How to Manage an Anthology

Compilation books, also called anthology books, seem to be popular these days. Probably because a chapter may not be tied to the next one making a quick read possible similar to a devotional. An anthology is a collection of writings by different writers published together in one book. Because of its popularity, an author or project manager may think compiling this to be an easy task. And it is easy from the standpoint that we are not writing the entire book ourselves. But the project can be difficult if we don’t realize all that is involved in putting an anthology together. There is a lot of detail to keep up with for this type of project. 

When we invest time and money into a book project, we want to produce the most professional Christian book possible. There are several steps to creating a compilation book before beginning to enlist authors. 

BEFORE ENLISTING AUTHORS

1. Know why you want this book. What message do you want relayed throughout? 
2. Know the book’s audience.
3. What is the theme of the book?
4. What authors do you know who fit the theme and audience?
5. Decide the number of chapters/total word count. The average word count for an anthology is 40,000 words. If your requirement for each chapter is 2,000 words, you will need 20 authors.
6. Decide if you want to preassign chapter titles and let authors choose one. If so, create a list of titles to send when they agree to participate.
7. Set a goal date for receiving their chapter and for printing.
8. Will one person assigned by you be editing all the chapters, or will each author have their own edited work performed before it comes to you? Let them know upfront the expectation.
9. Set a schedule for when chapters are to be received, edited, and approved.
10. Create an author list to ask to participate.
11. Create a production sheet. (sample at www.breakthroughchristianpublishing.com). Use the code CIPA.
12. Write the letter of agreement. Decide beforehand if the contributing authors will provide funds toward publishing and include the amount in the agreement. Include deadline dates for each step of the process and an opportunity to purchase books.

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE

1. Your email invitation to participate should be informative, warm and inviting in a way that an author is drawn to the project and content theme.
2. The guidelines should be clear. If it is a Christian book, be sure you are inviting Christian authors. 
3. Are you going to self-publish the book or use a publisher. This is important for the potential author to know.
4. Choose a Christian publisher for publishing the book. If you will enter the book into a Christian book award contest, let them know up front. 
5. What does the author get out of all this? This is important to know at the beginning of the process.
6. The application (letter of agreement) can be attached or in a link to a form on your website.
7. If there is a fee, the form should include a payment link. This must be decided beforehand. Normally if there are fees, the author will receive a number of books upon publication. The number needs to be stated in the agreement.
8. Who gets the royalty? The compiler, a non-profit organization, or split the amount between the authors. The simpler way is not to charge a fee, give books to the authors, and not deal with a $3.00 royalty being split between twenty authors. However, the authors should be allowed to purchase the books at a discounted rate to sell themselves and keep the profit.

MANAGING THE PROJECT

1. Each step taken in the process should be posted on the production sheet immediately. It is easy to lose track of who did what if the sheet is not maintained properly. (see Before Enlisting Authors, #11).
2. The headings on the production sheet are in the order of what comes next to do.
3. As the chapters are submitted, you need to send a thank you message and ask them to send their headshot and brief bio plus website and/or contact information. These will be printed on pages in the back of the book, or if you prefer, at the end of each chapter.
4. If the author wants you to provide the editing, this can be done as each chapter is submitted. The overall editing process is easier and more consistent this way. However, who will pay the editor? That needs to be decided up front. 

KNOW THE COSTS REQUIRED TO PUBLISH

1. Editing
2. Proofing
3. Interior Design
4. Cover Design
5. Coordinating the Project
6. Printing
7. Shipping

Every step of the publishing process incurs cost. These are costs you as the compiler will be responsible for unless you solicit support from the contributing authors. 

I personally enjoy putting together anthologies and getting acquainted with authors I haven’t met before. My latest is “Kingdom Commerce”, a book written by twenty-eight business leaders whose faith made a difference in the workplace. I am currently working on an anthology of devotions for a book coming out later this year. 

If you have an idea for a book like this, but don’t have time to manage it, send me an email. I would love to help you spread the message God lays on your heart.

Virginia Grounds

Vgrounds770@outlook.com

www.breakthroughchristianpublishing.com

About the Author

Virginia Grounds is an author, speaker, publisher, former radio host, Bible teacher and project manager of a publishing firm. She has been writing for many years and began publishing as a self-publisher, a project manager for publishing, and now has her own publishing agency for the purpose of helping others tell God’s story through them and their writing.