Mari Collier's Blog - Posts Tagged "anthologies-publishing-groups"
More Opportunities
Last weeks blog was about opportunities for publishing in your own community. That was so popular, I thought that one more blog on the subject was necessary.
If you live in a community with a writers' critique group, join it. They are great places to hone your work and understand individual reactions to your writing. The one I joined is called The Desert Writers Guild of Twentynine Palms. One of our biggest assets is having a "reader." You know immediately how your story will sound to someone else.
This group was started almost thirty years ago by three local writers. It gave other writers a chance to meet and to have a way to say, "I'm published."
The Desert Writers Guild has a tradition of publishing an anthology each year. We try to have the book out in June. This year we weren't able to publish until August, but Critters & Other Desert Dwellers now joins a long list of others.
We have found two outlets in town to carry our anthologies. Our goal is to sell one hundred books each year. This allows us to have enough money to publish the next year. Since we are in the desert we try to keep to a desert locale.
Two years ago we published a book where each story had a related recipe. One year each story had a ghost tale or related a true incidence of a ghostly sighting. Not everything writing piece in our anthologies is a story. Some authors contribute poems and others will include a family tale when it is relevant.
We have also held readings at the local libraries. This year we have one scheduled at the Twentynine Palms, CA Library on December 8, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.
Our local museum, The Old Schoolhouse, also allows us to set up a table to attract new members and sell our books. We both benefit as we donate so much per book sold.
This year our editor is considering publishing it on Smashwords.com for a wider distribution. We haven't made a decision at this point.
If your community doesn't have a writers' group, I suggest you start one. You might be surprised at the talent and how you can reach a new audience for your tales.
If you live in a community with a writers' critique group, join it. They are great places to hone your work and understand individual reactions to your writing. The one I joined is called The Desert Writers Guild of Twentynine Palms. One of our biggest assets is having a "reader." You know immediately how your story will sound to someone else.
This group was started almost thirty years ago by three local writers. It gave other writers a chance to meet and to have a way to say, "I'm published."
The Desert Writers Guild has a tradition of publishing an anthology each year. We try to have the book out in June. This year we weren't able to publish until August, but Critters & Other Desert Dwellers now joins a long list of others.
We have found two outlets in town to carry our anthologies. Our goal is to sell one hundred books each year. This allows us to have enough money to publish the next year. Since we are in the desert we try to keep to a desert locale.
Two years ago we published a book where each story had a related recipe. One year each story had a ghost tale or related a true incidence of a ghostly sighting. Not everything writing piece in our anthologies is a story. Some authors contribute poems and others will include a family tale when it is relevant.
We have also held readings at the local libraries. This year we have one scheduled at the Twentynine Palms, CA Library on December 8, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.
Our local museum, The Old Schoolhouse, also allows us to set up a table to attract new members and sell our books. We both benefit as we donate so much per book sold.
This year our editor is considering publishing it on Smashwords.com for a wider distribution. We haven't made a decision at this point.
If your community doesn't have a writers' group, I suggest you start one. You might be surprised at the talent and how you can reach a new audience for your tales.
