I have thought about contributing to anthologies, particularly in the sci-fi realm. I know of a couple ones that are still going, but I wonder what sort of "gateway" system there is that you have to pass through. Meaning, if you're not part of the "exclusive club" you can't contribute. Anthologies are a great idea though.
I hear what you're saying. There are opportunities, especially in crime writing, to get your "foot in the door" so to speak with anthologies. My first published fiction was a short story published in an anthology released by the Chesapeake Chapter of Sisters in Crime. I was so thrilled! But that's a members-only thing with SinC and the local chapter. I could set up a community of genre writers (crime, sci-fi, Western, historical, I love all of them) (Much as I love sci-fi, the closest thing I've published in that genre is the novel, The Planck Factor.) and set up networking ops for people who'd like to try self-publishing. There is a LOT I could go over on the self-publishing front. Along with direct sales, you have Patreon, Substack, and other community-based approaches for earning a living. Plus crowdfunding, which the indie film community has been doing for a long time. For good or ill, we need to catch up with tech tools that'll make our jobs easier and more productive/lucrative. Not just post shit on social media and hope for the best. Or crank out endless product until we burn ourselves out.
I have thought about contributing to anthologies, particularly in the sci-fi realm. I know of a couple ones that are still going, but I wonder what sort of "gateway" system there is that you have to pass through. Meaning, if you're not part of the "exclusive club" you can't contribute. Anthologies are a great idea though.
I hear what you're saying. There are opportunities, especially in crime writing, to get your "foot in the door" so to speak with anthologies. My first published fiction was a short story published in an anthology released by the Chesapeake Chapter of Sisters in Crime. I was so thrilled!
But that's a members-only thing with SinC and the local chapter. I could set up a community of genre writers (crime, sci-fi, Western, historical, I love all of them) (Much as I love sci-fi, the closest thing I've published in that genre is the novel, The Planck Factor.) and set up networking ops for people who'd like to try self-publishing.
There is a LOT I could go over on the self-publishing front. Along with direct sales, you have Patreon, Substack, and other community-based approaches for earning a living. Plus crowdfunding, which the indie film community has been doing for a long time.
For good or ill, we need to catch up with tech tools that'll make our jobs easier and more productive/lucrative. Not just post shit on social media and hope for the best. Or crank out endless product until we burn ourselves out.