Revised as of
8 Apr 2023
Who knew books of short stories had such precise labels?
Yep, you can’t simply put together a bunch of short stories without determining if it’s an anthology, a collection, or an omnibus.
The proper name for a book of short stories will depend on whether a similar theme is used and whether the same or different authors have written the stories.
And this is one of those annoying posts that keeps repeating the same message . . .
Self-Publishing Tips
I never do see the point of keeping all my research to myself, and as I explore the field of self-publishing, and in particular, how to play it safe!, I’m sharing this chunk’a research on protecting yourself and the artists (and keep the artists interested in sharing their Work forever!). As Publishing Tips is ever evolving, I would appreciate suggestions and comments from anyone on publishing with which you struggle or on which you can contribute more understanding.
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| Grouping of Short Stories | Author(s) | Definition |
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| Anthology | Various authors | Selected writings that are:
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| Collection | Same author | Reprinted works of various themes |
| Omnibus | Same author | Reprinted works related in interest or theme |
You’ll have noticed that the prerequisites are:
An anthology involves more than one author . . . and the same theme.
A collection is the same author and reprinted stories with different themes.
An omnibus is the same author and reprinted stories with the same interest or theme.
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Not Just Short Stories
Any of these labels can also be applied to poetry, excerpts, songs, genres, television programs, drama, movies, etc. Literary is simply the most common.
Books Do Embrace Other “Collections”
An author’s collection of published works is an oeuvre.
A reader’s collection of published works is a library.
| Grouping Short Stories | |||
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Some of these links may be affiliate links, and I will earn a small percentage, if you should buy it. It does not affect the price you pay. |
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| Anthology | Definition: Various authors with writings that are the same literary form, same period, or on the same subject. | ||
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Mercedes Lackey’s Sword of Ice and Other Tales of Valdemar
Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology
Art in Theory, 1900–2000: An Anthology of Changing Ideas
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| Collection | Definition: Same author with an assortment of unrelated stories. | ||
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Anne Frank’s Tales from the Secret Annex: A Collection of Her Short Stories, Fables, and Lesser-Known Writings is the same author writing about a variety of themes.
Shane Dawson’s I Hate Myselfie: A Collection of Essays and It Gets Worse: A Collection of Essays
Shaun Usher’s Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience is the same editor compiling letters written by a wide variety of celebrities. |
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| Omnibus | Definition: Same author with reprinted works related in interest or theme. | ||
| The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas isn’t an anthology as these are his writings, although Louis Fischer edits it.
Kelley Armstrong’s Tales of the Otherworld and Otherworld Nights
Douglas Adams’ The Dirk Gently Omnibus is the same author publishing two of his previously published stories together in one book. Hugh Howey’s Wool Omnibus is the same author publishing the entire Wool series in one book. Laura Ingalls Wilder’s The Little House Collection is the same author publishing the entire Little House series in one book. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Collection is the same author publishing the entire Harry Potter series in one book. |
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C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Publishing Tips posts on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Properly Punctuated, Word Confusions, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.
Pinterest Photo Credits:
Writing Silhouette by Mohamed Hassan is under the Pixabay License, via Pixabay. The Blue Book is published by the Tennessee Secretary of State. Dickens by William Warby from London, England, is under the CC BY 2.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. Ten Ways to Organize Your Bookshelf, 2010, by See-ming Lee of SML Photography is under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license, via The Millions.
