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The Indie Journey: Secrets to Writing Journey
The e-book era has launched thousands of writing careers and holds tremendous promise for future growth. Here's how one author went from publishing his first e-book to becoming a full-time author in a little more than a year. While offering general tips on business, craft, product development, and marketing, The Indie Journey's primary goal is to inspire you to embrace your creative entrepreneurship and success.
Bonus essays by successful indie authors J.A. Konrath, Zoe Winters, Vincent Zandri, Guido Henkel, Lon Shapiro, and Vicki Tyley.
If you're buying this book to sell a million copies, you probably won't be happy. If you are buying this book to be happy, you probably have a better chance of selling a million books.
Bonus essays by successful indie authors J.A. Konrath, Zoe Winters, Vincent Zandri, Guido Henkel, Lon Shapiro, and Vicki Tyley.
If you're buying this book to sell a million copies, you probably won't be happy. If you are buying this book to be happy, you probably have a better chance of selling a million books.
- GenresWritingNonfiction
Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2011
5 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Scott Nicholson
211 books767 followersWith more than 800,000 books sold worldwide, Scott Nicholson is an international bestselling thriller writer. He won the Writers of the Future Award in 1999 and was a Stoker Award finalist in 2003. His Fear series was published by Amazon's Thomas & Mercer imprint and 47North released the supernatural thriller McFALL.
He's also published a number of supernatural, paranormal, and fantasy books and stories, including the AFTER, NEXT, and ARIZE post-apocalyptic series, as well as children's books, comics, and screenplays. His 2006 novel The Home is in development as a feature film.
He's also published a number of supernatural, paranormal, and fantasy books and stories, including the AFTER, NEXT, and ARIZE post-apocalyptic series, as well as children's books, comics, and screenplays. His 2006 novel The Home is in development as a feature film.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 28, 2011
This book is not about getting rich quick through self-publishing. This book is not a hoax. It isn't a technical manual on how to format an e-book. It is not how to write a novel. It is not how to map out an outline. This book is not a breakdown on the engineering of storytelling. That's right folks. This book is what every writer who is even considering Indie Publishing should be reading. This book is the reality of the life of what it takes to be an Indie Writer.
With this book you will begin to understand the true depth and difficulty of self-publishing like a professional. It's no picnic. If you just dusted off a manuscript in your attic after twenty years of rejections and published it as it was as an E-book because you can, then this book is not for you. It's for serious writers who want to be taken seriously. I absolutely love it. Not because I chose to be an Indie Writer myself, but because it made me realize I wasn't alone in my struggles.
Scott Nicholson is the writer, but there are lots of successful Indie Writers, like Zoe Winters, JA Konrath and Vincent Zandri and that guest write chapters inside. They share their experiences and it was wonderful for me.
Another thing this book is not is a Legacy Publishing basher. Scott Nicholson actually compares both, and he has experience in both. He explains why he chose his path and explains the pros and cons of being an Indie Publisher as well as the Pros and Cons of being a Traditionally Published Author.
If you are serious about being an Indie Writer or you just been considering it, this is a must read for you. Actually, it's a good eye opener for the Traditional snobs who still believe that Indie Publishing is for amateurs and vanity writing. It sure opened mine.
With this book you will begin to understand the true depth and difficulty of self-publishing like a professional. It's no picnic. If you just dusted off a manuscript in your attic after twenty years of rejections and published it as it was as an E-book because you can, then this book is not for you. It's for serious writers who want to be taken seriously. I absolutely love it. Not because I chose to be an Indie Writer myself, but because it made me realize I wasn't alone in my struggles.
Scott Nicholson is the writer, but there are lots of successful Indie Writers, like Zoe Winters, JA Konrath and Vincent Zandri and that guest write chapters inside. They share their experiences and it was wonderful for me.
Another thing this book is not is a Legacy Publishing basher. Scott Nicholson actually compares both, and he has experience in both. He explains why he chose his path and explains the pros and cons of being an Indie Publisher as well as the Pros and Cons of being a Traditionally Published Author.
If you are serious about being an Indie Writer or you just been considering it, this is a must read for you. Actually, it's a good eye opener for the Traditional snobs who still believe that Indie Publishing is for amateurs and vanity writing. It sure opened mine.
June 9, 2012
The Indie Journey is a book for self-published authors, and for those who are interested in learning more about self-publishing and how it differs from traditional publishing. The book is very convincing that self-publishing is a better method when it comes to happiness and success, which are the main goals of taking the indie route in publishing. The author stresses that success is not based on income, but rather, the ability to follow your dreams, work from home, do what you love, and share your happiness with others through your books.
The Indie Journey provides both the pros and cons of self-publishing and traditional publishing; however, its focus is on self-publishing and it voices a preference for self-publishing. The author reveals his own projections, realistic yet astonishing, of the publishing industry in the near future (from 2011, when the book was published, to 2020). There are a lot of projections in this book, which is in-line with its message that it's best to be flexible and go with the changes in the world, or even, to "create" the future by being unique and starting your own path.
