Writers’ Independence Day. It happened at a conference. I was there to present a workshop called The Art of Agent Stalking. Nothing Independent Publishing about it. Traditional Pub all the way. I had been watching the Indie movement but as a curious onlooker. Nothing more.
Before I Reached the Conference Hotel my Attitude Began to Change. The airport shuttle van was packed with authors talking about Indie Publishing. Some wanted to know more. Some were thinking of making the leap. Some had leapt and shared their experiences.
Those Stories Captured my Attention. I was most impressed by the enthusiasm. I had been an editor/agent/published author/workshop presenter for many years. I had never heard published authors – beyond the first euphoric blush of their careers – so positively excited about publishing. By the time we reached the conference hotel I understood why.
These Authors had Retrieved their Writer Selfhood. They were no longer controlled and manipulated by others. They owned their work. They owned their decision-making. They owned their careers. And they not only felt empowered – they were overjoyed.
At that Conference I also Learned about the Downside of Indie Life. I learned that along with total control of your publishing life comes total responsibility for it. The buck stops with the Indie author and often the other kind of buck – the green one – doesn’t stop with her anywhere often enough. This was the truth of choosing a Writers’ Independence Day.
That Point about Money Must be Emphasized. 2011 to 2015 or so was the golden age of Indie Pub. Big careers and fortunes were made. The results of undertaking an Indie career since then have mostly been less than fabulous. An Indie Pubbed author must work very hard and be very savvy if she hopes to make a living at it. Here is some of what she/you must do.
Produce a First Class Story. Create a showstopper. Make it the very best storytelling you have in you. Then run it past fresh eyes – fresh and talented eyes. Which means you need a strong editor who will see the flaws you have inevitably missed. Which brings me to…
Put Together a First Class Team. Hire that first-class editor I mentioned. Do not try to mastermind your words alone. Then a good cover and book designer. Next an expert at publishing platform placement. These folks usually perform uploading etc. to the platform(s) as well. Do these operations yourself ONLY if you have topnotch skills. IMO it takes a Team.
Construct a First Class Post-Pub Plan. Start gathering your mailing list the day you are born. Adopt an online presence by puberty. These are only slight exaggerations. The internet is the highway via which you reach and grow your readership. School yourself in everything social media. Find an Indie marketing success story and follow her example. Mine is Kayelle Allen.
Back to Me and the Conference Hotel. By the time I took the van back to the airport I had made a decision. I longed to be fully in charge of my own work life. I had that experience as a literary agent. I wanted it as an author also. One Indie memoir (below) and five Indie novels later I occasionally question my publishing choice. Usually when the money issue arises.
I Don’t Make as Many Green Bucks as in my Traditional Pub Years. I probably never will. Still I am content with what I do and how free I am to go about doing it. I might change my mind. I am free to do so. But – for me for now – I celebrate my Writers’ Independence Day.
Alice Orr Says – You Possess Storytelling Magic. Keep on Writing Whatever May Occur. https://www.aliceorrbooks.com.
Ask Alice Your Crucial Questions. What are you most eager to know – in your writing work and in your writer’s life? Ask your question in the Comments section at the end of this post.
Alice Orr has published 14 novels, 3 novellas and a memoir so far. She wrote her nonfiction book No More Rejections: 50 Secrets to Writing a Manuscript that Sells as a gift to the writers’ community she loves. Her Indie Pubbed novel – A Year of Summer Shadows – Riverton Road Romantic Suspense Series Book 2 – is available HERE.
Praise for A Year of Summer Shadows: “Alice keeps you wanting to read faster, then when you finish the last page, you want more.” “Orr’s characters come alive on the page.” “A Year of Summer Shadows has moved up to one of my favorite books.”
All of Alice’s Books are HERE.
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Wonderful blog, Alice! This is exactly how I feel about Indie Publishing. I try to remind myself every day that I’m doing what’s right for me. It’s affirming to hear from another author with thoughts that mirror my own. Best of luck in your writing career, and in life.
Hi Jessica. So glad to see you here. I am also pleased to be reaffirmed by you in my reaction to all these years of Indie Pub in my own writing career. That affirmation is so important to all of us. We could use a forum where we simply speak about how we feel. Indie is a unique experience. It demands much but it can give much too. Especially in terms of satisfaction and frankly satisfaction is high up on my priority list these days. Best of luck in your life as well, as a writer and as a person. I hope you experience heaps of the true success that satisfaction brings. I look forward to hearingmfrom you again. Blessings. Alice
Hi, Alice, Loved your column today. Your words are so true: Taking back all tasks in one’s publishing career is a joyous experience. But the reality is that doing all the work, all the time and doing it so rapidly (publishing new work within 1-2-3 months) is a huge challenge. Finding a team of editor, graphic designer, proofer, PR and Ad pro, is another one. Creating and managing that team takes time, business savvy and love, too. Then too, life can intervene in one’s dedication to the calendar. So the question becomes what is the best way to work for you? Even that can change with time and personal circumstance. The final question one must answer is what is the core of your happiness as a writer. I submit is to do what you love. You write. The best story you can. As often as you can—and make each day a joy.
Hi Jo-Ann. What a treat it is for me to find you here this soft summer morning. I have missed our frank talks about publishing and other things. And once again you shoot straight from the hip. Especially about what you call “the core of your/our happiness as writers.” That is exactly what all of this comes down to in my opinion. After years and years of trying to march to the drums of expectations, from others and ourselves, I find it time to settle into myself and the joys that come from that core you speak of. Long past time to do that actually. I have castigated myself often over the years for perhaps not pressing my nose hard enough to the grindstone – for being too attentive to personal and family life and not sufficiently driven in my career. But isn’t that just like so many of us? We beat ourselves up for not living up to some standard we didn’t necessarily anticipate or seek when we first signed onto a journey along the writing road. So finally I have learned to relax. (The pandemic retired Jonathan and me from the contracting business and that helped.) Many cliches float through the consciousness sphere about enjoying the lives we have been given to the max but I find too much of that to be merely lip service. The definition of that life love must be designed by each of us for ourselves. That is the privilege earned by doing the best we can in this demanding world. Congratulations to us for executing that feat. And now let us ease into our reward. Whatever we choose it to be. Forgive me if this has turned into something of a rant. Your comment struck a chord for me just as your insights have so often done in the past and of course I played that chord to the max. Thanks for your wisdom and for our long history together. I hope all is super well with you and your family. I look forward to greeting you here again. Blessings. Alice
Great blog post. I’m both small press and indie. Both have their pros and cons.
D.
Hi D.V. I have done the same and had a varied as well as challenging career as what some call a hybrid published author. Both choices have their pros and cons and ups and downs and joys and frustrations as you say. But what a privilege it is to have been afforded both of these avenues of experience. Thanks for your comment and I wish you the best in your career as it continues to flourish. I look forward to seeing you here again. Blessings. Alice
I was so surprised and pleased to see my face and name in your post. 🙂 I think of you as my editing guru! I’ve given your book on editing to many friends, and gush about how well you write. I’m happy you made that move to freedom. I’ve loved getting to know you better over the years. Anytime I can be of service, just let me know.
Hi Kayelle. I have loved getting to know you too. I gush about you as well. About your talents and ingenuity and also your generosity toward the rest of us in the writing community. Your efforts on our behalf have gifted many many of us with inspiration and encouragement and practical advice. It is always fortunate to have acquired expertise. It is much more than that to share our expertise. I am grateful to you for having been a sharer for as long as I have been privileged to know you. And any time I can be of service to you also please do not hesitate to be in touch. Blessings. Alice