I personally keep track of swaps I did not enjoy and why. What makes a good host is different to everyone, so a awesome host to me, may be someone else's night mare and vice versa. That is okay. 4y
LibrarianRyan 8. If you want to host a swap, you can. There is nothing holding you back. But know ahead of time it is a lot of work. Even the simplest smallest swap takes up soooo much time. For a newbie, think of it this way, you will probably spend one - two hours on your swap for everyone who signs up.

That means you could spend 40 hours on work for a swap of 40 people. The more you do it, the easier it gets, but not always. 4y
LibrarianRyan 9. Go into swaps for the fun, for the excitement, the joy. Don't go into swaps for what you will get out of it. Some will post spending limits, or have you pick a price range, some do not. Don't look for a me verses them: what did I spend, what did they spend. Set your own budget. What you want to do and what you can afford. And be understanding that not everyone may be in the same situation you are in. 4y
LibrarianRyan 10. Be open to not getting what is on your wishlist. If you only want and will only except books on your list, you may limit the person sending to you, to something they can not do. Wishlists are great ways for matches to get ideas, but if you are a core believer of “only want I want“ you may want to do a book store run rather than a swap. 4y
LibrarianRyan 11. Over all, what us various hosts want is for everyone to be happy. We want everyone to have fun and be energized for books! But we can not do it all. We need your help as someone who signs up for a swap to help make them all they can be. And i bet they will be great. 4y
LibrarianRyan 12. Last thought, as mentioned Halloween Swaps are the biggest time of the year Last year there was at least 5. So far this year we have

#BasicWitchSwap hosted by @SprainedBrain and @Meaw_Catlady
#HauntedHallowSwap hosted by @Wanderinglynn

And I know there is a fall one but I have forgotten the title of, but I will post it when I remember. Promise. 4y
LeahBergen Yes! Great job. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4y
LibrarianRyan @LeahBergen Thank you! 4y
sprainedbrain This is great! Thanks for doing it. 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Mrs_B 4y
Chelleo Thank you for posting this! You did a great job with this list and added notes. I don‘t think some people really understand how much goes into hosting a swap. 4y
LibrarianRyan @Chelleo thanks. There have been some problem swaps lately. I originally made it last year after a few of us hosts had lots of people flake. We want the new people to have as much fun as us old timers. 😃 4y
47 likes17 comments