Number of Anthology Themes for 2023

[Valkyrie]

Please select how many themes you would like to see us offer per anthology.  Feel free to open up any discussion below. 

[Carlos Hazday]

To me, an anthology should be a collection of stories/poems with a common thread. When a bunch of different themes are used as inspiration, it ceases to be an anthology in my book.

You want something broad and concise as an antho theme? How about Dave? Every submission must include a character, preferably a main one, named David.

@Mrsgnomie suggested the name.

 

[Mrsgnomie]

5 minutes ago, Carlos Hazday said:

To me, an anthology should be a collection of stories/poems with a common thread. When a bunch of different themes are used as inspiration, it ceases to be an anthology in my book.

You want something broad and concise as an antho theme? How about Dave? Every submission must include a character, preferably a main one, named David.

@Mrsgnomie suggested the name.

 

[Mrsgnomie]

I think the fun of the anthologies is seeing how multiple authors take a single theme and make it there own. With the potluck, there is nothing tying to the stories together.

[Aditus]

I voted one.

[Mancunian]

I think one theme is the best way to go. Part of the attraction in reading the last anthology entries was how authors interpreted the theme in so many different ways, that gave a great variety in stories and genres which I found really enjoyable.

If we're going to pick characters for the anthologies I think the name Dave is too common, we could choose the characters location though, maybe we should include a Mancunian in each one, lol. (only joking guys) 🤣🤣🤣

[Carlos Hazday]

39 minutes ago, Mancunian said:

I think one theme is the best way to go. Part of the attraction in reading the last anthology entries was how authors interpreted the theme in so many different ways, that gave a great variety in stories and genres which I found really enjoyable.

If we're going to pick characters for the anthologies I think the name Dave is too common, we could choose the characters location though, maybe we should include a Mancunian in each one, lol. (only joking guys) 🤣🤣🤣

I'd go for a location as the theme. Manchester could work.

 

[Mrsgnomie]

5 minutes ago, Carlos Hazday said:

I'd go for a location as the theme. Manchester could work.

 

Oregon Coast.

[Mancunian]

@Carlos Hazday if we did use locations I'm sure that you would find a way to send CJ or one of the crew there wherever it was, lol.  

[AC Benus]

Having been around for nine years already, I've seen the hay-day of the GA anthology when every popular author on the site contributed a story to at least one of the four yearly collections. As for themes, we should be mindful that the great unifying thread in our efforts is to illustrate our own personal corner of the great GA world. We are untied in being a community of individuals; that will always tie us first and foremost, and make what we produce a GA anthology. 

When the hay-days faded (or, perhaps salad days is more appetizing  ), the introducing of multiple prompts options for the anthologies arose because quite a few writers voiced a desire for variety. There was every reason to believe this choice of 'inspiration' would help people create and submit, but it didn't. So I'm in favor of having the one grand theme for each anthology. And the site has always been clear on taking that theme and interpreting it anyway an author likes. Tangental rocks! 

[Carlos Hazday]

1 hour ago, Mancunian said:

@Carlos Hazday if we did use locations I'm sure that you would find a way to send CJ or one of the crew there wherever it was, lol.  

Using Washington, D.C. as the epicenter, I've taken CJ and Owen all over the U.S. and to a few foreign countries. The overseas locations have increased as they get older.

This year I've shared stories set in Mexico City (with several side trips), Key West, Washington, and currently Spain. Upcoming stories will take place in Newport, Rhode Island, back in D.C., and in Cuba. The world's my playground, but I'm willing to share. LOL

I'd love to read a bunch of short stories all set in Los Angeles, New York, or London.

[northie]

I think I'd find specific names and named locations limiting. David (the current example) suggests to me a fairly defined character and one that may not appeal. Requiring a specific setting would be likely to raise barriers against wider participation. The beauty of 'Anniversary' was its openness to interpretation. Yes, it's a theme and one which was apparent in each story, but it in no way limited the variety and imagination of those who contributed. To my mind, antho themes have to tread the narrow line between providing a source of inspiration but not corralling everyone to follow a certain path.

