Hey, Indie Reader, I'm looking at you!

Let me set a scene. Sunday morning. My 'day off'. My daughter running around like a monkey…stoked because I promised her I wouldn't work. I got up, drank some kefir, checked my facebook…the usual. There was a message from a British man who read my first novel, 'Joe Café'.  He had some questions about the book. He had a valid argument. I spent about 15 minutes and 500 words explaining my feelings on character and what I was trying to accomplish. It was all very civil. He was happy. My daughter wanted to play, but I thought that it was important to take a few minutes and respond to someone who took the time to read my novel. I still feel this way.

Next, I checked my email and was greeted by a link to a blog about readers' feelings regarding writers…specifically Indie Writers. It was a good read. I learned a few things. I also got a little bit pissed off because I keep hearing the same things from readers. 'I'm tired of writers pushing their books on me all the time.' 'I'm tired of writers trying to sell books on facebook instead of getting to know me as a person.' 'I wrote an email to the author of a book I read and he/she didn't even email me back.' 'I am tired of buying novels that are poorly edited.'

I feel your pain, readers. Now let me drop some writer's beefs on you. You can't have your cake and eat it, too. My first novel took about eight months to write. Add another couple months for revision. Add some money in for design help. Professional editing? That's gonna cost ya half a grand or so. But time, Jesus does it take a lot of time. The cost there is incalculable. I pretty much hate facebook, and the only reason I spend hours a day on there is because that's the only way I can get my work out there – it's part of my job.  I'm not selling my novels for .99 cents. You have to be out of your minds. $3.99 is absurdly low, but I can live with it. I accept that writing fiction will ALWAYS cost me.

Indie writers use social networking to sell their work. I agree, it is annoying when all a writer does is push their novel. I try not to do that. I spend a lot of time interacting with people…recommending books that don't net me a dime…giving advice on everything from how to write to how to interact with your kids. (A lot of folks know I used to be a teacher and that I worked with special needs kids. I give a LOT of free advice.) That's cool with me.

My first novel has a dozen or so minor typos, but it is by no means unreadable…most of the people who have read 'Joe Café' never noticed them. My second novel, 'The Biker'…well, I ponied up the money to have it edited. It's a lot cleaner. But it wasn't free. Every novel has typos, Indie or not.

I want to tread real carefully here, because I think this is important, and I think it is imperative that you hear what I am saying – without getting defensive. When you buy a novel, you don't buy a friend or a therapist. When you spend .99 cents on a novel, you shouldn't be surprised if it is as bad as the convenience store coffee that costs the same. Indie writers aren't getting rich. When I take 15 minutes to write you a personal message, that is 15 minutes I'm not writing, playing with my daughter, helping my wife…living my life.

I don't mean to sound bitter here, but c'mon folks. I have sold a good number of novels and, financially, it is still a losing enterprise. You watch TV. There are commercials. Do you call Toyota and expect them to help explain how your kid's Central Auditory Processing Disorder makes class tough for him? Do you get pissed at the commercials for 'getting in your face'? Hell, don't you deserve to be entertained for free? Of course you don't. Entertainment costs money. Even from us lowly, non-incorporated, Indie writers.

I'm not bitter, I swear. I like writing, but we all need to wake the hell up. Writers shouldn't hawk their books like used car salesmen. I try not to. But I do need to try and sell the damn things. Writers should appreciate their fans. I do. Many of us do. Part of the reason I do two posts a week on here (for free) is because I appreciate Indie writers AND Indie fans. On my blog, www.jdmader.com, there are FIFTY free short stories and tons of essays, humorous pieces, interviews, reviews…ten years worth of work. All available for free. No advertising. No nothing. My gift to you. That's like half a dozen books. And some of those stories have been published. Some have won prizes. A few were complimented by The New Yorker, for God's sake.

I'm tired of writers bitching about how they aren't selling books when they come into every interaction with a hard sell…to the point that it makes me uncomfortable.  I'm tired of writers who can't take a few minutes to thank their fans and be decent people and recognize that without readers, the books are pretty useless. I'm tired of writers who don't pay an editor or spend hours and hours…weeks editing themselves.

I'm equally tired of readers who complain about writers putting up their good reviews as advertisement for their work. I'm tired of readers who think paying more than .99 cents for an e-book is ridiculous. I'm tired of readers who can't see the wonderful forest for a handful of typos. I'm tired of readers who don't understand that, thanks to the internet, you can read some of the best writers in the world…for free or a nominal cost…without even putting on pants.

We pay so much to be entertained. A two hour movie costs ten bucks. You have advertisements shoved down your throat before (and DURING) the movie. You don't get to talk to the actors, writers, or producers. There are mistakes…we're all human. But you don't complain online and make it personal. Why do you get to complain about books? Why do you get to insult writers?

I love that people want to read my books. Our books. I am more than happy to go the extra mile and get to know you. Answer your questions.  Help you out if I can. If you really can't afford the four bucks to buy the book, but you want to read it, I'll give you a copy. But you, dear reader, need to understand that it takes me around a year to produce a novel. So, if you think $3.99 is too much to pay for the novel, access to the writer, and continued enjoyment of the product…well, go watch TV. Seriously. I'm trying to be cool here. Why don't you meet me halfway?

I have not personally felt this backlash. Partly, because I do go above and beyond to get people reading. Reading anything. Not just my books. But I hear the complaints. I read about the 'reader's perspective'. So, turnabout's fair play. Put yourself in our shoes. I work 12 hours a day. And when I'm done, I write an email to someone I've never met because they want a "personal connection". They didn't pay for it, but cool, money isn't everything. But that means I get to promote my novel and not be chastised for it. I will do it as tactfully as possible. You get what you pay for. The way e-books are right now, you can get a whole hell of a lot more than what you pay for. I'm grateful that things are the way they are. But it bothers me a little bit when I hear complaints from readers who fill their Kindles for less than it costs to fill their gas tanks and then complain about it. We should all be grateful. And you should stop bitching. Unless you want US to start bitching. And, trust me, you don't want that.

I realize that the annoying writers are the exception, not the rule. And I realize that annoying readers are the exception, not the rule. A lot of people who have read my work help me to promote it. That is awesome. And generous. Unfortunately, those who bitch the loudest, get the grease. And there are some greasy bastards out there. Writers work very hard for little money. Readers, when you buy a book, you take a chance.  You may love it or hate it. It may be well written. It may not. We can't choose our readers. You can choose the writers you read. Try reading some writers who care about the reader/writer relationship – writers that put tons of effort into their work. But sorry, you may have to pay more than .99 cents. And sometimes you'll get burned. Just like at the movie theater. And sometimes you won't. I know a lot of really, really good writers who can't afford to go to the movies themselves. Ruminate on that for a minute before you lump us all together and get all entitled. (Bad writing pun, that's gotta be worth a quarter right there).

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JD Mader is a Contributing Author for Indies Unlimited and author of the novels JOE  CAFÉ and THE BIKER. For more information, please see the IU Bio page and his blog:www.jdmader.com .

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