There’s an implied question in the above statement, actually two-
Why?
What does it mean to be an Indie Writer?
Where do I begin?
I’ve gone round and round attempting to answer the questions. I planned to write a very long post but then I remembered Robert Frost had already answered both questions.
The Road Not Taken
By Robert Frost
I’ve read some outstanding works by Indie Writers of late. In fact, I barely bother with the big pubs anymore, at least when it comes to genre fiction. How do I get my recs? Friends. Small book bloggers. Small indie presses. The authors themselves.
Can’t help it. I’m curious. If I were a big time book reviewer I’d be watching the creative risky pushing the envelope wild wild west world of Indie Writers with tremendous interest. Mainstream publishing certainly is, yet reviewers tend to ignore us until one of us signs a six figure publishing contract.
Because of Indie Writers more people than ever are reading. Unique genres and forms are introduced and reintroduced to the public. Serialized fiction, the short story, and even poetry have been born again. Instead of living in the passive voice, waiting for others to determine our destinies, we indies are active. We are the boss of us.
It’s a great time to be a writer!
I encourage your participation. I’d love a discussion. Are you a Indie Writer? What do the words Indie Writer mean to you?
I am getting the kids ready for school, but when I have more time I will come back with some comments.
I just read 3 superb indie books this past week, and they were a breath of fresh air.
Why? Since they didn’t have to follow the cookie-cutter pattern that trad pubs insist upon, they were able to “do their own thing”-which happened to be fresh, different, entertaining, and impressive. All beautifully written, I might add.
Be back soon!
Great topic,
Penny
I’m back!
Here’s my basic take on the “indie” thing right now.
1. The term “indie” originally meant alternative music. It didn’t mean bad, poor quality music. It meant something different that was outside-of-the-box and didn’t fit into the traditional mold. It was “cool.”
2. When folks started self-pubbing books, and small independent presses began publishing digital books, “indie” became a dirty word. Poor quality, “couldn’t get published with a regular publisher,” etc etc.
3. Then something happened. Authors realized that self-pubbing meant more money, more creative control, more freedom. Suddenly big name authors were doing it. Little people were doing it. Everyone was doing it.
4. Are some indie books bad? Yep. Are some traditionally published books bad? Yep.
5. I’ve read 3 OUTSTANDING self-pubbed “indie” books this week. OUTSTANDING. Excellent quality writing, highly entertaining, impressive stories. I’m tired of the same old cookie-cutter books. I read a boat-load of romance novels every week, and I WANT DIFFERENT. Creative, outside-of-the-box, original. Self-pubbing allows authors to be creative and independent. This is what “indie” should mean.
6. Traditional pubs, agents, editors want low-risk, a sure thing, guaranteed money-maker. Like hand-cuffs and billionaires. But guess what? Readers want something fresh and new and fun and different.
7. I hope that “indie” has lost the negative connation that was associated with it in our industry. I see “indie” as something risky, ballsy, exciting and new. The authors who are willing to take a chance. The authors who have ideas that are scaring the shizz out of their agents and traditional publishers because they don’t fit into a tidy little niche.
Carpe Diem.
It’s a brand new world, and this reader is loving books that offer something different.
I can’t figure out how to delete or edit my last comment.
That should be “connotation”…oops!
Julia, if you can edit or delete the comment, I’ll try again. Hee hee!
I’ve noticed an upswing in the quality of indie pubbed books. The last several I’ve read were, to use Penelope’s word, Outstanding. Excellent story lines and characters we can fall in love with. As Jennie Crusie is wont to say, “There’ll never be another bad day.”
I’ve found the same thing, Stephanie. Seems like lately I read mostly Indie books. And I haven’t been disappointed. Newer mainstream stuff? Big disappointment!
Just leave it, Penny, no big deal. Your points are right on. Yes, Indie comes from the genius music world where artists push the envelope as far as it can be pushed and then push it some more. Love it!
When I think of Indie Writers, I think of the day my brother and I went to every bookstore in town, trying to find something to read. All of the stores were poorly organized and had limited selections (unless you wanted little gifty items or Best Sellers, and we did not). Borders was the best, and it was having a “Going Out Of Business” sale. That was the day I decided to buy a Kindle.
Two years later, I’m happy as a clam. I went from having nothing to read to having a million things to read. Thanks to the publishing companies offering contracts so ridiculous that they scare even the most desperate writers, terrific writers are coming out of the woodwork and publishing themselves. The assumption that people are self publishing because they aren’t good enough for the publishing companies is going away.
I’m an Indie Writer, and the Indie movement means the world to me. Onward and upward!
