What are the common editing requirements for a short story in an anthology?

Question

What kind of responses will come back from an editor after a short story is accepted in an anthology? Specifically, is it common for a writer to hear that an accepted story has potential but needs significant editing before it's finally accepted? I've had a hard time finding any actual verbatim responses online.

Answer 1

Hi! In my experience, a short story in this scenario pretty much has to be a darned near perfect match. Editors working on anthologies do not typically have the resources to work intensively with each individual short story writer. I suggest you look at similar works that the agent or publisher has released and get the true flavor of what he or she is seeking. Write with that in mind, have a pro edit it first (if you can afford one; a tutor, etc.), submit it with a tight, friendly email, and check back to see if they have made a decision, but not any sooner than within three weeks. In fact, their specs and guidelines may point to their timetable, and how soon they'll accept follow-up requests. Good luck!