JA Konrath and Amanda Hocking began on their own and ended up with lucrative publishing contracts.
Traditionally published midlist authors like Bob Mayer have decided to leave their publishers and go off on their own.
Epublishing has changed the game. It’s the fastest growing market for books. Ereader folks are voracious readers. This is great news. It means the written word won’t die. It’s just changing formats.
These were some of the factors which made me decide to go indie. Science fiction is not a big market. Most of my readers are digitally savvy. So, it made sense to me to get out there and tap into my market myself.
Sure, writing is an art, but it’s also a business and a career. In the end, I want to make money and quit snuffling around for peanut shell crumbs. Going indie is my best shot at achieving that.
Just because that’s what I decided, doesn’t mean it’s the best answer for you. We all need to respect each other’s decisions. No matter how a writer publishes—indie, traditional, or a smaller press—we all work very hard and put a huge amount of effort into what we produce. We all pour our souls into our stories, sentences and words.
It’s wonderful that we now have so many options.
And check out The Missing Link, a novel by Brandon Meyers and Bryan Pedas of A Beer in the Shower. Available at Amazon.
And there have been noises in the blogosphere of this year's AtoZ Challenge. Arlee Bird has a separate site for it this year HERE and several cohosts for the mega event.
Load up the posts ahead of time, so that you're not blogging and visiting all at once. There's no way to visit everyone. Last year I started in the middle of the list and went as far as I could. I plan on signing up again.
I'd actually like to feature many of you this year, so if you have a book, a short story to promote, blog post send it on over--mpaxauthor[at]gmail[dot]com. Flash fictions, etc.. would also be great. How about your favorite blog post? Maybe could all trade posts and made the load lighter. :) Shrug. Just an idea.
Anyway, hope you all had a great weekend.
38 comments:
The options available to us now are amazing and I'm happy the industry is changing.
This will be my first year participating in the A-Z challenge. It'll be interesting, that's for sure. I've never posted that much. I'm working on my posts now, trying to prepare. My theme is a little tricky, so I'm hoping to have all the letters covered by April.
'It means the written word won’t die. It’s just changing formats.'
I was reading an online sample for Kindle and noticed hypertext links. To me, that is revolutionary.
Featuring others during the Challenge is a great idea. I did it last year and had such a good response.
You're right that eBooks mean people are reading more. I've read more books on my iPad in the last year than the previous five years combined.
I'm glad the publishing industry is changing. When I first heard about e-publishing and read several books from that industry, I decided to publish that way so far, but to work for a traditional goal too. Now, after having been e-published, I have no desire to publish traditionally.
Hope YOU had a great weekend, and you're right. E-publishing has changed everything, and it's cool that writers in "small" markets can still get out there. Even if that slot's already taken at the traditional publishing house~ :o) <3
You are so hardworking -- I really think that is an important part of artistic success. Good luck with your publishing plans and with the A-Z challenge!
You're ahead of me, Miranda. I'm still just thinking.
I've been mulling over hypertext links, Suze. How to use them to enhance. Maybe my brain will come up with something eventually.
Giving back is always a good idea, as you know, Alex. The portability is a big factor.
I'm still undecided, Angelina, but will continue with epublishing for now.
I think it's great everyone can tell the stories they have to tell, Leigh. Everyone's goals aren't the same either.
Thank you, Tabatha. Good to see you. :)
A to Z again. I'm thinking more and more that I'll probably participate this year. Maybe not - it's just such a big event.
I'm pretty thrilled that self publishing has some cred now. It's especially good for those that write for limited markets.
You're so right about the total change in this business. Do you remember the days of subbing via snail mail? The SASE that might not have enough postage if the postal rates went up before you got your rejection? Ah the good old days!
Here's to change.
It's good exposure, Rusty. I'm glad it has more cred now, too. I just read a traditional pubbed book that had a chapter that made no sense whatsoever & I didn't like the ending. So, no one has a monopoly on suckitude.
