Michael Hebler's Blog: and Fan Page - Posts Tagged "niche"

Books of short stories and anthologies have become increasingly popular as of late. As most anthologies contain multiple authors, there really isn’t much money for the individual author; in fact, much of the revenue is given to charity. But there is a specific reason why authors are compiling their short stories into collections: exposure. Readers receive a sample of your work, which could lead them to some of your bigger, individual, work.

Exposure is marketing, and I can’t think of a cheaper way to receive prime marketing than to be included in an anthology of work, especially if your work can be attached to other authors who carry a following. Most of these collaborations are grouped together within a theme or genre, such as Halloween, weird western, or romance. Also, if you can’t find a project that is excepting entries within your niche, start your own. If you’re an author who is looking to join a publication, chances are you have published already, or have the publishing knowhow. Don’t wait on the sidelines when you can do something about it yourself. There are many authors out there who are waiting to be included. Authors within the same niche should be easy to find.

When creating your anthology, be sure to keep the length of your collection respectable. Do not group only four or five short stories that total 25,000 words in length, or 20 shorts that equal 150,000 words. 60,000 words is a nice fit. You can always do multiple volumes, if warranted. And just as importantly, make sure you have all the details worked out before you start blindly submitting, or rounding up authors yourself, for minimal confusion. This would include each author having their own space for promotion, a firm commitment, details of proceed distribution or donation, or buying an author’s work outright. Do your research. A contract would be highly recommended. There are plenty of sites on the web who specialize in creating dealing with tax forms and money distribution. There will be a charge, but it could be well worth the convenience.