Something you might not know about me is that I worked in the corporate world for several years, initially specializing in credit and
collections, and later, in sales and marketing, analyzing sales data and the profitability of product lines. That work, while well paid, was far removed from the creative process, creativity being largely frowned upon in the accounting field. So, you might think that the skills and knowledge acquired there wouldn’t be of much use to an author/editor. But you’d be wrong.
It turns out that having lived years of continually being on deadline (in accounting, it’s always month end, quarter end, or year-end) taught me to set target dates and streamline processes, all with a view of meeting the next critical date. As an author and editor, I do both. But while being deadline driven is now a part of my DNA, the one skill that I am most grateful for when I’m working on a multi-author anthology is my knowledge of Excel. That’s right. Spreadsheets.
Let me explain. During the submission period, I log every story received by title, author name, pen name, email, word count, and, after reading, a quick comment to remind me what the story is about (e.g., for ‘The Constellation Necklace’ by KM Rockwood I wrote: best friends: rich girl, poor girl, necklace). I also add a No/Maybe column. Roughly half of the stories will get a Maybe, the rest a No. The Maybes become my “long list.” The Nos are notified. A new tab on my spreadsheet is created for the Maybes, this time with a Yes/No column. I’ll read those stories over a few more times, and I’ll ask for a second opinion. In the case of my latest anthology,
Larceny & Last Chances, that second opinion was provided by Andrea Adair-Tippins, a librarian at the Whitby Public Library in Ontario.
Once the final selections are made and the contracts are signed, it’s time to determine the best order. I always include my own story last, and work back from there, but it means…you guessed it…another tab on the spreadsheet. This time I include a column for WHO is telling the story (M=Male F=Female, Y=Young, N=Narrator), author name, title, and word count. Then I start sorting, first by who, then by word count. Ideally, there’s a nice flow of alternating voices and alternating word counts. I’ve included a screenshot of my final selection for
Larceny & Last Chances.
My spreadsheet also has tabs for Promotion (radio shows, blog hosts, and topic); ARCs sent/reviews received; and Author payments and preferences (method, address for paperback copy, digital preference: EPUB or PDF). It’s not magic, but it does keep things organized. And when it comes to publishing an anthology, organization is the key to completion.
About the book:
Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense
Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk
Publication Date: June 18, 2024
Sometimes it’s about doing the right thing. Sometimes it’s about getting even. Sometimes it’s about taking what you think you deserve. And sometimes, it’s your last, best, hope. Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk and featuring stories by Christina Boufis, John Bukowski, Brenda Chapman, Susan Daly, Wil A. Emerson, Tracy Falenwolfe, Kate Fellowes, Molly Wills Fraser, Gina X. Grant, Karen Grose, Wendy Harrison, Julie Hastrup, Larry M. Keeton, Charlie Kondek, Edward Lodi, Bethany Maines, Gregory Meece, Cate Moyle, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Kevin R. Tipple, and Robert Weibezahl.
Pre-order from your favorite e-tailer at: www.books2read.com/larceny
About the editor: Judy Penz Sheluk is a former journalist and magazine editor and the bestselling author of
Finding Your Path to Publication and Self-publishing: The Ins & Outs of Going Indie, as well as two mystery series: the Glass Dolphin Mysteries and Marketville Mysteries. In addition to the Superior Shores Anthologies, which she also edited, her short crime fiction appears in several collections. Judy is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Crime Writers of Canada, where she served on the Board of Directors for five years, the final two as Chair. Find Judy at www.judypenzsheluk.com.
As an accountant, I feel so much of this. It's always some end. Currently dealing with the trailing end of quarter end. in 10 days, I'll be gearing up for month end again.
ReplyDeleteAnd I use spreadsheets for blog related stuff in my personal life. So with you on alternative uses for Excel, too.
Mark, I live with Excel for everything! Welcome to my club.
DeleteLooking forward to another stellar anthology read.
ReplyDeleteI use spreadsheets to keep track of each book chapter. POV, Clue/Red Herrings, setting, days of the week, turning points, twists, who knew what when. They are way too big to print, but they help tremendously in the editing process.
Oh, Kait, you do that? I tried that early on with my books but gave up somewhere along the way.
DeleteYep. I find it makes a huge difference. Although sometimes if feels like procrastination :)
DeleteThanks Kathleen and WWK for hosting me! Happy to answer any questions you might have.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting to hear about the mechanics of your anthropology projects. Thanks for joining us.
DeleteYikes! My brain has apparently gone AWOL, and autocorrect isn't helping. Of course it's anthology, not anthropology.
DeleteHa! I love it, Kathleen!
DeleteWell, to be fair, sometimes it feels like anthropology!
DeleteSuch an intriguing look into the back side of producing anthologies. You are so organized!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan VK - I am organized in some things. Not so much in others!
DeleteI hear you, Judy. I am a spreadsheet addict and the table queen. Everything I read or write comes down to columns and rows and sorting and counting.
ReplyDeleteHow else would I know how many books are in my house (1400+) by which author and what decade they were written?
Or how many of my short stories take place in the past, or what weapons I've used, and how many times can I do a variation on the same motive. And where I've submitted them. Etc.
Doesn't everybody?
Susan D. 1400+ books! Clearly you have not moved in a very long time :-)
DeleteThis is great, Judy. I LOVE Excel and use to track and keep track of so many things. Thanks for the peek at your process.
ReplyDeleteThanks Molly. When I read it as a blog, it does seem a bit...crazy?
DeleteYour spreadsheet is amazing, Judy. I wish I could organize my writing life like you do. But alas, I'm a pantser in almost every aspect of my life, and have to rely on a fairly strong intuition and a stubborn streak to power me through.
ReplyDeleteHi Gay, I am a pantser when I write -- but a multi-author thing with 80 or more submissions, if you're not organized, you're lost.
DeleteJudy,
ReplyDeleteYou are so efficient! I've never created a spreadsheet.
Marilyn, I am sure other publishers do it another way - but for me, it's the way that makes the most sense.
DeleteThank you, Judy, for sharing your methods with us. It often seems like those who create anthologies must have a magical method. (That goes for anthropologies, too.)
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me!
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