[Mrsgnomie]

27 minutes ago, northie said:

I think I'd find specific names and named locations limiting. David (the current example) suggests to me a fairly defined character and one that may not appeal. Requiring a specific setting would be likely to raise barriers against wider participation. The beauty of 'Anniversary' was its openness to interpretation. Yes, it's a theme and one which was apparent in each story, but it in no way limited the variety and imagination of those who contributed. To my mind, antho themes have to tread the narrow line between providing a source of inspiration but not corralling everyone to follow a certain path.

I can attest the David was just Carlos' way of yanking my chain. I think we can all agree it would be a terrible theme lol. Same with locations! but fun to joke about. 

[Myr]

35 minutes ago, Mrsgnomie said:

I can attest the David was just Carlos' way of yanking my chain. I think we can all agree it would be a terrible theme lol. Same with locations! but fun to joke about. 

@Carlos Hazday is serious all the time and wouldn't yank anyone's chain.

[Myr]

If we do more than one them in the anthology, I'm in favor of separate categories for them. 

Maybe even decided now and having both of them later in the year.  so new stories for Oct/Nov/Dec.  Or something like that.  We can work out how the participating authors want to do it.

[Carlos Hazday]

Dave was a joke. The locations not so much. But I admit in the one I read all authors had some sort of connection to the place.

[Mancunian]

There are a lot of good points that have been voiced on this topic, humour has also been included in many. Let's take note of the serious posts, they have good points, and enjoy the humour in the others, it's good to laugh.

[Krista]

Back then, authors wanting variety - more or less got tired of similar themes always being voted into the mix when voting for a theme was a thing. I'm okay with one theme, or two to separate them into two smaller anthologies. Not that I'll make the deadline nor the word count like usual, but the last two anthologies an effort on my part was at the very least made.

I see where the potluck worked to alleviate some stress of actually coming up with a theme and not overusing them or making them too similar.

---

and if Dave is a theme, I have an Ex by that name so that could get a bit messy. *whistles* (I'm not bitter) 

[Mrsgnomie]

3 minutes ago, Krista said:

and if Dave is a theme, I have an Ex by that name so that could get a bit messy. *whistles* (I'm not bitter) 

Sounds juicy...

*blows whistle* "Dave is BACK in play!"

[Krista]

1 minute ago, Mrsgnomie said:

Sounds juicy...

*blows whistle* "Dave is BACK in play!"

I would have to become one of the stereotypical women who stay up all night watching True Crime reruns. Don't put that kind of evil in the world by choosing Dave as a theme. 

[Mrsgnomie]

1 minute ago, Krista said:

I would have to become one of the stereotypical women who stay up all night watching True Crime reruns. Don't put that kind of evil in the world by choosing Dave as a theme. 

Aaaaand...Dave is out. 

[wildone]

It has been interesting reading all the different opinions and suggestions, including the jokes , that are being made. I would really encourage that anyone that has an opinion to share it to get a general feeling of the group.

As being around in the heyday as @Aditus mentioned, I agree that it was the commitment of a lot of promoted as well as a lot of non promoted authors all coming together to make a successful anthology. Be it single themed and the interpretations on that theme or having the potluck option being presented too.

Myr can correct me if I'm wrong in my history, but sometimes we can learn from what we have tried in the past to different results from those trials. 

I believe when I joined and for several years, the choice of the theme was made by staff. Then it evolved to a small group of 'Hosted Authors', now Signature and Classic in modern terms. Slowly there was some grumblings and such that not enough authors were being given a chance to choose the theme so everyone was not invested in writing since they had no say in the selections. Also if you weren't part of the group then you felt you were not being given enough input on the decision.

Then, we went to a voting suggestion on themes. I believe the original was for all authors to have input on the decision making. This was enlisting multiple entries of any kind to be put forward. Then, those authors would go through several rounds of voting to come up with one theme.

