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Anyone interested in doing an anthology?
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Faith
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Mar 17, 2020 08:34AM
Has anyone thought of doing a short story anthology where every story is written by someone sheltering at home because of the coronavirus outbreak, adding their location on a map at the start? I could edit. It would be an interesting historical snapshot.
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What content would you be expecting? I'm pretty much living the hermit life regardless of the spreading virus.
I would be interested, I am sheltering at home in Germany. Does it has to be in an special genre or based on your own experiences?
Since you are posting it here, I presume you are looking for Fantasy or SF. Do you have any particular theme in mind? I'd be interested, and I'm pretty sure some other members of our Memphis (Tennessee) Writers Group would be interested as well. We are all "sheltering at home" here, sad because MidSouthCon (local Fantasy, SF and Gaming convention -- scheduled for this weekend) was cancelled. We normally have two meetings a month -- one at a local library, the other at a restaurant -- but those have been cancelled as well.
Eric wrote: "What content would you be expecting? I'm pretty much living the hermit life regardless of the spreading virus."Hi Eric. I think we need to agree on rules together but I would propose standalone short stories, any genre, not previously published, with a word count not exceeding 2,500. It would be good to have contributors from multiple countries. Publication via KDP?
If we leave the cover art to the end, that would be good. then we'll know what the most visual story image might be.
Leticia wrote: "I would be interested, I am sheltering at home in Germany. Does it has to be in an special genre or based on your own experiences?"Hi Leticia. I don't think it should be limited to one genre because firstly we won't get enough contributors if there are too many filters and secondly it is connected by the unusual commonality that we are all castled up at home for a few weeks. Maybe when the stories are in, we could have 3 from the same genre together, for example, but let's see what comes in.
John wrote: "Since you are posting it here, I presume you are looking for Fantasy or SF. Do you have any particular theme in mind? I'd be interested, and I'm pretty sure some other members of our Memphis (Ten..."Hi John. Any theme - It would be good to reflect a broad spectrum of creative people and interests, all in the same fix - locked up at home. My personal preference (away from this project) is for sci-fi but some impartiality will be needed so no one feels they don't belong. Any author who is isolated at home at the moment is welcome to submit a story. The more the better as we can't do this unless there are enough writers (aiming for 20).
Submissions email: faith@workmail.comGenre/Topic: any
Common factor: Should be written during the coronavirus isolation at home period (several authors stuck at home)
Wordcount: up to 2,500 per story
Title: ?
Submission deadline: ?
Number of stories per author: 1
Artwork by: ?
Prohibitions: Fan fiction can't be included because it contravenes someone else's copyright.
To maintain consistency, I'll copy edit it to the UK English grammatical format, in case anyone is precious about losing the occasional comma.
Any sales should first be used to pay the cover artist and anything left over I suggest should go to charity (unless a mainstream publisher takes it) because splitting a small amount in 20 directions less international transfer fees would be peanuts. We'd be doing this to keep ourselves sane and to pick up a publishing credit.
All suggestions are welcome, especially on any of the points above which still have a question mark. Do you think the word count is ok? Please also mention this to other authors who are at home.
I love this. I think I'd be happy to play a part in it. I tend toward SFF but want to also try contemporary--so this might be a good way to do that.I'm in Southern California. Title? No good idea-- a few brainstorms:
Writers in lockdown
Stories from the precipice: creativity in a time of coronavirus
Strange new world
The End, an anthology
Word count seems reasonable as an expectation/guideline. Time frame feels like could be weeks/month but not, say, six months.
Hi PL. I think 'Writers in lockdown' is a good provisional title. A lot depends on enough people joining.
Sounds intriguing. I don’t have a short story idea off the top of my head, but if I can come up with something, I’d love to play along...
It looks like we still need at least 10 more people to make this viable. Does anyone know any prolific writers?
Faith wrote: "It looks like we still need at least 10 more people to make this viable. Does anyone know any prolific writers?"I'd love to submit a story to this anthology, if you'd have me. This sounds like a lot fun. And if you decide on a due date for the tales, please let me know.
Faith wrote: "It looks like we still need at least 10 more people to make this viable. Does anyone know any prolific writers?"I'll ask around and see if I can send writers this way. Since most of the writers I know are on Facebook, could you send me your Facebook profile or email so I can send contact info for them?
P.L. wrote: "I love this. I think I'd be happy to play a part in it. I tend toward SFF but want to also try contemporary--so this might be a good way to do that.I'm in Southern California. Title? No good idea..."
'Writers in lockdown' seems like a good title, I wouldn't call it The end since this is too dramatic, let's not make a too panicky or negative title.
I’m quite interested in taking part in this. Is the idea to publish it in kindle and paperback or just kindle?
