DC Conspiracy[dots pattern]

6.28.2005

The Small Presser, No. 3: "Anthologies"

Perhaps you don't have a full-blown story idea for a self-published comic, or you don't have the cash to publish a comic yourself. One way to get published on someone else's dole is to find an anthology that accepts submissions. There are some wonderful anthologies out there, and there are some duds. Some show promise, get you excited and you send in your pages--and then you never hear from them again. Finding an anthology to publish your work really isn't that difficult; but the chances of the book actually being printed is a different story. For some reason, anthologies often die soon after the idea is spawned. And it's not always the new ones or those by lesser-known creators that sink before leaving the dock. I've submitted stories to various anthologies of better-known small-press publishers that had a good publishing track record and then the issue never came out. Sometimes it's just bad timing. If this happens to you, don't fret. If one anthology falls through, pitch it somewhere else.

If the deadline for submissions to an anthology has come and gone and there's no word, inquire to what's happening. Often, the deadline or production is pushed back. It's usually because, hey, these folks usually have real, paying jobs that come first. Some even have families, and putting an anthology together takes a lot of work--much more work, in my opinion, than putting together a book with only your own stories in it. (Why? Despite giving contributors that exact sizes for submissions and specifications, inevitably there are a few who don't follow the guidelines, which results in a lot more work and time.) If it seems like the publisher won't ever get around to putting the book together and you're getting antsy, kindly say that you're recinding your story. There usually won't be any hard feelings.

One thing you don't want to do is pitch your story to a bunch of anthologies at once; It's really not appreciated if the same story appears in a number of anthologies at the same time. Publishers don't like that and neither do customers. If the publisher is paying to print a book in which you have a submission, it's common courtesy not to shop that story around to another anthology. And if you eventually want to print it in your own book, give it some time (at least a year or two) before doing so.

OK, so I guess you're waiting for me to list a few good anthologies that will likely kick around for a bit more. Well, here they are:

Not My Small Diary

SPX Anthology

Show & Tell Anthology

Stripburger

House of Twelve

Slam Bang

Dembicki at 6:19 PM  |  link to this     

2 Comments

Good timing — I was going to ask if you were planning on covering anthologies.

Have some extremely limited anthology experience that involves being invited to join one that never came together, our own DCC jam book, and one other that's in the works.

In the case of the last two, probably the best thing is having contact with fellow creators, seeing what they're doing and being able to discuss approaches. I think it's also good experience, getting a deadline, working with limitations, and maybe going outside your comfort zone.

Bram at 6/29/2005 9:11 AM   

The best thing about Bram's suggestion is that getting together with the creators and discussing the vision of the book allows for some sort of cohesive structure or theme or, in very special occasions, a single narrative (gasp!)

I like anthologies that look like more than a rag-tag gathering of cats that do whatever the hell they want.

Jason at 6/29/2005 1:59 PM   

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