On A More Serious Note
What do Mark Twain, William Shakespeare, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson all have in common aside from the idea that they were writers in another era set far apart from the modern and assumed definition of author? The answer is simple: They were all Independent Authors. None of them had an agent, a publicist or an editor. None of them submitted written works to be rejected and yet all of them are considered writers of note and wisdom. Where did we as a modern society forget this? When did the modern standard become so elitist that it's no longer a matter of whether or not a person truly has talent but whether or not it's possible to stroke the ego of a representative or agent enough to get them to give a rookie a chance? I've sent out queries, written synopsis and pitches and several rejection letters later and a few failures where a reply is concerned, I decided to be stubborn, scrap the idea that someone else said I couldn't and walk the long road down Indie Authorship. I've not regretted the idea even once.
Don't get me wrong, there are pros and cons to being an Indie Author. On the upside, I enjoy a higher royalty rate than a traditionally published author and I have sole creative control over my own work and how it's presented. On the downside, there is no buffer between me and the nay-sayers that would insist on making it their personal objective in life to beat down my work. All the marketing falls on the shoulders of the Indie Author and we all hear fairly consistently that our work is rubbish and unsalable from all kinds of people from all walks of life. Namely speaking, the traditional publishing houses to whom I'll refer in here as the "Big Six" probably because they're so full of themselves that they're failing to see the bigger picture which is markedly simple; the world of authorship is evolving and they must evolve apace. And yes, on a bit of a side note I'll be referring to the Big Six continuously in the manner of a proper name because they have taken on the quality of a nemesis and a nemesis must have a proper name. Therefore I name you the Big Six. Let me explain, if you'll be so kind as to indulge me a moment.
The modern ebook costs nothing to publish as for this idea I'll exclude the costs of an editor and book cover art because these are both expenditures that come part and parcel with a book whether it's published traditionally or independently. What bothers me the most is that I've purchased an ebook by one of my favorite authors (whose name I will forego mentioning here simply because I don't want said author to feel like I scorn their work) and paid the same price as I would have had that ebook come off the shelves in a brick and mortar store. Don't get me wrong, ladies and gentlemen, for I don't begrudge paying for the book, I simply think that the price of the work should've been set proportionately to the cost of publishing the work. I don't feel that the book should've been free because I whole heartedly believe that the author should be paid for their work however, I don't believe that I should've had to spend a clean twenty dollar bill for a work that realistically could've made a tidy paycheck for the author and a tidy profit for the publisher at less than half that price. The publisher didn't pay for ink or paper or really pay a hefty cost in the producing of the ebook, so why should I pay for costs that they did not? It seems a little bit like price gouging to me.
The advent of the ebook and the ebook reader have made it much easier for extremely talented writers who may or may not be writing in the style of the latest fad to get their material out there. I might add that it's far more cost effective as well. While I'm going to say honestly that I don't expect to set the world on fire and be the next Christopher Paolini or J.K. Rowling, I know that I am more than able to generate a following, speak my piece, tell my story and find a faithful following who will at some point consider their lives duly enriched for having read my work. If the Big Six can't recognize this, I pity them for their short sightedness. I'm not the only one, either so here and now, I'm going to shout out to my fellow Indie Authors and say, "Well done and well written. We're more courageous by half and we know it."
The Big Six have maintained a monopoly and control for so long that from my point of view, their vanity will not let them believe that anyone could succeed where they have stated that person will not. I have met so many talented writers as an Indie Author that it's left me faintly flabbergasted when I stop to reflect that their work is not getting the attention it deserves. Are we as a society letting someone else dictate to us what we are or are not allowed to enjoy when it comes to reading? And are so many as a collective audience so biased against Independent Authorship that this has become an inability to recognize talent that constitutes failure and close-mindedness? I believe it does.
Really in all of this, my point is simple. To the Big Six, I understand you're busy and you want to make money but is your disdain really fair? Your guiding star is your profit margin, mine is my love of the written word. I as an Indie Author know that I have the talent to pursue a career as a writer and I'm saying right now; I'm here, I'm talented and I'm aware that you don't like me. Get used to me anyway and understand that I want nothing more from you than professional courtesy, respect and recognition. I am a colleague and I expect to be treated as one for I want nothing from you that I will not give to you and I give you professional courtesy, respect and recognition. Is that so much to ask? Is a modicum of professionalism so difficult for you that you would sooner insult and degrade me than admit that my writing may have merit?
I for one refuse to believe that my work is not salable or worth anyone's time based on your sole opinion. I also believe that there are several Indie Authors that deserve your respect and recognition and I would like to go out on a limb and speak for all of us when I say, "We're here and we're not going anywhere, be adult and professional and give us our due."
Perhaps the battle lines have been drawn and we've all been called to arms. I agree with my fellow Indie Authors that the Big Six are trying to hold their power amid and by way of a media blitz and their efforts to make themselves over and become "lean, fighting machines" which is completely asinine. On the one end, my brain is saying that the Big Six should give over and be professional and the idea of lean fighting machines is anything but. On the other end, this kind of self description makes me want to throw my hands in the air with a big, "YIPPEE!!" For why else would the Big Six be taking this kind of unilateral action if they did not indeed feel threatened? Perhaps they can all be likened in ways to the tiger whose aggression becomes greater when he senses the end is near. Perhaps in the not too distant future because the idea of authorship is evolving, so will the Big Six. Perhaps they'll lay their pride aside and begin to step outside of their megalomania and give Indie Authors what we deserve however, if they don't the Big Six will have to face their own decline in popularity and respect. In my honest opinion, they will either adapt or go the way of the dinosaurs. Empires fall, there are no exceptions.
