We're Indies, Not Idiots!
Recently, a reviewer mentioned that one of my mysteries wasn't bad, for an indie. As if being an independent, self-published author brands me with an "L" on my forehead. After all, if I was capable of being a real author, my books would be published by a respectable traditional publishing house and my books would appear everywhere in hardcover, paperback, and digital form.
In other words, those of us who publish our own works of fiction and non-fiction are writing only slop, drek, schlock, crap....or the dreaded "pulp fiction". I don't know about you, but I resent that remark. Call me haughty. Call me proud. Call me an Indie. I'm happy to wear the "I" mark!
As a former librarian, I can let you in on a little secret. Not everything that traditional publishers produce is stellar. In fact, I used to troll through professional review journals to weed through the many, many choices, in search of the best books for my library's budget. A number of factors went into my selection process, including the all-important "library binding", because there's nothing worse than having a book fall apart on the fourth or fifth reading by patrons.
For those readers who assume that the only good books out there are those vetted, edited, and produced through the traditional routes, I've got news for you. There are plenty of stinkers out there. Just because they exist in the physical domain of paper and cover, that doesn't mean they're all winners, any more than it means that a digital book by an independent author is an amateur effort at best, or of poor quality.
There are many solid reasons for authors to go independent. A number of seasoned writers took that traditional route and didn't feel it was worth the trouble. For those authors who had the agent, the editor, the publisher, it didn't always guarantee success, literary or financial. And many hate the fact that they've lost their own intellectual property because they surrendered their copyrights.
Last night, I was combing through Amazon in search of cancer and hospice books, in my capacity as the Practical Caregiver. One thing leapt out at me. My short Kindle guide to home hospice care had just as many stars as a couple of books produced by traditional publishers, and more than others. What does that say to you? Sure, my little book is short and sweet, to the point, and even free. I did it as a public service, as a means to educate the public, because I am passionate about families getting involved in the care of loved ones at the end of life. But it legitimately competes with traditionally published hospice works and holds its own.
And that, my friends, raises one of the most important points of all. In traditional publishing, decisions are made based solely on the potential of content selling a book. Think about that. You could have the world's best book, but if the subject matter doesn't appeal to the masses, it's adios, amigo!
One of the most important things to me as a writer is to write what I know. I try to fill my mysteries with characters that have...well, character. They look out for each other. They take the high road. They care about each other. Some may have cancer. Some may struggle with health issues or PTSD. Some may be trapped by circumstances beyond their control, whether it's a bad relationship or being an intelligence target. One thing my characters have in common is that they face their problems and try to fix them. They don't always succeed, and things don't always come out in the conventional way, but they never stop trying.
If I were to only write those stories that had mass appeal, wouldn't I be selling out for the buck? Sure, I could probably write the next "Fifty Shades of Grey", but I'd have to leave out the sex, and frankly, that much focus on an intimate relationship when the world is going to hell in a handbasket just doesn't appeal to me. I guess I could fake it, throw in some titillating details, but then I think about the authors I admire. They didn't have to be smutty to sell. Dame Agatha didn't dumb down her books to entice readers to play along with her guessing games by throwing in naked, writhing bodies in a Jello-filled, heart-shaped tub in the middle of the Poconos. "And then he took his sword and poked her, to get her attention. She swooned, falling naked back into his strong, trusted arms...." As an indie, I need to write what matters to me, so that my voice and my characters are authentic. I think that's true of my fellow indie authors out there, regardless of their passions.
For every reader who enjoys erotic literature, there are authors, traditional and indie. Can we really say that only those traditionally published deserve a peek? The same holds true for sci-fi, fantasy, romance, "chick lit", and mysteries. If anything, indies offer the public a greater selection from which to choose, and for those of us who have series of books, it's always wonderful when readers latch on and love our characters.
But the best part about being an indie author? The sky's the limit. There's no one telling me what I have to write. Those unpopular subjects that don't lure in the readers? If I have an important story to tell, I can, even if it's not pretty or popular. Right now, my spy fiction is taking a big hit -- almost the market equivalent of personna non grata. And yet, as the world tumbles forward into chaos, as the need to protect national security clashes with personal freedoms, we're still left with the problem of standing strong against bad guys.
I'm still in the learning process, taking my books forward and introducing them to readers who will find pleasure in reading them. I know that for those who have had a chance to get lost in my stories, they've enjoyed the wild rides. In fact, several readers have said my books weren't anything like they expected them to be. Part of that is that I haven't yet mastered book promotion. Part of that is the public bias against indies.
Yes, I'm proud to be an indie. I may not be perfect. I may not always catch every typo, misspelling, or grammatical error. But I do have good tales to tell and characters worthy of knowing. It may take time to build my audience, but I think it's worth it. If that makes me an idiot, so be it. At least I'm an indie idiot, a believer living the dream, and working every day towards my goal of producing books that hit the heart. That's called living life out loud, my friends. Carpe diem!
