Writing A Self-Published Novel: Was It Worth It?
In a word, yes. But let me explain.
I self-published ‘Soldier’s Joy’ via Amazon as a Kindle Book in December 2010. A paperback version followed, again self-published, in March 2011. If you measure success by dollars and volume of sales, ‘Soldier’s Joy’ has been an puny exercise in futility. Each month, it ekes out a handful of sales, mostly as an e-book. I could probably buy five or six cases of Shiner Bock or a hell of of a lot of breakfast tacos with the royalties.
But I didn’t write it for the money. I wrote it because I had too. The story kept bubbling around inside my head and finally it had to come out. So, I sat down at the computer and began to write. I watched the characters emerge and the story flow and enjoyed the hell out of it. Sometimes, the course of action startled me with surprise. I wanted to write this novel, tell this story. And so I did.
I admit to a boost to the ego when readers let you know they liked the novel. OK, it’s a major three-stage rocket shot at the moon to the ego when you get a bunch of 5-star reviews on Amazon. Or when a reader lets you know via Facebook or Twitter or email they loved the story, how it should be a movie. I agree. But still, that’s not why you write.
Nor did have any illusions ‘Soldier’s Joy’ would hit the publishing world like a thunderbolt, though I did anticipate a wee more positive response from publishers and agents. That is, I hoped for some positive response. At one count, I had contacted nearly three dozen agents, following the arcane requirements for a query letter, plot outline, genre and marketing concepts (isn’t that what agents do?) as well as the requisite format each agent, it seems, demands for submissions. I received a handful of return letters/emails, always polite always kind and all saying, “Thanks, but no thanks.” Some actually read the first sample chapter or so they requested. Most never got past the query letter if that far. Most never bothered to respond.
This is not to say agents should have been waiting, breathing suspended, waiting for my Answer to American Letters. I know they are busy and I know they are inundated with thousands upon thousands of letters, summaries, sample chapters or writers and wanna-be writers. I didn’t expect a careful critique. I can deal with rejection, Lord knows, we get enough of that. But being ignored?
I also know that publishing is a business and that what sells gets more of a look that what simply reads well. And we live in a literary age of niche markets. But, honestly, guys, in a market choked with teen angst among the vampires and zombie killing presidents and 50 ways of writing soft-porn, where does the simple story fit in?
OK, end of whining. We were talking about whether writing the book and publishing it yourself is worth it. Yes. A thousand times yes. It’s something you’ve done. It’s a goal (or maybe a dream) completed. It’s your words, your characters, your story. And you’ve fashioned it into your novel.
What next? I wish I knew. You learn quickly that writing is the easy part. Getting readers to notice is the harder task. I discovered that newspapers – those who still employ book editors – don’t review self-published books. And it’s hard to interest book stores – Big Box and indies – as well. So you’ll have to get the word out yourself. Talk to friends. Use social media of course – Facebook and Twitter and whatever other ones you use. Create a page about the book – though hounding friends and followers to buy the book can backfire. And recognize that it is a slow, tedious process that may not work. Much of what makes your book a success is beyond your control.
Except one thing. Write another. Keep the story going or find another to tell. If no one ever notices, you will, as the words come together into a tale you want to tell.
