Why (and When) Being a Contributing Author for an Anthology is (Not) for You
Have you written a chapter for an anthology or been asked to contribute to one?
An anthology is a book with a collection of chapters written by different authors on a specific topic.
One person, usually the lead author and/or the publisher, is responsible for compiling all the chapters, editing the manuscript, designing the cover, and publishing the book.
Aspiring authors tend to be attracted to participate in this kind of collection for the simple reason of leaving the burden of publishing and promoting a book on someone else's shoulders. But this comes at a cost!
There are some advantages of being a contributing author for an anthology, but do they outweigh the cons?
Why an Anthology Might Look Attractive for New Authors?
You feel the pride of becoming a published author and getting your name in a book (not necessarily on the cover) quicker and easier than writing a book on your own.
You don't need time to structure, edit, and publish the book. The lead author or the publisher will take care of all of that, thus saving you lots of work.
You’re part of a group that will put your name up next to other new authors (who may become famous in the future) and may lead to valuable connections for future collaborations.
Because you'll be involved (to a lesser extent) in book publishing, you may get some experience in the book publishing process.
If each contributing author gets several of their contacts to buy copies, the book will get traction and have a good chance of becoming a bestseller. This is a much easier task than if you are responsible for promoting your book on your own.
The Bitter Reality of an Anthology
Your name will likely not be on the front cover of the book. It may be listed on the back or in the table of contents, so people will always associate you with something other than that book. The bottom line is that you've helped the main lead author get their name out there for a potentially successful book that all contributing authors have promoted.
You don’t feel like a published author if you are one of 12 or 24 other contributors to the book. The sad reality is that contributing authors discover this feeling only after the anthology is published, and they don't see any results in their business and career as an author. They tend to regret the time, energy, and money spent on becoming a contributing author in an anthology. They often either end their career as an author, pick up the pieces, and publish their book. Many authors say they feel a sense of accomplishment in becoming published authors only when they write and publish their books.
You will probably be asked to contribute money to the editing, publishing, and promotions process – which you could use instead to publish and market your book.
You are less likely to generate visits to your website and leads to your business (and email list). Being a contributing author in an anthology imposes some rules from the publisher on how many lead magnets you can include in your chapter. On the other hand, if you've published your book, you can include multiple hook points across the book and generate more leads to your website.
You may be restricted to the type of content or length of your chapter if you have a message that you would like to share with the world. You may need help to do this in your style and an anthology type of book. The restrictions and limitations will only sometimes play in your favor.
Suppose one of your objectives in writing a book is to improve your exposure and position as your industry's authority with an anthology. In that case, you are unlikely to be discovered by the media or asked to speak at events.
Related: 5 Ways a Book Can Grow The Flow of Customers to Your Business
Do you know what you think you should do?
Being part of an anthology can be fun and exciting as a first venture or side project. It helps you dip your toes into the publishing experience. But most authors say it’s not as satisfying as writing your book and doesn’t give you the same benefits of being considered an authority.
What’s your experience participating in an anthology or writing your book?