In other words, those of us who publish our own works of fiction and non-fiction are writing only slop, drek, schlock, crap....or the dreaded "pulp fiction". I don't know about you, but I resent that remark. Call me haughty. Call me proud. Call me an Indie. I'm happy to wear the "I" mark!
As a former librarian, I can let you in on a little secret. Not everything that traditional publishers produce is stellar. In fact, I used to troll through professional review journals to weed through the many, many choices, in search of the best books for my library's budget. A number of factors went into my selection process, including the all-important "library binding", because there's nothing worse than having a book fall apart on the fourth or fifth reading by patrons.
For those readers who assume that the only good books out there are those vetted, edited, and produced through the traditional routes, I've got news for you. There are plenty of stinkers out there. Just because they exist in the physical domain of paper and cover, that doesn't mean they're all winners, any more than it means that a digital book by an independent author is an amateur effort at best, or of poor quality.
There are many solid reasons for authors to go independent. A number of seasoned writers took that traditional route and didn't feel it was worth the trouble. For those authors who had the agent, the editor, the publisher, it didn't always guarantee success, literary or financial. And many hate the fact that they've lost their own intellectual property because they surrendered their copyrights.
Last night, I was combing through Amazon in search of cancer and hospice books, in my capacity as the Practical Caregiver. One thing leapt out at me. My short Kindle guide to home hospice care had just as many stars as a couple of books produced by traditional publishers, and more than others. What does that say to you? Sure, my little book is short and sweet, to the point, and even free. I did it as a public service, as a means to educate the public, because I am passionate about families getting involved in the care of loved ones at the end of life. But it legitimately competes with traditionally published hospice works and holds its own.
And that, my friends, raises one of the most important points of all. In traditional publishing, decisions are made based solely on the potential of content selling a book. Think about that. You could have the world's best book, but if the subject matter doesn't appeal to the masses, it's adios, amigo!
One of the most important things to me as a writer is to write what I know. I try to fill my mysteries with characters that have...well, character. They look out for each other. They take the high road. They care about each other. Some may have cancer. Some may struggle with health issues or PTSD. Some may be trapped by circumstances beyond their control, whether it's a bad relationship or being an intelligence target. One thing my characters have in common is that they face their problems and try to fix them. They don't always succeed, and things don't always come out in the conventional way, but they never stop trying.
If I were to only write those stories that had mass appeal, wouldn't I be selling out for the buck? Sure, I could probably write the next "Fifty Shades of Grey", but I'd have to leave out the sex, and frankly, that much focus on an intimate relationship when the world is going to hell in a handbasket just doesn't appeal to me. I guess I could fake it, throw in some titillating details, but then I think about the authors I admire. They didn't have to be smutty to sell. Dame Agatha didn't dumb down her books to entice readers to play along with her guessing games by throwing in naked, writhing bodies in a Jello-filled, heart-shaped tub in the middle of the Poconos. "And then he took his sword and poked her, to get her attention. She swooned, falling naked back into his strong, trusted arms...." As an indie, I need to write what matters to me, so that my voice and my characters are authentic. I think that's true of my fellow indie authors out there, regardless of their passions.
For every reader who enjoys erotic literature, there are authors, traditional and indie. Can we really say that only those traditionally published deserve a peek? The same holds true for sci-fi, fantasy, romance, "chick lit", and mysteries. If anything, indies offer the public a greater selection from which to choose, and for those of us who have series of books, it's always wonderful when readers latch on and love our characters.
But the best part about being an indie author? The sky's the limit. There's no one telling me what I have to write. Those unpopular subjects that don't lure in the readers? If I have an important story to tell, I can, even if it's not pretty or popular. Right now, my spy fiction is taking a big hit -- almost the market equivalent of personna non grata. And yet, as the world tumbles forward into chaos, as the need to protect national security clashes with personal freedoms, we're still left with the problem of standing strong against bad guys.
I'm still in the learning process, taking my books forward and introducing them to readers who will find pleasure in reading them. I know that for those who have had a chance to get lost in my stories, they've enjoyed the wild rides. In fact, several readers have said my books weren't anything like they expected them to be. Part of that is that I haven't yet mastered book promotion. Part of that is the public bias against indies.
Yes, I'm proud to be an indie. I may not be perfect. I may not always catch every typo, misspelling, or grammatical error. But I do have good tales to tell and characters worthy of knowing. It may take time to build my audience, but I think it's worth it. If that makes me an idiot, so be it. At least I'm an indie idiot, a believer living the dream, and working every day towards my goal of producing books that hit the heart. That's called living life out loud, my friends. Carpe diem!
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