An anthology is a book that gathers stories, poems, or essays from several different writers into one volume. Unlike a short story collection (which features one author), an anthology pulls together many voices, often united by a theme like "best science fiction of the year" or "stories about grief." A literary editor typically curates the selection, choosing pieces that complement each other and create a cohesive reading experience.
Anthologies are one of the most accessible ways to get your short fiction in front of readers, especially early in your career. Getting accepted into a well-known anthology builds your publication credits and introduces your writing to an audience that already cares about your genre or theme. They're also a fantastic way to discover new authors and study how different writers tackle the same subject.
The classic academic anthology that has shaped how generations of students encounter literature.
Wait - this is actually a single-author collection, which highlights the key difference. Anthologies feature multiple authors.
A 2019 anthology that showcases how a strong editorial vision can spotlight underrepresented voices in speculative fiction.
Demonstrates how anthologies can reframe classic and contemporary work through a specific lens.
An anthology has multiple authors. A short story collection is by one author. If you see one name on the cover as "author," it's a collection. If you see "edited by," it's likely an anthology.
Many professional anthologies pay per-word rates. Check the SFWA or HWA guidelines for what counts as a qualifying market.
Find three open anthology calls in your preferred genre using The Submission Grinder or Duotrope. For each, write down the theme, word count range, pay rate, and deadline. Then draft a one-paragraph pitch for a story idea that fits one of those themes. This gets you practicing the skill of writing to a brief, which is exactly what anthology editors want to see.