Multi-author anthologies can be a great way for readers to try new authors and for authors to work together to create a work of art that would be impossible to complete alone. Additionally, multi-author anthologies can use more resources, whether social media or advertising investment, to help them succeed.

However, creating a multi-author anthology can be complex. Here are five tips for success.

Appoint a Project Leader

Every anthology needs a leader. That leader can be appointed at the start or democratically selected from amongst the participants. This leader should be in charge of delegating tasks, reinforcing rules, and making decisions when those decisions aren’t appropriate to decide by the committee. This leader can be one of the authors in the anthology or a separate entity.

Set Expectations Early

Writing a clear contract before starting a multi-author anthology is recommended so that every member is transparent on what is expected of them and what they can expect from the anthology. For example, is there a theme, content limitations, and word count expectations for submitted projects? Will all the authors hire their own editor, or will an editor be provided to them for a fee? Will all the authors contribute to the needed custom book covers? Who is in charge of interior book design? What about digital printing services? How will the authors contribute to marketing? How will book printing costs be handled?

Arrangement of Stories

The arrangement of stories matters. An anthology should always start with a strong story and, where possible, one of the more prominent named authors. This brings readers in and makes them interested in continuing the book. Similarly, it should end with a strong story and a more prominent named author. Books inside can be ordered by theme, tone, or other appropriate groupings, but there should be alternating stronger and weaker stories throughout. Stories that are longer should be placed beside shorter stories. Keep the ultimate goal, a pleasant reading experience, in mind.

Include a Table of Contents

Unfortunately, readers who pick up an anthology aren’t always planning to read every story. Instead, they may wish to read one particular author within the set or one type of story. Therefore, a table of contents at the front of the book should clearly tell readers where each author’s story is and, ideally, should hint at what the story is about so readers can prioritize the stories they are most excited to read.

Multi-Author Anthologies Should be Fun!

While the primary motivation to enter multi-author anthologies is usually exposure, connections with fellow authors should be a goal as well. Therefore, multi-author anthology organizers and leaders should create opportunities for the authors in the group to form business and personal connections. Authors who genuinely like the other contributing authors and who are proud of the multi-author anthology they are self-publishing are more likely to contribute to its success as well as agree to future projects.

Whether you are creating a multi-author anthology, cookbooks, calendars, children’s books, or novels, InstantPublisher offers all the self-publishing services authors need. Visit our website today to see how InstantPublisher can help you succeed with our book printing services.