The thing I’ve found is that most readers don’t care who or how a book is published. If it is “good” it doesn’t matter. All that matters for most people is good word of mouth on a book or author - if someone they know has read a book and enjoyed it, or if they’ve seen it talked about positively online (or on the news or somewhere they “trust”), then they’ll take a shot regardless of whether or not it is from a traditional publisher. Outside of the Harlequin books, the majority of readers don’t know one publisher from another.
My favorite thing (and also the thing that causes me the most stress) is total control of my work. I like being the one responsible for my work getting out there and I prefer to be the one to blame for the problems. If there are typos, it’s my fault. If marketing isn’t done well, it’s my fault. But, if it does well and readers enjoy it, that’s all me, too. I love that feeling.
I think the only people that really care about indie vs “real” publishers are authors, agents and publishers. Readers only care about books that are worth investing their time into.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, I read a LOT of indie authors these days. I try and read 3-4 books a week. I’ll start on Library Thing and Goodreads with their giveaways, but wind up buying most of the books I’m interested in because I don’t have the patience to wait for the giveaways to finish.
There is a lot of fantastic work out there.
Hi Julia,
You’re absolutely right. A lot of top-quality content is going the indie route these days, and the reason is that the tools are easy and the level of control over one’s creative work is unprecedented. The days of needing a huge company to get eyes on your books are gone. Now all you need is an Amazon.com account!
I’m an indie author, writing in a fantasy subgenre (swords and sorcery) that’s gone disused for decades because the higher-ups decided it wasn’t cool anymore. It’s making a small Renaissance on the indie market, because there’s nobody to say “no”. Being an indie means I get to write what I want, when I want, and I don’t have to worry about someone slamming the gate down on my creativity because I’m not writing what they think I should be.
Right now, lots of book bloggers and book reviewers aren’t looking at the indie market; whether that’s because there’s still a bit of “idol worship” when it comes to the Big Six or another reason, I’m not so sure. That’s why I review indie books on my author blog as a sort of helping hand to other indie authors who write good stories. I’m finding more and more great books and great authors by reading 90% indie. I still read “trade” books from time to time, but they’re fewer and far between these days, because there are so many great indies out there.
In fact, just a few minutes ago I published a review of Ian Hocking’s “Deja Vu” over on my site. I’d never heard of him before he ran a free promotion last week (even though he was a #1 Amazon best-seller for a while), but I downloaded his book and read it, and now I’ve got two more to read! =)
Wonderfully expressed with poetry!
When I started writing seriously again for the purposes of getting published in 2006, self-publishing or publishing via a small indie publisher was at the bottom of my list. To me, it was a sign of failure and of not being good enough to grace the exalted ranks of those bestseller novelists I kept seeing in the windows of bookshops.
I was a bit naive then.
Learning about the publishing industry and seeing the changes it’s gone through since, courtesy of some wonderful writing blogs (Passive Voice, Dean Wesley Smith, Joe Konrath, Kathryn Rusch, Chuck Wendig), has been a real eye opener.
I’m not against traditional publishing. It’s been there for a long, long time and it’s done some truly amazing things. I was reading trad pub for the first 33 years of my life. But it’s now less willing to take a risk on new authors and nurture them throughout their careers. It wants results (and by that I mean sales and money) faster and faster than it did 10-20 years ago. It wants that author to be a bestseller with their first novel. As Penelope said, it wants cookie-cutter books.
(But hey, bestsellers are not what I thought they were
anyway!
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2013/02/22/heres-how-you-buy-your-way-onto-the-new-york-times-bestsellers-list/
http://www.leapfrogging.com/2013/02/18/debunking-the-bestseller-book-sales-spike/ )
Was the collapse of the Net Book Agreement the beginning of the end for trad pub? Maybe. Is the fact that they kinda ignored the ebook revolution for some time contributing to their ongoing downfall? Highly likely. Is the fact that they’re narrowing their horizons with respect to what they think ‘The Market’ wants also adding to this potent and disastrous cocktail? Yes.
Three things made me self-publish in the end:
1. The consistent feedback I received from the agents and publishers I submitted to. ‘Good writer, wrong material.’ ‘The market does not want this.’ ‘This will not sell.’ ‘Write something else.’
Considering that Moby Dick, The Day of the Jackal, Love Story, Catch-22, Animal Farm, and The Philosopher’s Stone probably got similar stuff in their skyrise-high pile of rejection letters, I felt that trad pub weren’t complete experts on ‘The Market.’ Not that I’m comparing my work to those great books by the way, but you get the message!
2. The wonderful professional resources available to the author who wants to self-publish. I’m lucky in that I can afford to pay for my cover design, website design, ebook formatting, print book formatting, editing, and proofreading. And there are good printers who will distribute for you as well. I did my research, got quotes, and ended up with a beautiful final product. Someone told me the other day that they loved stroking the satiny cover of my book! I did step away and give them a suspicious look from a safe distance, but I knew what they meant.
