How to Put Together a Charity Anthology Book
Anthology books are a great way for artists to come together and do something to benefit a cause dear to their hearts. Anthologies can take many forms, from those focused on a basic theme to those featuring a single character in every story. If you’re planning to put together a book to benefit your favorite charity, there are some things you should keep in mind to make the most of the project.
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Instructions
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Decide on a topic. Charity anthologies are more effective when their topic matches the charity being helped. For example, an anthology featuring survivor stories could be a good match to benefit victims of a natural disaster. The topic could be general, such as animal stories, or more specific, stories about animals rescued from shelters.
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Try to get a well-known writer to contribute. While a bestselling author would be great, even mid-size authors, who already have their own books out, can be a great addition. Not only will this give the anthology a better backing, but it show potential publishers that the project is serious.
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Advertise for contributors. Put out a well-developed set of guidelines so you are more likely to get exactly what you’re looking for. Guidelines should explain the topic, the minimum and maximum length, the deadline for submissions and the tone you’re looking for (funny, inspirational or poetry).
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Look for contributors in the right places. Advertising everywhere writers congregate is likely to attract people who may not have the experience and quality of writing you’re looking for. Instead, get the word out in forums and mailing lists that cater especially to the type of writers you’re interested in attracting.
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Consider self-publishing if time is of the essence. If you’re putting an anthology together to help a recent tragedy, such as victims of a hurricane, waiting for a traditional publisher to pick up the manuscript may be a bad idea. From the time a book is bought until the time it hits the shelves, up to two years can go by.
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Tips & Warnings
Choose a winning title. This is especially important if you’re self-publishing. With traditional publishing, editors are likely to make changes to whatever they feel would attract the most buyers.
