The Business

Anthologies

Many anthologies – whether poetry or fiction, or a combination of both – are compiled from acclaimed work that has already been published, and their editors therefore do not invite submission. Or work is specially commissioned from established writers. But some anthologies are open to all writers – whether new or established – and publishers will put out a call for submissions. In Wales, the innovative and award-winning women’s press Honno [www.honno.co.uk] has received a positive critical reception for its anthologies, which have married strong writing with a focus on the female experience of motherhood, sexuality, fashion and the landscape, and show a genuine commitment to promoting new writers across a wide range of ages. To be considered for publication in Honno anthologies you must be a woman, Welsh or resident in Wales, or with a significant Welsh connection. Visit Honno’s website and click on ‘Information for Writers’ to find out about current calls for submission for anthologies as well as details on how to submit full-length manuscripts for consideration.

In addition, the acclaimed Cinnamon Press [www.cinnamonpress.com] have published a number of themed anthologies which include specially commissioned work from well-known Welsh names such as Tony Curtis, along with work from Wales’s newest voices. Details of current calls for submission to anthologies and accompanying guidelines, as well as details on how to submit your fiction or full length collection of poetry for publication, can be found by going to their website and clicking on ‘Submission’.

For poets, anthologies, which once provided some welcome exposure for emergent talent by publishing ten or so of their poems in a showcase, such as the Anvil New Poets series [www.anvilpresspoetry.com], seem to have all but disappeared from both the independent as well as the commercial scene. Nonetheless, Seren [www.seren-press.com] recently published Seren Selections [www.seren-books.com/books/p/1969], which included the work of poets Tiffany Atkinson, Dylan Thomas Prize nominee Zoe Brigley and the very promising Markus Lloyd. But to appear in an anthology of this kind, you’ll either be directly approached by the publisher (another good reason to aim for well-placed publication in magazines and to develop a reputation on the live literature scene) or you will have sent in unsolicited material to the publisher of high quality. If they like what they see and the opportunity is there, they will contact you. However, Pen & Inc Press [www.inpressbooks.co.uk/penandinc/], based at the University of East Anglia, publish the Reactions and Pretext anthologies, which focus respectively on showcasing poetry and fiction by writers yet to have published their first book, and calls for submission to these are widely advertised.

The most distinguished anthology for new writing in the UK open to submissions is the British Council’s annual New Writing Anthology [newwriting.britishcouncil.org], published by Granta. Always co-edited by major writers, and incorporating a great mix of short stories, novel extracts, poems and non-fiction, you’ll find many big names in its pages like Don Paterson, Paul Muldoon, Michel Faber and Fay Weldon. But New Writing remains alert to discovery and less familiar names are included, too.

The Academi regularly advertises calls for submissions to anthologies both nationally and internationally on its website under opportunities for writers [link to Opportunities for Writers]. In addition, you should also regularly visit the Poetry Library website [www.poetrylibrary.org] and also Story [www.theshortstory.org] to find out about opportunities for publication in anthologies.

A note of caution needs to be sounded on anthologies. Not all anthologies are legitimate operations, seeking to promote new work. Some are money-making schemes, in other words scams and cons, which have no value for the writer – but an awful lot for the so-called publisher. For further details on steering clear of scams and cons click here [link to Scams and Cons]. If you are in any doubt about the legitimacy of an anthology, do not get involved. Contact the Academi who will be please to advise.