Episode 231: Crafting an Anthology from Beginning to End — Interview with Caroline Donahue

by Gabriela Pereira
published in Podcast

Hey there word nerds!

Today I have the pleasure of hosting Caroline Donahue on the show!

Caroline is an American writer living in Berlin, and the host of The Secret Library Podcast (where I’ve had the good fortune of being a guest!).

She is also the co-editor, with Dal Kular, of the essay anthology I Wrote it Anyway, which is all about writers overcoming obstacles in order to do the work they love.

Proceeds from this anthology benefits Arts Emergency in the UK and 826 LA in the US. I happen to be a huge fan of 826, having volunteered for several years at the NYC branch, so when Caroline put out a call for submissions, I immediately raised my hand.

Now listen in as Caroline and I chat about this amazing project, and do a deep dive into the process of crafting an anthology from beginning to end.

In this episode Caroline and I discuss:

  • A step-by-step process of putting an anthology together.
  • The importance of choosing your editorial stance early on.
  • How to handle the submission process.
  • The biggest hurdles to look out for when crafting an anthology.
  • Tricks to help you overcome blocks and write anyway.

Plus, Caroline’s #1 tip for writers.

About Caroline Donahue

Caroline Donahue is an American writer living in Berlin. She‘s the co-editor with Dal Kular of the essay anthology I Wrote it Anyway, which benefits Arts Emergency in the UK and 826 LA in the US. She is also the host of The Secret Library Podcast, and is currently hard at work on a novel.

To connect with Caroline check out her website at carolinedonahue.com

I Wrote it Anyway

Have you ever dreamed of writing, but let something stand in your way?

In this collection of 30 essays, new voices and experienced authors share inspiring stories about overcoming the obstacles to writing that stopped them in their tracks. From mental and physical health, perfectionism, isolation, lack of time in a busy world to stories from the front lines of the #metoo era, you’ll find a story that speaks to your personal block. In this day and age, writing has the potential to bring people together like never before. If you believe you have a book in you, or have always dreamed of writing, let this collection motivate you to follow through on that dream. Every single one of the contributors felt tremendous fear when beginning to write, but in the end they wrote it anyway.

All proceeds of this collection benefit 826 LA in the US and Arts Emergency in the UK.

 

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

 

 

Link to Episode 231

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