Thanks for stopping by my booth at our Indie Carnival today. My biggest surprise about going Indie? It’s hard to pick only one. There have been so many. Like the level of support the community gives each other. The things I was told that would happen if I went Indie that haven’t.
But the biggest surprise….drum roll please? The clarity I got when I decided I’d press the UPLOAD button. The power of the UPLOAD button was frightening. It was all up to me and the team of people I had around me. And really it’s all up to writers anyway. No one will care about our stories more than we do. I became aware of my career in a way I never had been before. I left the kinds of ideas behind that assumed an agent or editor would be my fail-safe, would somehow cast the fairy dust needed to make my book good-enough for this world. But it’s really not up to them to know what’s at the heart of our stories. Only we can know that. I began to own my writing in a way I never had before. This lead to bolder writing and a powerful acceptance of the responsibility of my own writing career.
The Fuji Mermaid Danny Snell’s Refracted Light Reviews
Leopard Girl Patti Larsen Author of The Ghost Boy of MacKenzie House, and The Diamond City Trilogy.
Fire Breather Courtney Cole Author of Every Last Kiss, Fated, Princess, and Guardian. Also a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
The Magician Wren Emerson Author of I Wish and a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Strong Woman Nichole A. Williams Author of Eternal Eden, and the upcoming Fallen Eden. She is also participating in the Glassheart Chronicles.
Champion Sword Swallower Fisher Amelie Author of The Understorey, as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Snake Charmer Amy Maurer Jones Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Pretzel Woman Rachel Coles. Geek Mom. Book Reviewer Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Whistles, Beergarden, Plagues, Bees of St. John, and Mushrooms.
The Giant T. R. Graves T.R. Graves: Author of Warriors of the Cross.
Woman With A Song That Hypnotizes Cyndi Tefft Author of Between
Jungle Woman P.J. Hoover Author of Solstice, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, The Necropolis.
Shape Shifter Alicia McCalla Author of the upcoming science-fiction novel Breaking Free
Tarot Card Reader Heather Cashman Author of Perception
It is powerful. My finger hovered over that button for a long time. There’s a great responsibility that comes with self-publishing. It reminds me of my grandmother insisting we be dressed in our “Sunday best.” Thanks, Laura.
Heather, I love that. It’s true. There were a lot of angels sitting on my shoulders when I pushed that button, even when I thought about pushing that button. And there was such a team of people that helped get me there. The other great surprise with digital is that you can have a lengthy Acknowledgements section where you can thank everyone you like. Everyone who needs a nod! Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Laura! The self empowering feeling and ability to steer your own course on your journey to becoming a published author have been more than amazing. Having said that I think what I have found most amazing is the indie community and friendships established in the midst of it. I feel very lucky to be part of this experience! 🙂
Amy, yeah right? There have been so many surprises that it’s hard to pick just one! And I feel the same way. Very luck to have you on the journey with me, my friend!
Hi Laura, love your posts. I think there are quite a few writers who don’t understand that they’re in the business of writing. I was one of them. Indie publishing makes authors take responisbility for their careers, I think it’s one reason why more authors stick with traditional publishing. They really don’t want to take responsibility. Great comments, too.
Alicia,
I guess it took me a while to realize that no matter whether I chose to Indie pub or not I was really the one who would be responsible for the business end of things. There’s a learning curve and I know it’s a steep one. At the SCBWI LA conference a few weekends ago, I asked Donna Jo Napoli what her most successful marketing advice was for a new writer like me. She turned to me and said, “you know it’s much different for new writers these days.” she told me she really didn’t do much marketing. Never really did. She said that I should talk to John Green about it. So there’s that too. Some authors don’t market very much. Some, like Donna, don’t have too:) So, there’s that…
I love your thought about ‘fairy dust’. From this point forward, I will think of all MY hard work as the fairy dust to success.
That’s awesome:) Thanks for stopping by. And yes, what a great way to think about all the BIC [butt in chair] time, the fairy dust we need to succeed~