The Indie Journey tells you that self-publishing brings authors and readers closer, by eliminating the corporate publishers, and it allows all writers to be published, which they are so entitled. The book speaks of the future of the publishing industry, which the author says will change like everything else. And the message I get from the book is that it is not correct to hold onto old-fashioned ways just because they (i.e. traditional publishers) exist, and especially if the future is moving in a different direction; rather, do what your instincts tell you, regardless if it is "accepted" or not, as the most successful people in the world start the trends, instead of follow them. I recommend this book.
The Indie Journey provides both the pros and cons of self-publishing and traditional publishing; however, its focus is on self-publishing and it voices a preference for self-publishing. The author reveals his own projections, realistic yet astonishing, of the publishing industry in the near future (from 2011, when the book was published, to 2020). There are a lot of projections in this book, which is in-line with its message that it's best to be flexible and go with the changes in the world, or even, to "create" the future by being unique and starting your own path.
The Indie Journey tells you that self-publishing brings authors and readers closer, by eliminating the corporate publishers, and it allows all writers to be published, which they are so entitled. The book speaks of the future of the publishing industry, which the author says will change like everything else. And the message I get from the book is that it is not correct to hold onto old-fashioned ways just because they (i.e. traditional publishers) exist, and especially if the future is moving in a different direction; rather, do what your instincts tell you, regardless if it is "accepted" or not, as the most successful people in the world start the trends, instead of follow them. I recommend this book.
September 17, 2011
I loved the opening sentence of the introduction: "Does the world really need another writing book?"
I think the short answer is no. Especially if you read all the books listed in the next paragraph.
The Indie Journey presents a broad overview of an author who spent years with the traditional press and a day job until publishing his ebooks a few short years ago brought him enough success to quite his day job to write full time.
If you're a writer sitting on the fence between traditional and indie publishing (which isn't a bad place to be until you have fully educated yourself), this book may persuade you to ditch traditional publishing to embrace the Wild West of indie publishing. Or maybe not. You get to see both sides. Ultimately, you need to decide on your own which is best for you.
Although I learned nothing significantly new (I started indie publishing my short story reprints ten months ago), The Indie Journey did convince me to be open to the possibility that I could make a successful living being an indie short story writer.
I think the short answer is no. Especially if you read all the books listed in the next paragraph.
The Indie Journey presents a broad overview of an author who spent years with the traditional press and a day job until publishing his ebooks a few short years ago brought him enough success to quite his day job to write full time.
If you're a writer sitting on the fence between traditional and indie publishing (which isn't a bad place to be until you have fully educated yourself), this book may persuade you to ditch traditional publishing to embrace the Wild West of indie publishing. Or maybe not. You get to see both sides. Ultimately, you need to decide on your own which is best for you.
Although I learned nothing significantly new (I started indie publishing my short story reprints ten months ago), The Indie Journey did convince me to be open to the possibility that I could make a successful living being an indie short story writer.
April 13, 2012
I wish I could give 3.5 stars. Three is too low, four is too high. The book was alternately encouraging and discouraging. "It's a great time to start a writing career!" But wait, "no it's not because it will all probably come to an end soon!" "You can earn a living as a fiction writer!" "You probably can't earn a living as a fiction writer!"
"If writing is what you want to do, you should try anyway", is the underlying theme of the book. That's always been true though; e-readers and easy indie publishing haven't changed that. It's easier to get a book out in front of people now of course, but that's no guarantee of success and Nicholson wants to make that fact perfectly clear, and he does.
I really enjoy Scott Nicholson's books and this one is no exception. Definitely recommended for would be self pubbers (ooo I made up a word there...). A thoughtful look at the business by an author who has been successful in both the traditional and self publishing worlds.
"If writing is what you want to do, you should try anyway", is the underlying theme of the book. That's always been true though; e-readers and easy indie publishing haven't changed that. It's easier to get a book out in front of people now of course, but that's no guarantee of success and Nicholson wants to make that fact perfectly clear, and he does.
I really enjoy Scott Nicholson's books and this one is no exception. Definitely recommended for would be self pubbers (ooo I made up a word there...). A thoughtful look at the business by an author who has been successful in both the traditional and self publishing worlds.
April 14, 2012
Read this book if you are at all considering self publishing ebooks or becoming an indie author. It's not so much a how to manual as a why to, and that makes it stand apart from the million blogs of advice about self publishing.
June 21, 2011
This is a must-have for any indie author and a great eye-opener for anyone toiling away in traditional publishing.
September 3, 2011
Great book for anyone who is thinking of taking the leap into the wonderful world of words. Scott's account of his personal journey is witty and informative.
July 2, 2012
Fascinating and enlightening.
July 27, 2012
This is the most encouraging book I've ever read when it comes to writing and self-publishing. I love this book!
March 24, 2013
This book was very helpful. Well written with great insight. A great resource for anyone looking into independent publishing.
March 23, 2015
Very motivational and inspirational. Every writer should read this book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews