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?s about compiling essays for a book

I have an idea for a book of a compilation of essays. I've never written or edited a book before. Not sure if I'll follow through with this yet or not but I'm curious about the process. Would I need to take the idea to a publisher before putting out a call for submissions? Has anyone here organized a book in this style before & can share with me what the process is like?

By mamazinereader at 04/05/2006 - 4:36pm | Non-Fiction | previous forum topic | next forum topic

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Thanks for the input

Thanks for the input everyone. it's not a parenting anthology & I think it's a unique idea. hopefully i'll be putting out a call for submissions here sometime in the future.

also as far as i can see most anthologies don't pay the contributers. they get a free book & something to put on their resume. am i right?

By mamazinereader at Sun, 04/09/2006 - 5:49pm |

Some do, some don't. The

Some do, some don't. The most I've seen is $100, some do $50, some only do copies. It depends on the press, the advance, the editors, I believe. Also, if you try and attract big-name authors, they expect (usually) to be paid.

By splendid at Mon, 04/10/2006 - 2:08am |

Usually, a book proposal for

Usually, a book proposal for an anthology includes several sample essays to show what kind of writing you would hope to solicit. Sometimes, however, people go the other way, but then, it's harder to get essays submitted for a project that may never happen.

By splendid at Wed, 04/05/2006 - 8:32pm |

The agent I was talking with

The agent I was talking with awhile back really impressed upon me that there needs to be some unifying principle to a book of essays (and just "motherhood" wasn't enough). You need to find some unique angle on the topic. The proposal would go into this, as well as containing several sample essays.

Miranda: a zine about motherhood and other adventures

By Miranda at Fri, 04/07/2006 - 2:48am |

i've several friends who've

i've several friends who've had this same experience, especially recently with all the anthologies about motherhood out there now. this is the part of your proposal where you explain why your book is unique, compared to all those already existing.

By splendid at Fri, 04/07/2006 - 12:38pm |

I submitted work for one

I submitted work for one anthology at the ground floor: the editor asked people she'd worked with before for "sample essays" for the proposal and then sent out a general call for subs once the proposal had been accepted. I think sample chapters are an essential selling point for a nonfiction proposal, anthologies included. Could you collect three or so samples to include?

By whiskeysour at Wed, 04/05/2006 - 8:32pm |

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A (oops sorry) publisher but it certainly helps.

www.fertilegroundzine.com

By staleyg at Wed, 04/05/2006 - 7:41pm |