Why I’m Choosing Indie Publishing
From author Liz Long:
While on vacation a couple weeks ago, I made the decision to go with indie publishing. I’ve sent out somewhere from 20-30 agents in the last 3 months, most with the generic “No, thanks” but a few with an “Interesting premise” response.
. . . .
Some people might think I’m jumping the gun on this, that I need to take my time and do my research. Believe me, I have; I did months of research (not contacting) on agents and their desirable manuscript needs when I probably should’ve been polishing the last few chapters instead.
. . . .
[S]ometimes, we get so caught up in researching agents, writing query letters, and hiding in corners from rejection letters that we forget to work on what needs it most–our writing! And therein lies my problem-I’ve been so busy getting caught up in the whirlwind excitement/nausea of trying to put my first book out in the world that I’ve neglected working on the next adventure for my characters. I need to get working on Book 2 of my “Gifted” series. Like, real bad. After I finished the final edit and sent off a couple copies to beta readers, I took some time to relax (plus take a real vacation). But now I need to get serious and start working on the next outline. I’ve got Scrivener now, which will be a HUGE help with my outlines (I’m a pantser, not a plotter, which means I kinda throw a bunch of words on paper and go from there…okay at first, but not after you’ve written 190 pages and have no idea where to put a scene).
. . . .
Some people may ask, “You’ve already waited this long to put it out there, why not wait and keep seeing if an agent/traditional publisher will take it?” Because quite frankly, I’m done waiting. If I have an option to get my work out there, I want to do it. I’m a damn hard worker and the thought of marketing myself in an indie world doesn’t frighten me–whereas the thought of sitting around for months, praying someone emails me back to look at a full MS makes me cringe.
Link to the rest at Liz Long
, Amazon will pay Passive Guy a small affiliate commission on any of your purchases.
Congratulations! Indie publishing changed my life and now it’s very unlikely I would ever be drawn back into mainstream publishing again. I’ve had an agent for decades – and even with an agent, the waiting is excruciating. Even after selling a book, the waiting is forever. Independent publishing is a fabulous way to go. We are the future. Wishing you all the best, Liz, and thanks, Jason Rutherford, for posting this link on Linkedin.
Sometimes making a change requires a leap of faith in yourself. Spending a lot of time doing research may not help to make the decision. Good luck to Liz and welcome to the world of indie.
I’m with you on that, Liz. As a matter of fact, that is not the only issue on it. I’m not ruling out ever getting a traditional publishing deal, but the pitfalls in contracts, the lower advances and difficulty to actually make a living off of it, along with the artificially extended wait times getting something accepted and into print means it is safer, quicker, and more financially rewarding to go the indie route.
Interesting this topic came up, though. Yesterday another blog I follow posted something of the opposite nature. Not so much anti-indie, but promoting the values of patience in the book business.
http://mikeduran.com/2012/10/what-virtue-is-there-in-waiting-to-publish/
But you are right. Often, the extra time to get traditionally published isn’t spent editing your book, honing your craft, it is other task aside from writing, as well as months of waiting for the responses from agents and publishers.
So, I notice this blog is from April. And I notice that the indie author Liz references as her inspiration (Wren Emerson) published a bunch of stuff in January and February, and then nothing since.
I’m seeing more and more authors going indie, putting out a book or two, and then giving up when they don’t strike gold right away. I’m not saying that Liz Long has given up, and I certainly hope she’s in this for the long haul, because that’s what it takes.
Perseverance and patience are JUST AS IMPORTANT in indie publishing as they are in the traditional publishing model.
One thing that’s going to happen with so many people indie publishing, is that people who don’t see instant sales/fame are going to give up. And that’s a shame, because every voice is unique, and every author has stories to tell that nobody else can.
Indie authors, hang in there. Pace yourselves. And don’t give up after one book, or two, or five. Even if it takes you ten years to get five titles out there, keep going. Someone in the world needs to hear your stories~
I also wonder how much is publishing too soon, in the sense of pubbing the first couple things before the next is near enough to completion not to have that drop off the face of the earth effect?
Good question, Lily. I think it varies some by genre, but my general rule of thumb is to try and release something every six months or so. Of course, in many instances that *something* is a short story, but even that works. Of course, romance is a pretty competitive and busy genre.:)
You’re right – patience and perseverance are keys to making it, whether in indie publishing or life in general.
Oh believe me, I’m still around. This post was from April, but I still believe in every word I wrote. Wren might not be around as much on her blog, but that’s a totally different mindset from mine. I’m still blogging and more importantly, still writing, with plans to self publish another book hopefully early next year, depending upon time constraints with a full time job on top of everything else.
Thanks for reading.
Some of us, as much as we want to release a book every 6 months, can’t do that. It’s physically impossible for me, not only because of a job or life stuff, but because my mind doesn’t work that way. It took me 3 years to write Gifted and while I don’t anticipate other books taking that long (as the first was a sure learning process), I have to be realistic in my goals – and I know myself enough to know I need to take a break now and again. I have plenty of perseverance! (Patience I’ll be forever working on!)