3. The quality of the presentation and content of the self-published books out there. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of bad ones, like in traditional publishing. But there are some wonderful gems and authors I would never have gotten to know otherwise. Their voices are unique because they haven’t been forced to adhere to the ‘cookie-cutter’ process. I’m not saying that they should just write and publish what they want! I work with two editors and several beta readers for my novels, and the end product wouldn’t be the same without their precious feedback.
So yes, long live Indie and Self-Publishing! As long as it’s approached and delivered professionally, it makes for wonderful reading and has allowed new talents to show their voices to the world. And guess what? ‘The Market’ likes it!
AD
Doing what I do (ebook production) I’m privy to a lot of “first looks” on works that have been previously published AND those that are brand new. Seasoned writers write more seasoned prose, but everybody has to start somewhere. There’s a lot of raw talent available. The absolutely best thing about indie publishing is that newer writers can earn their chops in real time. They don’t NEED permission from agents or publishers in order to make their work available to readers. (What strikes me as hilarious is that most of the established publishers seem to have forgotten that writers get better the more they write and audiences take time to build and that “cherry-picking” is not only very expensive, it’s a high-risk venture, too. But what do I know?)
As for reviewers refusing to review indie books. Pardon me in advance for pissing people off, but that’s sheer laziness. They might call it “standards” but in reality they are letting others (i.e. established publishing houses) do their thinking for them. People get comfortable and don’t want to budge beyond their comfort zones. I can tell in three pages (at most) if the writing quality is up to MY standards, so it’s no sweat to find plenty of good stuff to read. To dismiss books out of hand because of their origins, well, that’s lazy for you.
If a book reviewer these days really wants to stand out above the crowd, they should start building a reputation as the person who makes New Discoveries. But that requires work.
Well, the times they are a’changin’
Beautiful, Jaye. I think the catch phrase that describes this lack of reviewers is too little too late. Everyone jumps on the review bandwagon when a major pub picks up an Indie Writer. Until then we’re invisible for the most part, although there have been and are exceptions. Even some of the smaller book bloggers are co-opted. They may begin by reviewing Indie Writers, but as soon as a blog becomes more popular it’s all about the mainstream traditionally pubbed releases and those coveted ARCs.
Steph at Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust continues to review promising Indies.
Same here, A.D. Began by hoping for a contract, worked with small pubs, but quickly realized the potential of working independently - with a little help from my friends. Indie Authors keep getting better and better.
I agree with you, Mat. Readers don’t really give a hoot who published a book. Their concerns are more about the quality of the storytelling. Does the story take you away? That’s what matters.
I know, Marina, me too!!! I cannot even hope to keep up with my TBR pile - virtual and otherwise! It’s wonderful. It’s exciting!
I have to say though, in defence of book reviewers, that some of them have been badly burned by self-published/indie authors. I know when I was reading up on who to send my book to for reviews, I came across some horror stories on how appallingly some self-pub/indie authors had behaved. From arguing with the reviewers about the poor reviews they had been given, to taking over the comment section of the reviewer’s blog to air their grievances.
Unfortunately, it only takes a few bad apples to spoil the whole bunch
Yes, a lot of reviewers like the ‘safety’ of knowing that a book has been through the editing process of one of the former ‘Big 6′. But the book reviewers’ world is a small one and news of bad behaviour from an author spreads like wildfire in that group.
On the other hand, I am starting to see more reviewers who used to say ‘no’ to self-pub/indie authors beginning to say ‘yes.’ Many are doing so by hiring extra staff who love finding and reading new, non traditionally published voices.
AD
Yes, A.D., I know - reviewers don’t like to be spammed or insulted anymore than the rest of us. And I’m sure they are swamped with requests. So I suggest they read a few other blogs and see what we’re reading. Maybe select some indie books from some of our recs.
Fortunately and unfortunately there is a learning curve - Indie Writers are learning, sometimes the hard way, about internet etiquette. I honestly believe the vast majority of Indie Writers are courteous.
Yes, they are!
I’ve gotten to know some lovely people over the last year.
It’s such a pity that they (we!) have been tarred with the same brush as the very small number who don’t behave themselves. Is that wrong? Definitely. Should reviewers be more open to self-pub/indie authors? Oh God yes. But I am seeing a positive if slow move with more reviewers starting to look at self-pub/indie authors. It does feel like watching an iceberg move though!
But I guess it takes time to change attitudes and behaviours that have been established for so many years.
Who knows where the industry will be in a year’s time? Maybe those reviewers will be knocking on our doors and asking to review our books! (Maybe pigs WILL fly! You never know with genetic engineering! …On the other hand, that might mean a serious shortage of bacon…hmm…bacon…flying bacon…drools…)
AD
Ah… bacon! Lovely A.D.!
Indie used to mean alternative, small press, limited interest (like something about sailing, or how to make Kvass).
