AWP, Feb. 2009

AWP, Feb. 2009: Conference for Associated Writing Programs (panels and bookfair)

Attended very interesting panel on anthology publishing (geared toward college market):

Different Directions: Compiling Different Genre Anthologies for Different Markets. (Garnett Kilberg Cohen, Kim Addonizio, Arielle Greenberg, Kevin Prufer) Four editors of anthologies of different genres will discuss the problems, challenges, and delights of compiling anthologies for trade, academic, and small press markets. The panel will explore how selections are determined for inclusion, the process of acquiring permissions, what various houses want and need, what can prevent publication, the evolution of an anthology's focus, and the sometimes surprising steps and choices necessary in bringing the book to its readers.

Notes on panel:

University presses are getting less funding from universities right now, so they are becoming more commercial. Literary anthologies are their bread and butter—and they actual make money off of them (as opposed to trade publishers, who don't). The scale of a successful book in Univ. press market is totally different—an anthology that sells 5,000-7,000 copies is considered a success! (Trade publishers are notoriously difficult traffickers of anthologies because they demand such a high return.)

Very few folks actually make serious money off of anthologies. However, they give editors a chance to shape the canon and introduce new voices and reach/create/define new audiences.

Best option might be to suggest a concept and get cartoonists to sign on to do it. We would get an advance and pay them all a flat rate. Most of it would go to them. It would have to be a fairly juicy topic, one that would make them want to sign on and to be part of it. I think it should have something to do with identity. Generations and Identity. This could encompass place, ethnicity/culture, gender, etc. Relationship between self and society. In the back we could have resources for pairing the selections with classic works of literature to appeal to the teaching market. We could also have a well-known writer introduce each cartoonist—again for the literary/educational crowd.

Get Kevin Prufer’s sample approach letter? (He offered it and is a friend of Joy's)

Notes from follow-up at bookfair:

High interest from academic presses in graphic anthology for literary/educational market. Spoke to acquisitions editor at Michigan State Press, Michigan University Press, Trinity Press, Nebraska press. All were interested in seeing a proposal.

Michigan State U.: Martha A. Bates, Acquisitions Editor. batesmar@msu.edu. Ph: 517.355.9543., ext 104. website: msupress.msu.edu. V. good conversation with Martha. She thinks she “could sell such a proposal.”

The University of Michigan Press. Spoke with Alexa Ducsay, asst. ducsaya@umich.edu. Acquisitions editor: Tom Dwyer. thdwyer@umich.edu. website: www.press.umich.edu. (Michigan U press expressed specific interest in Nonfiction graphic lit anthology perhaps mixed with some critical essays.)

Trinity University Press. Spoke with Barbara Ras, Director. Very high production values—nice books. Writers on writing anthologies. Barbara.ras@trinity.edu. ph: 210.999.7344.


U. of Nebraska press: Sample guidelines for proposals on their website. Lowest interest level.