Yes, I remember, C. Lee. That happened to my first submission. Lesson: use forever stamps. Submitting electronically is even better.
Wowza, thanks for the shout out! Much appreciated, my friend. Yes, the ebook is the wave of the future. The road of transition is going to be rocky and full of land mines, but there's no sense in trying to fight it. It's like 'Nam. Except, you know, not.
Wonderful post. There are so many options. Sometimes it's hard to know which way to go! I'm excited about the A to Z Challenge. I'll be getting a head start on it since April is a busy month for me. Have a great week! :)
I agree. It's great to have options. :)
I'm really looking forward to the A-Z Challenge 2012; it will be my second time around, and I'm hoping to be organized and have more cohesive posts this year.
I know that just in the last year my attitudes about e-publishing have changed dramatically. I was convinced traditional publishing was the only way to go, but I don't feel that way anymore. I'm still going to try and get an agent, but if it doesn't work out, I'm more than happy to self-publish. Like you, I'd hire an editor and make the most professional presentation I could, because I do believe it's a legitimate option now.
And eek! The A to Z challenge is already giving me palpitations. I've got a plan, but I have to organize and write my posts ahead of time to keep it from blowing up in my face, because I'll be out of town the first week of April!
The options are awesome and gives writers so many opportunities, giving them the power:)
A lot of self-pubs, for me, have turned out to be better than some of the traditionally published books. It's nice to have the choice of books that may not have seen the light of day otherwise.
I keep thinking about the A-Z challenge, coming down on the side of "yes", and then switching to "no" when I have a sudden burst of doubt about what I'm going to blog about. I'm sure I'll figure out whether to join in or not eventually :).
Hi M., I forgot to tell you about my indie experience. The majority of my stuff has been published traditionally, but I do have one self-published book about Mae West. I noticed a substantial upswing in sales since last November, which is when it started being sold on iPads (and Nooks, I think). Print-on-demand can be quite expensive, so no wonder readers appreciate a cheaper price. (That said, I don't have an e-book reader, so most everything I buy is paper.)
It is a very good time to be a writer. I think you'll be successful self-publishing. You seem to be doing everything right.
I'm definitely in on the A-Z challenge. My strategy this year is to do very short posts.
I'm doing the A to Z for a second year. It seems to be the only way to get me to blog. LOL!
Your promoting others is a good idea. I'm game. We can trade!
Whether to go the self-published route or not is a personal decision. It seems to be working best (in general) for people who have published with small presses and then realize they can make more publishing themselves. They're doing most of the promotion work anyway.
Good luck!
As for A to Z, I look forward to reading the posts.
Options in publishing are exactly why many of us have the ability to get published in the first place. It's damned near impossible to get the attention of an agent and they are so stuck on themselves (for the most part) that dealing with them is a real pain.
I'm gaining more of an understanding for e-publishing, but what is this word indie that you use? Is is another word for e-publishing? I'm just trying to stay on top of the game!
This A to Z Cjallenge sounds like a lot of fun! I just may jump in on it!
I skipped last year's A-Z but think I'll do it this year. Definitely writing those posts ahead of time though. I did buy the missing link - good so far. I owe you a review. Haven't forgotten, just been a touch busy!
You're welcome, Brandon / Bryan.
We can always change our minds, too, Christine. Which is great.
It'll be my second time, too, Eagle.
There's so many indie pubbed books out that are just as good as the traditionally published stuff. I think sometimes folks are harder on us though. Good hearing from you, LG.
It's nice to have a smidgeon of power, Tania.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Tabatha.
What a nice comment, Tonja. I'm going to keep reading that one. Maybe post-it to my monitor. :)
I'm game, too, Laura.
I, too, have read some phenomenal self-pubbed, CD. I teetered on it, too, and then decided to just do it. It was fun last year. Made some great friends.
It is a personal decision, Theresa. I think it makes sense for genre fiction.
