How to Publish an Anthology
The short answer
An anthology is a book made of work by several writers around one theme. To publish one, choose a theme, collect and select the pieces, sign a written agreement with each contributor, edit it as one book, then design, give it an ISBN and print.
Published October 2026 · By Harmony Publishing Editorial Team
What makes an anthology different from other books?
An anthology has more than one author, so it has more than one set of rights, voices and deadlines. The editor holds the theme together and is responsible for permissions, not just for the sentences.
It also has a marketing advantage: every contributor has their own readers, and a contributor who is proud of the book will tell them.
How to publish an anthology, step by step
- Pick a clear theme and a length. A theme makes submissions easier to judge and the finished book easier to describe.
- Open a call for submissions with a deadline, a word limit and the terms: payment, copies or a share of sales, and what rights you are asking for.
- Select the pieces and decide the order. Open and close strongly, and vary tone and length in between.
- Sign a written agreement with every contributor before printing. It should say what rights they keep, what you are licensed to do, how they are credited and what they receive.
- Edit the whole book for consistency: spelling, style, punctuation and the contributor bios. Ask each contributor to approve their edited piece.
- Design the cover and the interior, with a table of contents and a consistent style for each piece's title and byline.
- Get an ISBN for each format, and decide who is the publisher of record.
- Print a proof, send contributors their copies to check, then print the run.
Contributor rights and money
Unless a contributor signs over their rights, the copyright in a piece stays with its author. Your written agreement is what lets you publish it. Decide early how money is shared (a flat fee, free copies or a royalty split) and put the answer in writing; disputes over sales are far easier to prevent than to settle.
What does it cost to print a anthology?
6x9 is the common size for short-story, essay and poetry anthologies, with room for varied formats on one page size.
Harmony Publishing's printing price for a 256 pages, 6x9 paperback, black-and-white interior, 60lb Natural paper, from our live printing cost calculator (see also the full 6x9 paperback printing cost page):
| Copies | Price per copy | Printing total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $97.59 | $97.59 |
| 25 | $12.32 | $308.00 |
| 100 | $9.56 | $955.83 |
| 250 | $9.18 | $2,294.16 |
Printing only: delivery and the sales tax for your state are added once you enter your ZIP. Your own page count, size and paper change the price, so price your real book in the calculator.
Publishing a anthology with Harmony
Harmony Publishing is a full-service self-publishing and book printing company that has published 1,000+ books for 500+ authors in 20+ countries, and authors keep 100% of their royalties. We can edit, design, format, give your anthology an ISBN and print it, or you can do any of those steps yourself and use us only for printing.
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Frequently asked questions
Who owns the copyright in an anthology?
Each contributor keeps the copyright in their own piece unless they assign it in writing. The editor may hold a copyright in the selection and arrangement as a whole.
Do contributors need to be paid?
That is for you and the contributor to agree. Common arrangements are a flat fee, free copies, a share of sales, or a mix. Whichever you choose, write it down.
How many contributors should an anthology have?
It depends on the length of each piece. A 250-page book might hold 10 to 25 contributors. Fewer contributors means fewer agreements and a more consistent voice.