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Wednesday, August 3, 2016

#IWSG: The Ups and Downs of Anthologies





I had a strange experience this month. I got published and didn't know it had happened. I only found out the book was out three weeks after its release, and even then, it was kind of by accident.



The publication was a short story in an anthology. I love anthologies, both as a reader and a writer. They are like sampler platters and gateway drugs into other books and authors. You can try a lot of different things for a low investment of time and money, since the pieces are shorter. I've discovered more than one writer I love to read this way.

But anthologies, I'm learning now that I've been published in a few, are complex critters, even more so than novels, because they require the cooperation and coordination of so many different people. To publish a novel, there's just the one writer to worry about and whatever team of professionals gets brought in (editors, artists, publishers, proofreaders, etc.). An anthology has all those folks, plus several different authors to work with.

So, I thought it might be fun to share my adventures in anthologies so far. It's an uncertain process that can definitely bring out all your insecurities.

The very first anthologies I was ever in were compilations. Those were quite painless. Basically, the publisher had already acquired the rights to publish the piece in a magazine AND in a compilation anthology at the same time. My work was included in a couple of poetry anthologies this way including Bearing Witness, a collection of poetry by teachers about teaching. For these, I had to submit my work, but getting into the book was a bonus publication, nothing that required additional effort on my part. 

I've also been in a couple of group-produced anthologies. What I mean by that: collections produced by the members of an already existing group. IWSG has done a couple of these (I had an essay in the The Insecure Writer's Support Group Guide to Publishing and Beyond). My critique group worked together to put out a collection with one short story from each of us: The Seven Story House. Classes I've been a part of have sometimes put together a book as well. The amount of effort those have taken for me depended on the project and what level I was in charge at. 

As I seek to gain more publication credits, I've been watching for open call anthologies. Here, I've had mixed experiences. A lot of times, these anthologies are really small productions--like a one-person or one family small publisher. So, while it's easier for an unknown writer to get a piece accepted into them, it's also really easy for the projects to fall apart. All it takes is one life crisis to take down a project when the team working on it is so small. One that I was super excited about ended up being abandoned all together. Another one that I thought was a longshot ended up being produced and is selling well. Just goes to show you never can tell, I guess. 

For these, I submit my work, sign the contract and take the payment (if there was one--sometimes you're paid in a share of the profits, if there are any, or you're participating for exposure or charity) and hope for the best on the book coming out. There can be long communication gaps and delays that can leave you doubting that the editors liked your work. That's the story of the Theme-Thology: Mad Science, the one that came out without my knowing it had. HDWP is a one-family kind of small press, and, given the troubles that descended upon them, I'm pleasantly surprised that the book actually came out, and don't really blame the editors for failing to get it out with fanfare and trumpets. It was an act of love and devotion that they pulled the project together in the end.

Now I'm working on a novella for an invitation call. These are pretty awesome because there's little doubt that my work will be accepted and published. After all, the publisher/organizer contacted me and asked me to contribute something. They must already like my work. My first one of these was put out by the same publisher who does my novels. Curiosity Quills put out Indomitable Ten to showcase all the superhero and super-villain writers in their stable and give us a chance to get some cross promotion by attracting each other's audiences. The one I'm working on now is for a charity anthology and I've got one more on my writing schedule for August. 

So, there you go: my writing life in anthologies. It's a varied landscape. What experience have you had with anthologies? Do you like reading them? 
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For #IWSG this month, we were asked to respond to this prompt:  What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?

Defining my "very first" piece of writing as an aspiring writer would mean digging through childhood crates at my mom's house, so I think I'll talk about my first novel. I "finished" His Other Mother in 2012. It was the first book-length work I ever completed. It's been around submission land off and on ever since, with some interest but no contract. I still believe in the book and its potential for finding a readership, but I'm not investing that much energy in it right now because my superhero stuff is selling and has my passion right now. After its most recent rejection, I've shelved His Other Mother for a bit. I think I've learned a lot about writing since 2012 and I plan to give the book another revision before I send it out again. But, that's low on my priority list for right now, so it may be a while until it happens. 

If you're not already following #IWSG (Insecure Writer's Support Group), you should really check it out. The monthly blog hop is a panoply of insight into the writing life at all stages of hobby and career. Search the hashtag in your favorite social media venue and you'll find something interesting on the first Wednesday of every month. 

20 comments:

  1. This is really interesting. Thanks for taking the time to share.

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    1. Thanks. Publishing is a strange and intriguing world.

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  2. I like the anthology as well. A great experience to learn the publishing ropes. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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    1. Agreed! You can learn a lot without having to take on the whole kit and kaboodle.

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  3. I've definitely had some interesting experiences with anthologies as well. My 8th one is about to come out, and whew! I'm wondering how that happened. Of course, ten years down the road I'll laugh at that, I'm sure. I love anthologies.

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    1. Congrats on the progress. I remember talking to a writer friend recently who said that he doesn't even read all the anthologies he's in these days. Maybe we'll both be that famous someday.

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  4. I have a soft spot for anthologies. My experiences writing for them are varied, but in general, it all works out in the end. Funny that you didn't even know you were in one :) Still, they are nice to write for...a lovely break from the bigger novels.

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    1. Yes. That's part of the joy of them. I love being in a book without needing a year or so to write and revise the piece.

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  5. I've only been in the ISWG anthology, so it was really interesting reading about the process with other types. I really like the title of your shelved book. It sounds intriguing.

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    1. Thanks. I may someday go back and revise it, but my passion is elsewhere right now.

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  6. I like anthologies because I meet new authors in them and will often buy their works. I've been in a couple of anthologies. The latest is called Portals: A Gateway to Science Fiction Romance. We each contributed the first chapter of the 1st book in a series with a buy link for the rest of the story. Each volume has 10 authors and we're up to Volume 7 now. The best part for readers is that each volume is free. I'm grateful, as a writer, for the opportunity and also as a reader. More authors I've not read. Yay!

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    1. I *love* reading anthologies for this very reason: finding my new favorite reads.

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  7. Congratulations, that must've been a pleasant surprise :-)

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    1. It was :-) I really thought this one wasn't going to make it.

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  8. I've been in a few anthologies and they've been a different experience every time.

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    1. They say variety is the spice of life. So, I guess my life is pretty darn spicy now.

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  9. I've been in a few anthologies ad one of the things I've learned is that you have to be careful what you contribute to. It's best if all the contributors write on similar theme. I made the mistake of contributing to one that turned out to be such a strange mixture I can understand why no one bought it.

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    1. True. Anthologies do come in a variety of qualities and thematic cohesiveness.

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  10. Technically, my first published book is in an anthology, even though it's called a "collection" and was published on its own first.

    My experience with the publisher was top notch--amazing, supportive, semi-famous editor. Reliable pub that paid royalties on time. The community of authors I was introduced to are the best and most valuable part of that experience.

    Where it fell short was the marketing. There were two relative unknowns in the collection, and two bigger "names." I was excited because I thought the names would drive traffic to the book, helping the newbies to get more exposure. Instead, the opposite happened. The established writers didn't really push the book--why would they, since profits would be split four ways? And I got us more reviews that the other three authors combined. So if this kind of opportunity presents itself again, I'll have a much better idea of what to expect.

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    1. Yes, marketing . . . the place where authors hope the most for help from the publisher, and the place where many publishers (especially small ones) don't have any more clue than the authors. Gah!

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