Boost Your Visibility & Your Bucks With Anthologies!

Like most writers, being published by a “traditional publisher” had been a goal of mine for a number of years. But, most major publishers today are typically seeking big-name celebrities or writers with cult-like followings to assign contracts, for a greater return on their investment and resources.

Heck, even writers with Pulitzer Prize potential can go “undiscovered” and unpublished in the current writing climate; if their platforms are not big or solid enough.

So, I tried the backdoor approach to gain entry. To get around this, I have opted to participate in various anthology projects. These are creative collaborations of short stories and poems by different authors usually on a common theme. The most popular one of which you may be familiar is “Chicken Soup for the Soul.”

Here’s the back story to today’s story. A few years ago, there was a call for submissions for stories for inclusion in Simon and Schuster’s “Chocolate for a Woman’s Heart” Series. I sent my work, crossed my fingers and ended up being published in about a half a dozen different titles. It was a great experience that yielded the following:

• Free copies of the books that included my work
• Pay (for some of the books)
• Travel and networking opportunities
• Book signings at the Borders Bookstore in my local area
• A publishing credit from a “major” publisher

And you can too.
Chicken Soup for the Soul has several ongoing themes.
See them here:
https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics

And wait...it gets even better. In 2016, my success was duplicated when my “how-to” on branding was chosen by Adams Media for inclusion in “The Ultimate Freelancer’s Guidebook” by Yuwanda Black, along with some other publishing big wigs.

I have yet to sell an entire manuscript to a traditional publisher, but until I do, I still have the “bragging rights” and benefits afforded big time authors. And I am proud as a peacock.

Autograph, anyone?


Please note: Pen and Prosper will be on a brief spring break until May 1, 2019.
I look forward to reconnecting then (as I count down to my 10 yr. blog anniversary)!
See you soon.


Thoughts? Have you participated in any of these anthology projects?
Would you recommend it?
Do tell.

Image credit autographed books: Pixabay.com