I'm so wound up after today, with too much excitement for the publication of my first book, that I can't sleep. (What better time for a blog post than when you're dead tired, but wide-awake?)
I thought tonight I'd spend a few minutes talking about why I chose to be an Indie author/publisher. I have some comments posted on my author interview at Smashwords, but I'd like to expound a little more here.
What lead me to consider the idea of Indie publishing was, of course, a bit of disappointment from the traditional publishing industry. I had a real struggle getting any kind of response from anyone. I will say that the few who were kind enough to reject the work or to reject the work with feedback are my heroes. Some of that feedback changed the book as you can see it today. It's hard to believe that with the massive pile of queries coming in to these individuals, that they can take the time to write back.
But plenty of them didn't. I sent in query letters and heard nothing. Some websites say things like "you will only hear from us if we are interested" and that's fair. But it's also very disappointing to an author. I liken the experience to trying to communicate with a Black Hole, everything goes in, but nothing comes out.
The number of queries I was sending began to drop off as life became busier and I was not only holding down a full-time job, working on my next novel - now tentatively planned for an Indie release in January 2017 - but trying to be a good wife and mother. Rewriting and trying to perfect the query letter dropped lower and lower on my daily priorities list and eventually I stopped altogether.
Fast forward, I was asked last week how my current book was coming along. I was proud to say that I'm nearly finished with the first draft. I'm working on the climax and really hope to finish in the next few weeks. Then there will be some monstrous editing and it will be ready for publication.
It sounded fairly good, apart from the writer's block I've been having lately, but the question of the publication had come back to the forefront for me. Did I really intend to finish another book and go through all that querying again? Probably with the same results?
I'd seen articles about Indie publishing via some of my writers' groups and had read many with more than a little casual curiosity. But it came on suddenly, after talking to my very kind friend who took the time to ask about the book, the need to publish.
It wasn't about the time it could take to start querying again. It wasn't about the querying itself or the disappointment. I just suddenly needed to have my book out in the universe.
A book can't be liked or hated if it's nothing more than bytes on my computer. It can't share a story when it's in storage. Nothing would happen if I did... nothing.
So for a few days, I went the last steps investigating Indie publishing, seriously considering platforms and distribution methods and late last night, I suddenly has a plan. The execution of the plan began today.
I've no idea yet if it's for better or worse, but I know that I finally made that step. People can read my work, if they choose. Yes, it's a little terrifying. I desperately want my work to be loved and I know that it won't be universally. But, it's also extremely liberating and exciting.
There are other things I really like about Indie publishing that are in my author interview, linked above, so you might take a glance there if you are considering such a step yourself.
Whatever your plans and whatever comes to you tomorrow, good luck and good night!
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