How to Indie Publish (the condensed version)

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I get this question all the time, "How do you do it?"  Which ultimately means, "How do I do it?"  So here's a blog post devoted to just that.  I am by no means a best selling indie author, but maybe my story will give you a little encouragement to keep on chugging.

In "The true story behind Founder," I tell you about my dream.  This is completely true.  I wish I had recorded the exact date in my journal scribblings, but I didn't- so I'm only aware that it was in late October, early November, I woke up and began scribbling out the character of Marta.  She was the only character I didn't actually invent a name for, she was called Marta in my dreams.  The moment I woke up, she was a real person to me, and I couldn't rename her.  My head was filled with dialogue that winter.  I was constantly racing home from places to scribble another scene down.  My iPhone, and iPad were filled with abbreviated notes- I always had trouble deciphering.  I was a couple weeks into this when I spoke with a good friend Elaine.  She was the first person I mentioned writing a book to, I hadn't even told my husband up until this point.  Of course being the amazing friend she is, she encouraged me to do it- so I spoke with my husband- ordered a writing program for our Mac (Scrivener- I highly recommend it), and started typing.  My sister's Kimi and Katrina became my first sounding boards.  I would forward them whole sections to ask opinions, and Kimberly really became my motivation to finish.  She would impatiently email me asking for the next chunk, pestering me until I forwarded it, in all it's grammatically incorrect glory.

Eventually I had a somewhat completed manuscript at 80,000 words.  I was so proud of that baby I printed it right off, and it still sits on the bookshelf behind me.  The very first draft of Founder.  This was in February.  Then began the round of edits.  I started sending it out to friends to read.  Julianne was my biggest help here- I would send her one chapter at a time, as I rewrote- and she would make comments and helpful suggestions.  I would rewrite again right behind her.  It took nearly a month of daily, hourly, rewrites.  Do you see a pattern here?  I have absolutely incredible friends- who devoted a huge chunk of their own lives to my pet project.  After the first and second rewrite, I was ready for beta readers.  I also started sending out query letters to agents.  This was my one huge mistake- my book was not completed and I still sent out query letters.  Some of the feedback I received from agents, proved invaluable- but I would still recommend waiting, and waiting, and wanting, to send out those query letters- especially if you're going to try and go the traditional route.

My beta readers were fantastic.  Two of my friends from goodreads, Chris and Colette, gave me incredibly critical and honest feedback, which caused two major rewrites of sections, and a brand new character to be developed.  My sister Katrina, helped me to rewrite the beginning of my book- when she told me she couldn't even make it through the first chapter, there was no hook.  My mother was the fourth reader, who hated my book.  Yes, I said my mother hated my book, so those of you out there that think family is just going to blow smoke up your butt- mine didn't.  I changed, and added an entirely new chapter and ending, after my mother complained about it.  All of this was completed in April of 2011.

I ended up receiving 25 rejection queries total, which in the scope of things- is not many.  It was the feedback that made me reevaluate was I was doing.  Most of the agents wrote things like, "incredibly well written, loved your voice, well developed characters, but. . ." Every single one of them found my book "unmarketable."  There simply "isn't a market for your book."  That line, from one of the top agents in the industry, is when I decided I could market it myself, and started investigating the world of indie publishing.

One of the first things I did was buy Zoe Winter's book on Amazon, "A guide to indie publishing."  It offered all kinds of advice, which I began doing.  I found a stock photo for my cover, and did a little photoshopping.  I created a new website, signed up for twitter, and began lurking in the book forums.  Then in May of 2011 I released my book on Amazon for kindle.  They have probably one of the best platforms for authors.  It's completely free, easy to format for, and they give you 70% of royalties for books priced under 9.99.  I also hired a professional formatter, and submitted my book to smashwords, another free indie site- that helps get your book published to iBook, and B&N.  Currently I'm in the works of having my book available through create space, another free service, that in-demand publishes paperback copies.

My best advice to those of you who want to write a book?  Have a thick skin, be able to use rejection and negativity- it has to fuel you.  Read your genre.  I am a notorious bibliophile.  I pop books like candy, and I keep current on what is out there.  Then write.  It doesn't have to be your book.  Write in your journal, write a blog, write letters to friends.  Craft your sentences, and have fun with them- but write.  I write constantly, and when I'm not writing, I'm developing stories and plot in my head.  Like everything else, you can only get better with practice.