We don't make much money the traditional way either as I see it, Michael. That was one of the factors in my decision.
Indie is short for 'independent', Karen. The latest term for self-published.
Glad to see you lurking around, Libby. I look forward to your next set of stories.
I think it's great we have so many options as writers. I imagine I will turn to self-pubbing, but I want to at least give the traditional route a go first. Stupid to want that whole validation thing, but it's there, what can I say. But it's comforting to know I can self-pub in the future if I so choose. The industry is changing so quickly, it might turn out to be the very best way to go before too long. I appreciate writers like you, Mary, who've been brave enough to go for it on their won and share their experiences. I might be picking your brain some day soon! Good luck in your ebook adventures!
I find this a fascinating post, since the art world is going that direction, too. Opportunities now exist online that weren't there before, unless some gallery deigned to give you their nod of approval.
Beautifully said. The options are amazing. Long live the written word!
Oy, AtoZ will be here before we know it! I've got my plan, and you offer an excellent tip about pre-loading. I would most certainly love to send you a little somethin-somethin for your features---when you get further in the process, just let me know what letter you need to fill and I'll be happy to oblige. :)
I felt same as you, Nancy. Then I changed my mind. And it's great that we can no matter which path we choose.
Yea for you, Loretta. I look forward to see where this year leads you.
I know, Nicki. We'll blink and tomorrow will be April. I better get on it. Yea, another to trade posts with.
A nicely balanced post M Pax. I wish you all the best for indie publishing. I hope you make more than peanut shells, lol!
I hope the A - Z isn't going too viral. Phew! So many posts. I assure you all we won't forget it's on in April!
Denise
I think it's really inspiring that you've decided to take the bull by the horns and go your own route with self-publishing. The opportunities are so exciting, and as I am totally addicted to my Kindle after less than a month, I can totally see why ebook readers are also voracious readers. I think we will only see more opportunities open up in the future.
I can't wait for the A-Z Challenge this year. I came up with a theme yesterday out of the blue and am excited about getting some posts together.
You're right, authors have never had more options available to them as they do now. And neither do readers! Good luck with going indie!
Thank you for the kind wishes, Denise. April will be here before we know it.
You inspire me, Julie. Hope to witness more of your triumphs this year. Yea, on a theme for AtoZ. A theme really helps.
The choices are great, Nicole. I find I still buy a mix of ebooks and paperbacks. I'm too cheap to pay regular price for a traditional pub as an ebook...so far.
Yes, it's nice that there are so many options now. It's not just new authors choosing to self-pub either.
Michael Stackpole is an example of a traditionally published author who's publishing independently on the side (I've heard a couple of interviews he's done, and he pointed out that the ebooks he's publishing himself actually sell more copies than similar ebooks that the trad press is handling. Makes you wonder what's going on with those publishers.)
You're right - it's good to have the choice. Best of luck with the route you've chosen.
I know I read more books with an ereader - cause they're only a click away. It's cold, icy, snowy - it doesn't matter I can still get a new book snuggled up in a blanket with my cocoa. It's great!
I moved my blog, but there is a feed problem with my old blog and the posts aren’t showing up. You can visit my new blog here.
I don't have any problem with the choices writers make in how they publish books. I agree with you, whatever format works best for your book is what you should go with. However, I am not happy with the ebook phenom from my customers POV. At a library I see so many customers who can't afford an ereader and having more and more books available only through ereaders means that information is not available to them and if that continues it means an even poorer read population. And that isn't good for anyone.
It is nice that it's all mixed up, Lindsay. Perhaps the difference is the personal connections the authors make on behalf of their epublishing efforts.
Thank you, Patsy.
That sounds so nice Southpaw. I think I will go do that with some ta.
I had not thought of that issue, Danette. Thanks for bringing it up.
I'm very happy that there are so many options for publishing. I need to be more savvy though.
I'd love to have you on my blog sometime.
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