Anthology

Over the past two weeks, I wrote my first ever anthology. I've written short stories for my website, around 10,000 words. I've written estories for eharlequin, but I'd never written an anthology.

I discovered a few things. Plotting an anthology is exactly like plotting a book. (Duh,
susan!) You scoff, but I know a lot of writers who don't believe the story needs to have depth. I know writers who believe the hero and/or heroine don't have to grow...that there's not enough room in the story for both characters to grow.

The truth is...there is. You just need to keep in mind the constraints of your page count. You also need to have scenes do double and triple duty. You have to think through your story.

But that wasn't a hardship because that's exactly what I do for my longer books. I remind myself that I am in the entertainment industry. I remind myself that readers like a story they can sink their teeth into. They like characters they want to read about. They like good secondary characters. They like a good setting...I'm reading BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, the anthology with Heidi Rice, Kate Hardy, Aimee Carson and Amy Andrews...their "setting" is a blizzard that strands four couples over the holidays. Loved it!

Anyway...no matter how long or short, a story has to have all the components to be something that pleases your readers. True, single titles have to have a bigger, broader story that gives the novel added depth, category romances have to focus on the romance and anthologies have such a short page count that you have to really work your words to death...but you can do it!

Have faith in yourself. Have faith in your talent. Then, work. Never expect a free lunch. :)

Happy Monday