Many of us haven't read short stories since high school. And when we did read them, they were "classic" literature. Definitely not like the adventures you find in Outland's anthologies, filled with fantasy, science fiction, seedy underbelly adventures, and dinosaurs.
The last couple years I've gotten into short story anthologies in a big way, and my life feels fuller for it. So if you haven't already started your own journey into snack sized stories, here are a few of the reasons why you should!
#1- Anthologies let you binge lots of great stories in a smaller amount of time.
Are you one of the millions who likes to binge TV shows or podcasts? An episode here or there... or hours of episodes here or there?
If only you could do that with reading!
Oh wait. You can.
Anthologies, especially the more intense ones like our Kaiju anthologies (links in images to the right), are kind of like Black Mirror or or your favorite true crime podcast. Sometimes you can only take in a little at a time before you need a break. And sometimes you don't care that your shoulders are stiff and your nails have bitten to nubs from the intense storyline, you just gotta get another hit.
#2- Anthologies are great in a time crunch.
Who doesn't love a multivolume saga, amiright?
Jk. Lots of people. (no pun intended)
But even if you love a long epic series, sometimes you need a one-and-done story while you're waiting for dinner or settling in to bed.
Anthologies like Neverland's Library are like little snacks with all the delight of story but low-level commitment and a big payoff.
#3- Anthologies introduce you to a lot of authors all at once.
If you've ever posted "looking for a new author to read, my favorite authors are…," then anthologies are the way to go. Get an anthology that your favorite author has been published in. You'll likely find several other authors that share their particular genre or style. And sometimes you'll find an up and coming author and you can say, "I read them when…" Where the Veil is Thin is an excellent example, with award winning authors such as Seanan McGuire, Glenn Parris, David Bowles, Carlos Hernandez, C.S.E. Cooney, and more but also with some lesser known authors who are just waiting to break into the big time.
#4- Anthologies often hold bonus stories from your favorite worlds.
AND THE NORTHERN STAR
You probably know that a lot of what authors write for their novels gets cut out. So to avoid "killing their darlings" authors often turn them into short stories and publish them in random anthologies. And sometimes, like in the case of Althingi Anthology: The Crescent and the Northern Star's contributing writer Kaitlin Felix, authors love the short stories they write so much that they want to expand on them in novel form or in short stories in other anthologies.
Want more of your favorite world? Check out anthologies the author has submitted to.
#5- Anthologies have different perspectives on the same thing.
Maybe you love urban fairy tales and want some variety. Or maybe you're not sure you'll like something like dinofiction but don't want to base an opinion on one book. An anthology is a great place to explore a lot of different ways of approaching the same thing.
#6- Buying anthologies supports writers in a big way.
Creating and submitting short stories to anthologies is a great way for authors to to make dough and get exposure while they're working on longer formats. And when you fund an anthology, you support a dozen or more authors all at once, not to mention the talented editors who collect the stories and make sure the anthologies happen.
#7- Some phenomenal authors never write a novel.
That's right, short stories aren't just the novelist's hobby. There are lots of incredible authors out there who only write short stories!!! Think about what you could be missing out on!!!
Outland Entertainment loves publishing anthologies for all these reasons and more, and we think if you pick one up, you'll be hooked. Take a look at the titles mentioned above, and sign up for our Newsletter below so you'll know exactly when we have another project in the works!
In fact, you might especially want to keep and eye on these titles:
A World of Pileaus Fantasy Anthology
What experiences have you already had with anthologies? Found any great authors or hidden stories? Let us know in the comments!
Tara Cloud Clark manages social media and publicity for Outland Entertainment. She has a varied background in communications and marketing, design project management, k-higher education program development, and nonprofit/grant management. She provides freelance services as project manager and branding specialist for creatives and the businesses who collaborate with them.