A Polite Query

[polymorphikos]

Being not entirely certain where to post this, I decided on here as being close enough for my needs.
Basically, I'd like to know if anyone could tell me the processes behind publishing an anthology of novellas and short fiction for an unpublished author. Is it the same as submitting a novel, would there be even a remote chance of its being picked up, and stuff like that. Thank you, anyway, to anyone who can give me any helpful advice. Thankyou.

 

[Brian G Turner]

So far as I know, getting short stories into anthologies basically means pushing very hard to get publishing in magazines such as asimov, and maybe a few high-profile competitions as well. so far as I know, the money involved in publishing shorts just isn't attractive to literary agents, so they'll only push any shorts out by already signed clients, and even then possibly only as part of a general marketing strategy (I've seen it advised for authors with a book due out to push themselves to have a couple of shorts published in magazines at the same time, to help get the word out on the new release).

From what I hear the short story industry is just as competitive as any.

This thread:
http://www.chronicles-network.net/forum/showthread.php?t=90

Has some good links to market periodicals worth considering submission for. You may want to check with some of the names to see which have the better reputation.

It's also going to be recommended - if aiming at the shorts market - to subscribe to a few of the shorts publications - such a Asimov - to get a clear idea of what sort of style and content of short that they are actually taking. Don't get cheap on this requirement - knowledge empowers the aspirant.

 

[polymorphikos]

Sorry, I may have misexplained myself. I meant publishing a book of short-stories. Sorry

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

Speaking broadly, the chances of a publisher picking up a collection of previously unpublished shorts by a new author are very slim. It makes more sense to explore the different magazines, many of whom allow online submissions these days, to make life easier.

I myself tend to prefer writing in very short lengths, and it makes me wonder about my chances of publication as the industry seems to be tending towards big bricks of books lately.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Sorry, I may have misexplained myself. I meant publishing a book of short-stories. Sorry

No, my fault - I was rushing a bit, hence the typos. Essentially, there is no real market for unsigned authors getting signed for an anthology of shorts. That was my point about magazines - if you really want to get your short stories in print the only way to realistically go about it is to go via the magazines and the odd competition - that way you can at least maybe get something in periodic collections in novel format. For example, if your story won a Nebula award - which would see it in print in their release, and do darn well for kick starting a full printed writing career (Orson Scott Card came through that way).

So my point was, if you want to see your short stories printed in short story collections, then really it's just be way of Asimov and co if you want to go by way of traditional publishing. Otherwise you would almost have to go for self-publishing - but I'll warn you, unless it's for friends and relatives then marketing it would be extremely challenging.

 

[polymorphikos]

Bugger. I need ten thousand dollars.

 

[Hypes]

::fetches a thick bundle of green, dog-eared bills from the filthy interior of his mattress.

Here you go then.