Check sites such as Poets & Writers and Writer's Mart, an online service from "Writer's Digest" magazine, for calls for submissions for fiction and nonfiction anthologies. Calls typically provide an overview of the anthology, submission guidelines and deadlines.
Search the Internet for other anthology calls for submissions, which often appear on websites maintained by individual editors and publishers. Search for the key phrases "anthology" and "call for submissions." If you're interested in writing about a certain topic or in a specific genre, add those keywords to your search (for example, "dogs," "urban life" or "crime fiction"). You'll find hundreds of additional anthology calls searching that way.
Read submission guidelines carefully. Many times editors reject manuscripts simply because writers haven't followed their instructions. For instance, potential contributors sometimes send nonfiction stories to editors who are compiling fiction anthologies or vice versa. If you're planning to submit the same story to multiple anthologies, make sure this is allowed. When in doubt, send your story to only one publisher at a time.
Maintain a spreadsheet of anthologies to which you'd like to submit your work. For each anthology, include the title, editor's name, contact info, due date and word-count guidelines. Also list special instructions, such as whether you'll need to submit a short bio, cover letter or contributor photo, and whether the editor allows submissions of previously published stories.
Write your stories following the submission guidelines. Writing several stories will help keep you from investing too much energy and time on one submission and feeling disappointed if your one story isn't accepted. Likewise, your chance of being published increases if you send stories for consideration in several anthologies.
Send in your stories. Some editors accept stories by email, while others may request that you mail them with a self-addressed envelope. If you mail your submission, include sufficient postage for its return should the editor reject your story. Unless otherwise stated in the guidelines, double-space your story and format it in 12-point Times. Include your name, address, phone number, email address and word count on the first page, along with your last name and each page number in the top right-hand corner of subsequent pages.
Wait for a reply and be patient. It may take several months for an editor to respond, but sending numerous emails requesting an update typically won't increase your chances of being published and probably will annoy the editor. If your story is accepted, the editor will email you with further instructions or send you an acceptance letter and contract in the mail.