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“I could write 100 essays! Which one is right for your book?”

November 3, 2009 on 11:24 pm | In Anthology FAQ's | No Comments

An author responded to our Call for Submissions with this (paraphrased) question: Here is some information about me and my two kids with ADHD. Given this overview, what topic or angle should I focus an essay on in order to make it a good fit for your anthology?

Here’s my answer:

1) Choose a fairly narrow topic. Even though we didn’t state a word-count limit, by the time you set the stage, tell your story, and bring your point home with a great concluding paragraph or sentence, you’ll have yourself an essay.

2) Choose a topic that conveys something unique about your family/situation, but with an element that other parents are sure to relate to. For example, the individual who posed this question stated that both of her children are brilliant. The way their ADHD impacts their ability to apply/take advantage of that brilliance might be a great focus for an essay. The children’s unusually high levels of intelligence is the unique aspect of the author’s situation, but many parents of kids with ADHD will relate to wondering what if…? How might our children’s lives (choices, successes, failures, opportunities) be different (better? worse?) without ADHD?

3) Read the Call for Submissions several times, looking for key words, and let those key words guide you.

4) We plan to group essays into sections based upon as yet unknown similarities of theme. Those groupings will reveal themselves as essays trickle (or flood!) in. It’s too early to know the various topics we’ll receive essays about, and where the holes will be. As our submission deadline draws nearer we’ll have a better idea of niches that need filling.

5) Still having trouble chosing a focus? Remember, you may chose to submit more than one essay!

Good luck in finding the perfect angle for your essay, and above all, enjoy the writing process!

Kay