How to run an anthology without losing your mind

Anthologies fail in the middle. The invitations go out with enthusiasm, then the chapters trickle in, the drafts drift, and nobody can say who is waiting on whom.

Give every chapter one state

A chapter is always in exactly one place: invited, drafting, in review, with the author, approved, in layout, or published. When the state is visible to everyone, the status meeting disappears.

Put deadlines on the book, not on people

Set offsets once per book — draft due 30 days after kickoff, review due 14 days after that — and let each chapter inherit its dates. Reminders then go out on schedule without you chasing anyone.

Gate on the agreement

Do not let a chapter move to drafting until the contributor agreement is signed. It is much easier to ask on day one than on day ninety.