Let's go for paperback and ebook. I don't have a Facebook account (lingering paranoia about data), but my email is faith@workmail.com
If there are only ten writers, I suppose we could increase the word count to a maximum of 5,000 words.
Are you looking for stories about the experience (true) or stories around the possibility of the outcomes of the epidemic? Our own accounts or fiction?
Hi Sandy. It doesn't have to be about the virus. Any subject, any genre, as long as it is written during the shut down period for your locality. It can be almost anything.
Ahh thanks so much for the clarification.
Faith wrote: "Let's go for paperback and ebook. I don't have a Facebook account (lingering paranoia about data), but my email is faith@workmail.com"Thanks, I'll send a pm to the two writers who are interested in Facebook.
When would be the deadline? Do we have enough people? So far it seems we have seven interested here and two on Facebook.
Leticia wrote: "When would be the deadline? Do we have enough people? So far it seems we have seven interested here and two on Facebook."I think we have the required number of writers if we offer the higher word count, i.e. fewer than 20 stories still fills the book. Aim for 2,000 to 5,000 (max.) words. If authors don't submit and we're short, that would be out of my control - but let's assume enough will. I could post the call on more Goodreads groups, as there's enough time.
Three months would be about right, so would a 20th June deadline be acceptable to everyone?
Thanks Andy. I will try contacting everyone individually to confirm they are in.
Hi Faith. Count me out. I don't think I'm up to a fictional short story. Sorry.
20th June would probably work for me.
Faith, I think you can count me in. I should be able to make that deadline.
Just one question Faith. Do we keep the copyright of our stories?
Hi Hakon. Yes, authors will have copyright for their own stories, so stories and owners will be listed individually on the legal information preface.
I'm in. This sounds like a great project.
Thanks P.L. Good luck with your writing.
Have the writers from Facebook contacted you via email? I think there were three of them.
Hi Leticia. A couple of people have but I am unsure whether they are the same ones.
"Conversation enriches understanding, but solitude is the school of genius" - Gibbon.
I'm planning to send a link to this thread to some writers I know and am curious if the project is still planned to go forward?I've drafted a 3000 word story and am getting feedback on it now. If the project is still planned, great, if not, also fine.
-patty
p.s. also, I'm fuzzy on how copyright works. If my story goes into the anthology, am I still free to use it as a newsletter/reader magnet, and can I put it additionally into my own personal short-story anthology later? Or is any of that considered bad form?
P.L. wrote: "I'm planning to send a link to this thread to some writers I know and am curious if the project is still planned to go forward?..."Hi P.L.
The book is still going ahead as 19 writers from 6 countries have said they have a short story in progress (including yourself) and there are 2 finished stories so far, one of which is the full 5,000 words and I wouldn't change a single one of them. Several more authors can still join, so go ahead and let people know, as I think it's realistic that some people won't complete (It's an author thing; Actually, it's an author and wine thing).
Copyright for each story will be retained in full by the author, so your work can be re-published anywhere you like or put on your blog. The intention is to make a creative collection of diverse work and take a mental snapshot from the international writing community at this important time in human history. I'm not a controlling personality type, honestly very far from it, so what's yours stays yours in perpetuity. I just like to stay busy and make astonishing things happen. About one time in fifty it, arguably, approaches the description. Let's make a collection of short stories, against the odds. "What did you do in the great pandemic?" "I made something I'm proud to show you".
I like to write short stories. I live in Vermont, sheltering at home. I’d be in if there’s room!
"The book is still going ahead as 19 writers from 6 countries have said they have a short story in progress (including yourself) and there are 2 finished stories so far, one of which is the full 5,000 words and I wouldn't change a single one of them. "Awesome, Faith--I am glad you've got the interest you need! I expect to finish mine and email to you in the next week or two. By the beginning of May at the latest.
Melissa wrote: "I like to write short stories. I live in Vermont, sheltering at home. I’d be in if there’s room!"Hi Melissa. There's room, so please go ahead. The word count cut-off is 5,000 and the deadline is 20th June. It can be a fiction story (not fan-fic though) about any subject, in any genre - or unclassifiable is also good. This is a good place to put that weird idea you never thought you'd write. I hope you find some good inspiration.
Faith wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I like to write short stories. I live in Vermont, sheltering at home. I’d be in if there’s room!"Hi Melissa. There's room, so please go ahead. The word count cut-off is 5,000 and ..."
Thanks! I'll be right on it.
Progress update at the two months to go mark: 3 stories have been completed so far and I've found a suitable cover artist.
How do you want the stories delivered? Word doc, scrivener, other?
Andy wrote: "How do you want the stories delivered? Word doc, scrivener, other?"Hi Andy. A standard Word file would be ideal. When you're ready, please email it to: faith@workmail.com
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Writers in Lockdown (other topics)Writers in Lockdown (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Mark Lawrence (other topics)Hugh Howey (other topics)
