Publishing the Story Collection

How often do you hear that agents and publishers are not interested in story collections? Writers are commonly advised that their creative energies would be best spent on a novel (tell that to Alice Munro!). While writers seeking publication for a story collection might face particular challenges, a great many short story collections are, year after year, published, many to acclaim, some successfully launching the author's career (Laura van den Berg, Jennine Capó Crucet, Molly Antopol, and Mia Alvar come to mind). In this three-hour intensive, we'll demystify the path from finishing a collection to securing publication. Via lecture, discussion of resources provided, and Q & A, we'll outline the options available to writers of collections. Topics will include researching agents, drafting an effective cover letter, the small press landscape, book contests, and how to build an audience for short fiction. You'll leave the class with a deeper understanding of the publishing landscape, a packet of resources, and a plan for how to proceed with your own collection.