With this in place, a suggestion came up that maybe the readers should have a say as well. Based on the idea that if the theme didn't appeal to readers, then there would be no audience. So we took the same idea but with all of members of the site to come up with ideas. This made for a really large list and rounds and rounds of votes to get to a theme. 

Believe it or not, it then became a dual edged sword where Authors didn't want to be narrowed into what the whole site wanted. This may have turned out to be a case in trying to please everyone, it alienated more and more people. Then the readers, if they didn't get themes that didn't interest them, they would be less motivated to read.

I think the decisions for the past few years was to have one or two main themes and a potluck of other themes to give more choice. I guess in theory this should have worked, but it did not. Entries continued to go down each anthology.

Next was to scale down from up to 6 anthologies to 3 to 2, and then this year 1.

The great thing about this years was it was a celebration of any theme you wanted with tying in what we were celebrating this year, an anniversary which tied in well with GA's 20th anniversary. 

From my POV, it is a tricky line to pick a theme that gives everyone latitude to choose how they want to interpret it and to have some restrictions as was suggested, to make it the challenge of an anthology. I would even suggest to make it an event to be looked forward to all on the site

At this point, I am not in a steadfast position to suggest any option. Trust me, I do have one , Just I'm very receptive to change my POV as if we don't encourage some new thoughts or even revised old thoughts, we might be missing out on continuing on the great momentum that Valkyrie and Myr got going for the recent one. Especially with the hard work of every one of you  

[Krista]

If it comes close or a bit indecisive, we can try next year having one Anthology with 1 Main Theme + Potluck, for the Spring or Fall. Then one Main theme for the other with no potluck. Then evaluate the experiences going into the year after. The shelf life for both might be easier to determine after people have participated in them. The Anniversary anthology is a bit of an oddity, because there was a special underlying incentive to participate since it was GA's 20th. So, this one specifically, may not be the best example in looking towards the future without that added incentive. 

I personally liked not knowing what the themes were until they were announced. No short list, no voting prior, no being involved in the subcommittee that discussed themes, etc. 

[Mrsgnomie]

9 minutes ago, wildone said:

It has been interesting reading all the different opinions and suggestions, including the jokes , that are being made. I would really encourage that anyone that has an opinion to share it to get a general feeling of the group.

...

At this point, I am not in a steadfast position to suggest any option. Trust me, I do have one , Just I'm very receptive to change my POV as if we don't encourage some new thoughts or even revised old thoughts, we might be missing out on continuing on the great momentum that Valkyrie and Myr got going for the recent one. Especially with the hard work of every one of you  

Everything you said seems valid, though I have not been around that long and this was my first anthology participation. Now, it's clear many things have been tried and changed in the past. I think riding the wave that Valkyrie and Myr have created is smart, and I think having one general theme would be the way to go. That doesn't mean it will stay one theme forever, but it worked for the anniversary, so maybe it will work for the next couple of anthologies?

I don't know if the number of anthologies a year is in stone or not. I think 2 would be good. I think 4 sounds exhausting. I can tell you right now, it's unlikely I would do that many.

In reality, I will do my best to participate, regardless. The reason I hadn't done one prior to this is because the potluck theme kind of took away the challenge. 

I also would not be interested in voting on the theme. It makes it way too easy to get attached to an idea, only to be disappointed if it doesn't make the cut. Just tell me what the theme is, let me gripe about it for a minute, and let me go. Easy peasy.

[Aditus]

I think the success of the Anniversary anthology had several reasons:

1. Loyalty to the site, to myr, Cia and the team, we wanted to say 'thank you'.

2. The continuous advertising.

3. The team  idea was back. In the past, anthology authors would always read the other authors's work and comment on most of the stories. This worked again, mostly. 

4. Because of the team idea and our general enthusiasm, we managed to spread the excitement; our and not only our readers read, reacted, commented and reviewed many, many stories. I'm still awed by the outcome.

5. It was only one theme. 

Okay, I shut up now .

Edited October 21, 2022 by Aditus