Don't get me wrong, there are pros and cons to being an Indie Author. On the upside, I enjoy a higher royalty rate than a traditionally published author and I have sole creative control over my own work and how it's presented. On the downside, there is no buffer between me and the nay-sayers that would insist on making it their personal objective in life to beat down my work. All the marketing falls on the shoulders of the Indie Author and we all hear fairly consistently that our work is rubbish and unsalable from all kinds of people from all walks of life. Namely speaking, the traditional publishing houses to whom I'll refer in here as the "Big Six" probably because they're so full of themselves that they're failing to see the bigger picture which is markedly simple; the world of authorship is evolving and they must evolve apace. And yes, on a bit of a side note I'll be referring to the Big Six continuously in the manner of a proper name because they have taken on the quality of a nemesis and a nemesis must have a proper name. Therefore I name you the Big Six. Let me explain, if you'll be so kind as to indulge me a moment.
The modern ebook costs nothing to publish as for this idea I'll exclude the costs of an editor and book cover art because these are both expenditures that come part and parcel with a book whether it's published traditionally or independently. What bothers me the most is that I've purchased an ebook by one of my favorite authors (whose name I will forego mentioning here simply because I don't want said author to feel like I scorn their work) and paid the same price as I would have had that ebook come off the shelves in a brick and mortar store. Don't get me wrong, ladies and gentlemen, for I don't begrudge paying for the book, I simply think that the price of the work should've been set proportionately to the cost of publishing the work. I don't feel that the book should've been free because I whole heartedly believe that the author should be paid for their work however, I don't believe that I should've had to spend a clean twenty dollar bill for a work that realistically could've made a tidy paycheck for the author and a tidy profit for the publisher at less than half that price. The publisher didn't pay for ink or paper or really pay a hefty cost in the producing of the ebook, so why should I pay for costs that they did not? It seems a little bit like price gouging to me.
The advent of the ebook and the ebook reader have made it much easier for extremely talented writers who may or may not be writing in the style of the latest fad to get their material out there. I might add that it's far more cost effective as well. While I'm going to say honestly that I don't expect to set the world on fire and be the next Christopher Paolini or J.K. Rowling, I know that I am more than able to generate a following, speak my piece, tell my story and find a faithful following who will at some point consider their lives duly enriched for having read my work. If the Big Six can't recognize this, I pity them for their short sightedness. I'm not the only one, either so here and now, I'm going to shout out to my fellow Indie Authors and say, "Well done and well written. We're more courageous by half and we know it."
The Big Six have maintained a monopoly and control for so long that from my point of view, their vanity will not let them believe that anyone could succeed where they have stated that person will not. I have met so many talented writers as an Indie Author that it's left me faintly flabbergasted when I stop to reflect that their work is not getting the attention it deserves. Are we as a society letting someone else dictate to us what we are or are not allowed to enjoy when it comes to reading? And are so many as a collective audience so biased against Independent Authorship that this has become an inability to recognize talent that constitutes failure and close-mindedness? I believe it does.
Really in all of this, my point is simple. To the Big Six, I understand you're busy and you want to make money but is your disdain really fair? Your guiding star is your profit margin, mine is my love of the written word. I as an Indie Author know that I have the talent to pursue a career as a writer and I'm saying right now; I'm here, I'm talented and I'm aware that you don't like me. Get used to me anyway and understand that I want nothing more from you than professional courtesy, respect and recognition. I am a colleague and I expect to be treated as one for I want nothing from you that I will not give to you and I give you professional courtesy, respect and recognition. Is that so much to ask? Is a modicum of professionalism so difficult for you that you would sooner insult and degrade me than admit that my writing may have merit?
I for one refuse to believe that my work is not salable or worth anyone's time based on your sole opinion. I also believe that there are several Indie Authors that deserve your respect and recognition and I would like to go out on a limb and speak for all of us when I say, "We're here and we're not going anywhere, be adult and professional and give us our due."
Perhaps the battle lines have been drawn and we've all been called to arms. I agree with my fellow Indie Authors that the Big Six are trying to hold their power amid and by way of a media blitz and their efforts to make themselves over and become "lean, fighting machines" which is completely asinine. On the one end, my brain is saying that the Big Six should give over and be professional and the idea of lean fighting machines is anything but. On the other end, this kind of self description makes me want to throw my hands in the air with a big, "YIPPEE!!" For why else would the Big Six be taking this kind of unilateral action if they did not indeed feel threatened? Perhaps they can all be likened in ways to the tiger whose aggression becomes greater when he senses the end is near. Perhaps in the not too distant future because the idea of authorship is evolving, so will the Big Six. Perhaps they'll lay their pride aside and begin to step outside of their megalomania and give Indie Authors what we deserve however, if they don't the Big Six will have to face their own decline in popularity and respect. In my honest opinion, they will either adapt or go the way of the dinosaurs. Empires fall, there are no exceptions.
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