THE LEGAL SIDE OF PUBLISHING AN ANTHOLOGY:
• Understanding Copyrights for Anthologies (Susan Spann, Writers in the Storm, 11-13-15) Anthology contracts should contain at least two clear statements of copyright:
A declaration that copyright in the author's work remains the sole property of the contributing author; and
A declaration that the copyright in the anthology "as a collective work" belongs to the anthology publisher.
• NEVER grant or transfer your copyright in your work to an anthology publisher. Authors of individual works should always retain copyright on their own original work. Author retains all rights not expressly granted to the publisher in the contract.
• Grants of Rights in Anthology Contracts (Susan Spann, Writers in the Storm, 10-9-15) The anthology contract should grant the anthology publisher only the rights reasonably necessary to publish and sell the anthology. (a) First Print Rights or Non-exclusive Print Rights. (b) rights to be published as part of a specified anthology only, (c) nonexclusive rights, (d) English-language rights only, (e) no granting of subsidiary rights such as movies, television, app and gaming, graphic novel, merchandising.
"The publisher doesn't need to own the copyright in your work in order to publish the work as part of an anthology or other collection."~Susan Spann
Susan Spann is a California transactional attorney whose practice focuses on publishing law and business. She also writes the Shinobi Mysteries, featuring ninja detective Hiro Hattori and his Portuguese Jesuit sidekick, Father Mateo.
• The Legal Side of Writing for Anthologies (Part 1) (Susan Spann, Writers in the Storm, 9-11-15)
• Show Me the Money: Royalties in Anthology Contracts (Susan Spann, Writers in the Storm, 12-11-15)
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PUTTING TOGETHER AN ANTHOLOGY
• How and Why to Edit an Anthology: Addressing the Naysayers (Margot Kahn on Jane Friedman's blog, 11-27-17)
• The Art and Science of Anthology Editing (Alex Shvartsman's Speculative Fiction, 2-1-15)
• 7 Tips on Editing an Anthology by Lisa Frank, editor of Galway Stories (Lisa Frank, Resources for Writers, Writing.ie, 5-2-13)
• The Hardest Job in Publishing: Editing an Anthology (Mark Doty, Publishers Weekly, 9-14-12) Mark Doty is the guest editor for this year's Best American Poetry anthology, and here he takes us through the long hours and the ultimately rewarding experience of a year of reading more than anyone could ever be expected to read.
• What Does It Actually Mean to "Edit" an Anthology? (Sarena Ulibarri, 8-8-16) It means identifying a theme or angle, soliciting stories or being open to submissions, reading the slush pile and sending acceptances and rejections, narrowing down the shortlist, issuing contracts and payments, editing and arranging the stories, and on into production.
• Storyville: How to Put Together an Anthology (Richard thomas, Lit Reactor, 6-5-14)
• How to Get Included in a Short Story Anthology (Tim O'Mara, Career Authors, 12-7-18)
• Anthology Books: What Are They and How Can Writers Use Them? (Heidi Thorne, Owlcation, 5-18-18)
• 10 Tips for Self-Publishing a Multi-Author Anthology (Suw Charman-Anderson, Forbes, 10-23-13) Lessons learned by the editor of A Passion for Science: Stories of Discovery and Invention. Tip #1: Invite three times as many people as you need. #2: Give very early deadlines. #3: Have a house style. #5: Provide author guidelines.
SOME OF THE ANTHOLOGIES PAT MCNEES HAS EDITED OR CO-EDITED
• Dying: A Book of Comfort (an anthology that I've been told by dozens of readers has provided comfort to people who are dying, who are helping someone who is dying, or who are grieving a loss). Order directly from me and you can get the lovely, small hardcover gift edition ($17.95 includes media mail shipping in U.S.A). You can also order the print-on-demand paperback through Amazon (I am the vendor pmcnees5, and can send hardcover or paperback), which is, frankly, not as nice, although the content is the same.
• Contemporary Latin American Short Stories (edited by Pat McNees and in print since 1974)
• My Words Are Gonna Linger: The Art of Personal History edited by Paula Stallings Yost and Pat McNees ("At last, a collection that shows the 'why, what, and how' behind memoir as legacy."--Susan Wittig Albert, author of Writing from Life: Telling Your Soul's Story.
• New Formulas for America's Workforce: Girls in Science and Engineering (Vol. 1, which I wrote for the National Science Foundation--read it online or download it free to read it later), a "bestseller" for the NSF. This is an anthology of writeups of projects various groups around the country worked on.