Tuesday, April 10, 2012

2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge: Indie authors

Why I love being an indie author:
*The freedom and control. I'm the boss, I call the shots. I have the final say on cover art, formatting, editing, book trailers, etc.
*I have a dozen story ideas flitting through my mind at any given time. If I were traditionally published, my agent/publisher would probably recommend that I stick with one, maybe two genres, but I don't want to be stuck. My imagination controls me, not the other way around. My first novel was contemporary YA romance, the book I'm writing now is adult chick lit (something I never thought I'd write, but the idea popped into my head one day and I'm 70,000 words in), and I have ideas for adult romance, YA fantasy, a YA fairytale retelling, and more contemporary YA. That's part of the beauty of being indie - I get to write the stories I want to write.
*I can go at my own pace. I set goals and deadlines (otherwise I'd never get anything done!), but they're not as strict as they would be if I had a publisher. Also, when I'm done writing a book, it only takes a few months to get it published, rather than a year or two.
*Indies are becoming much more accepted. A few years ago when I first researched self-publishing, I knew almost immediately it would be a mistake. People who self-published were seen as talentless hacks with no other course of action but to publish their own books because no one else would. There are still a lot of people self-publishing who really shouldn't be, but there are also a ton of extremely talented writers doing it for a wide variety of reasons. It wasn't a decision I took lightly, but I know it was the right path for me, and I'm happy with my decision. There are so many really talented indie authors out there, and the indie community is amazing. I feel really lucky to be a small part of it. 
Note: I have the utmost respect for traditional publishing, and those who go that route. I always thought I would take that path until independent publishing became a viable option. I love writers and books, regardless of how they're published.  

 

Speaking of indie authors, I just want to take a second and tell you about a huge event coming up in May at Aside From Writing. Indie Author Month is about all things indies, and I was lucky enough to be asked to do a feature! Melanie Cusick-Jones (author of Hope's Daughter, a YA science fiction novel) reviewed Blue Sky Days last month, and for Indie Author Month, my book is going to be featured, and I had a chance to do a fun mini-interview. Be sure to drop by Aside From Writing every day in May to discover some great new indie authors, as well as enter for a chance to win more than 30 e-books!

Buttons you can use to show your support:

 
For my fellow indies, what do you love about being an independent author? For the readers out there - do you read indie books? Why or why not?  

6 comments:

  1. These are all the reasons why I lean towards self-publishing. I haven't done it yet, but hopefully by the summer I will have a completed MS!

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  2. I *love* indie books! It's a shame more people don't read them. You're right, there are definitely some crappy books self-pubbed, and those are the ones who give indie authors a negative rep. I try my best to promote and suggest indie authors to whoever I can. :)

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  3. Hello, enjoyed your post. I guess if I ever published a book it would have to be done independently. Am enjoying writing a serialized fiction for the challenge. Stop by if you wish and read it. Best regards to you, Ruby

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  4. Those are the same reasons I love being an indie author. Plus, you'd have to follow the market. If what you're writing is the hot thing, your agent and publisher won't want you to write it.

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  5. If I was ever planning to be an author, I'd choose this pathway. cheers to you all!!
    Sue: An A-Z of Climate Matters

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  6. I agree with you - I love the freedom and choice you have with being an indie - you get to tell your stories in the way you want them to be told, without 'business' pressures changing how you write. I just didn't have the patience to try the traditional route.

    Thanks for the Indie Author Month mention - I've been stocking up my tbr list from the authors we've got on - some great books and a real mix of genres across YA world :)

    Mel x x

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~Marie

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