So I'll just come out and ask it. You know how there is books usually full of short stories from a variety of authors? How does that usually happen? Now I understand some authors might know one another and decide to put their short stories together, but is there other ways? I was always curious, especially for middle-grade novels of short stories.
Not really sure how to word this... [re: anthologies]
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Playground king, more often it's that a publisher or editor puts out a call for manuscripts which fit a particular theme or are a similar type of story. Sometimes they'll ask specific authors they admire or they've worked with if they will contribute, and sometimes it's open to anyone.
The collections are called anthologies. I know zip about writing for the juvenile market, but there are probably centralized locations where such calls for manuscripts would be posted or collected.
Maryn, glad to meet you and hoping to have helped
The collections are called anthologies. I know zip about writing for the juvenile market, but there are probably centralized locations where such calls for manuscripts would be posted or collected.
Maryn, glad to meet you and hoping to have helped
Anthologies don't happen a whole lot in kidslit. I can't think of any, actually... but I may be missing something.
Kids are very different consumers than grown-ups. Grown-ups tend to be loyal to a genre. SciFi, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance. Whichever one they're "into," they'll be open to new voices in that field.
Kids tend to be more loyal to a character or an author. That's why series do so well with kids. Kids love the idea of reading 20 books about Junie B. Jones or the Magic TreeHouse. A dozen stories on a theme, by different authors, doesn't have the same marketing appeal to kids.
I'm not saying it can't be done. Only that I haven't seen very many in bookstores.
Somebody may come along to correct me, though!
Kids are very different consumers than grown-ups. Grown-ups tend to be loyal to a genre. SciFi, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance. Whichever one they're "into," they'll be open to new voices in that field.
Kids tend to be more loyal to a character or an author. That's why series do so well with kids. Kids love the idea of reading 20 books about Junie B. Jones or the Magic TreeHouse. A dozen stories on a theme, by different authors, doesn't have the same marketing appeal to kids.
I'm not saying it can't be done. Only that I haven't seen very many in bookstores.
Somebody may come along to correct me, though!
Guys Read has a fun series of anthologies: Guys Read: Funny Business has short stories by Kate DiCamillo, Adam Rex, Jeff Kinny (Wimpy Kid), Jack Gantos and others. There's also Guys Read: Thriller (MT Anderson, Gennifer Choldenko, etc).
See, I knew somebody would know more than me!
But to answer playground king's question--those are all published/famous authors. So I'm sure the editor/publisher approached them, saying We have this project idea, are you interested?
But to answer playground king's question--those are all published/famous authors. So I'm sure the editor/publisher approached them, saying We have this project idea, are you interested?
I own a few, where the stories were all previously published (some as individual books, some in magazines). It's clear the publisher went around and approached people for the rights. I don't think you get the open reading period thing, as you do with some adult anthologies.
In ten years, I've seen one open call for a kids anthology. It was for fractured fairy tales. I know someone who has answered calls for poetry too. I'm betting these were put out in writing magazines like CBI or the SCBWI Bulletin, though less genre specific mags are also possible.
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Then there are "anthology mills," to be avoided IMHO. They create POD anthologies covering all sorts of genre and topics, including children's and YA stories; they accept pretty much anything that's submitted, and don't give the authors free author-copies, much less any payment or royalties. Of course, the authors are likely to buy at least one copy for themselves.
It's not quite vanity publishing, in that the authors don't have to pay to be published, but they do have to pay in order to see their work in print, so....
It's not quite vanity publishing, in that the authors don't have to pay to be published, but they do have to pay in order to see their work in print, so....
I've never seen one (I live in the UK). I think what was said above is right, that mostly only famous authors would be chosen by publishers. There may be places online, but not ones that would be published and sold, as far as I'm aware.
Yep, I think most anthologies are usually the publishers asking specific famous authors. There have been a few coming out in YA the last few years, but I haven't really seen much for kids.
If there are open calls for general or themed anthologies, though, a story about a kid might find a place there, though. For example, my story "Fireflies" was originally an MG novel, and now it's in the AW SFF anthology, which was open to any sci-fi or fantasy. But you have to be willing to shift your target audience in that case because you never know what the story next to yours might contain that's not suitable for kids.
If there are open calls for general or themed anthologies, though, a story about a kid might find a place there, though. For example, my story "Fireflies" was originally an MG novel, and now it's in the AW SFF anthology, which was open to any sci-fi or fantasy. But you have to be willing to shift your target audience in that case because you never know what the story next to yours might contain that's not suitable for kids.