Anthology 2005!
Now for the good news!
As you've no doubt surmised from the subject line, it's Anthology Time! *mad cheers*
Last year we did our first Anthology, Sharing the Swag. (Still available in free download)
We learned a LOT from our first endeavor into the anthology world, and this years anthology is going to reflect that.

To the writers, more time to get it done, specific submittal guidelines and a clearer writing goal.
For the producers (feath and leatherdykeuk) streamlined submittal policy producing a better product with less stress.

We do have new members from last year, so a very brief explanation of what the anthology is. A collection of writing from any/all members of musemuggers is accepted (one story per person who wishes to be in it). We ask that it is your best story (that isn't out on submittal ;). We give the book away in PDF format, as well as sell them on lulu.com/musemuggers at no more cost than what lulu charges. Last year we sold about 70 copies, to all over the world. It was LOTS of fun, and we in musemuggers management look eagerly forward to Musemuggers Anthology 2005.

And this year, we have a THEME! LOL ...



Submittal guidelines:

Everyone who wishes to contribute will be welcome and accepted, present members only.

You may submit one (1) musemuggers story. Make sure it is edited and as polished as you can make it. Myself and the moderators will read it, looking for typo's only. We will point them out. It is up to the writer to fix them and return the corrected version promptly. You may want a friend to beta read it.


You will post your story on musemuggers community, the subject line will read: Anthology - Your LJ name - your story title. Tag it with 'anthology2005' and your lj name, so we can find it on searches. They will be friends locked and behind an LJ cut. Story must be a full story, with a beginning, middle and end. Size limit 100 words to 10,000 words. They must use the Musemuggers theme (see bottom of page). You will head the story with it's title, your pen name (whatever name you want on it) and a 50 word bio. Failure to do any of these will disqualify your story for inclusion.

Deadline is July 30th, 2005 at midnight your local time. Anything posted after that will not be accepted. Any requested edited pieces must be back by Aug 15th.

No fancy fonts and formatting, unless needed for the story.

Formatting will be Times new roman 12pt; single spacing; single line between paragraphs; No double space after full stop; line *** line between scene shifts. Title, author and word count at top of story.

The Anthology will be officially launched on musemuggers anniversary, which is Sept 3rd.

Story must be original work -- fan fic has copyrighted characters, and I love you, but I don't want to go to jail for you. Fan Fic is okay IF you change the name of the characters, change any identifying features, and in effect, make it YOUR world, then, yeah, it's okay. *grin* If I can read it and say: Oh, that's Harry potter at Hogwarts, well, it's not going to fly. HOWEVER, if it is a character that is in public domain (I.E. King Lear) that is okay.

The anthology will be in both paper (lulu) and pdf format. leatherdykeuk has offered to format the PDF (again! Brave girl!), and I will put it up for free from my website. We will publish from Lulu.com, using the 'no royalties' option. Cost will be only lulu's cost.


Theme:

This photograph will be the cover of the book. (click on the photo for a larger version) The photograph IS the theme. You may use the photograph as is -- or bits of it, or the mood, or whatever strikes your fancy. But the photograph must somehow be reflected in the story. If your story diverges too far from the photo, so that we can not tell it was used in some way, the story will not be included.
Consider this a trial run for a paying market ;)


"Candle and Compass, Book and Skull."

Click on the photo for larger, more detailed version. WARNING. Huge, hairy file that will fry dial ups. (needed for book cover)