I see Indie as different than self-pub. It’s a small publisher, operating outside the mainstream. One that comes to mind is Shambala (at least a while ago).
With digital publishing it became associated with “big publishers are stupid and don’t they know I am an artiste!” Not that it was, but a few presses and such made a name for themselves that way.
Self-publishing and Independent Publishing have changed, and will continue to change, the industry and the artform.
Like many things these very revolutionary ideas will become mainstream and less alternative. Then using a mainstream publisher will become alternative. People who publish with a big house after being indy or self-pubbed will be said to have sold out to the man. Oh, wait - that’s happening now.
I don;t know. If I hear a book is good I will try it. I get disappointed by books from all kinds of sources.
Write, read. That’s all.
You know Steph, you are one of the few big bloggers who is sort of an equal opportunity reviewer. I really appreciate that. You just like books. And you were one of the first to notice Amanda Hocking.
I still see a huge range of quality, but steadily there are more good indie books out there. I think the marketplace is doing what it does…cream rises. Hugh Howey is a true pioneer getting Simon and Shuster print book deal, and he DESERVES it. I’ve read most of his books and they blow most trad pub out of the water!
I want to be the next Hugh Howey. Shooting too high? Don’t think so… A girl’s gotta dream, and being indie is the place to dream.
Aloha
Toby Neal
It is so true, Toby. I agree a girl’s gotta dream. Hugh Howey made an excellent decision. And he did it all by himself! He can pat himself on the back. Yeah, the market may be flooded with all kinds of stuff - but in the end the cream does rise. I love drinking the cream and even the half-churned milk.
One of the worst, most insulting emails I’ve received in regards to book reviews came from one of the Big Six (Five, whatever) publishers. It was a year ago and I deleted it, and cannot remember which one sent it, but the gist was, in order to be on their approved reviewer list (and that “approved” I remember distinctly) I must review the book within a certain time frame before the book’s publication date and I had to inform the company when my review went live.
Considering I don’t review books, per se, and I only discuss books I purchase or books I’ve had a hand in producing and believe deserve a push, I don’t know how I ended up on that publisher’s email list. Or what made them believe I can be dictated to. Every indie publisher who’s emailed me has been charmingly polite and upbeat. I buy a lot of books that way.
And honestly, considering what an ebook-format snob I am, you’d think the Big Pubs would be leery of having ME comment on their slop jobs. Example -> http://jwmanus.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/what-the-bleep-is-wrong-with-you-harper-collins/
You go, Jaye! I do love your kick-ass take no prisoners attitude! You’ve earned it.
Indie (or Hybrid) Writer = “has a clue”
Today, if you are a writer and you haven’t self-pubbed something, you’re doin’ it wrong. I’m not saying that everyone should self-pub everything, but all writers need to prepare for the future.
Writers (and writers orgs *cough*SFWA*cough*) who insist you aren’t a pro unless you sold your copyright for a mess of pottage, uh, an advance =” clueless”
Thanks for the comment, William. I love to have your participation, read your point of view. I do believe we are riding the wave of the future - and yes, others have ridden it before, quite successfully. Everything old is new again, new and even better.
The other day, I had a horrifying encounter with a big-time book reviewer. She said I was a liar when I said that I’d read WOOL by Hugh Howey last year. “Everyone knows it just came out this week.” Well, the S&S print version came out this week, but the self-pubbed version started in 2011. Then this person said that maybe I was mistaken and that I’d read an Advanced Reviewer Copy. (Nope!)
I was shocked. To her, a book wasn’t allowed to EXIST without the blessing of a big publisher.
I think book reviewers, in general, are very neat people who truly want to spread the word about good books. But that means doing a little bit of your own homework, not just scooping up the ARCs that the big publishers provide.
I agree with you, Margaret. But I think it’s easier to just scoop up those auto-freebie ARCs. It does take work and I’ve heard reviewers complain- but I have to sift through so much dross to find a good Indie. Maybe they do. I’m not having that problem. I seem to find great Indie books to read and so do my online friends. It’s not an issue for me. Yes, I’ve read some Indie books that needed editing, desperately! But I’ve read more that didn’t. This is why the look inside and sample functions are great. Like Jaye I can read a few pages and know if I’ll like the book or not.
I read Amanda Hocking when she first released her self-pubbed work. The stories needed editing big-time. I thought her prose was pretty awful, despite that her work resonated with her audience and her books sold like gangbusters.
It’s rare these days that I find a new work of genre fiction - not talking about nonfic which I love - but genre fiction released by the big pubs that isn’t a DNF for me. I find myself reading a lot of re-releases like Nothing Lasts Forever, by Roderick Thorp, Replay, by Ken Grimwood. And then I stick with a few of my faves - Lawrence Block - who borders on Indie - Tad Williams and Guy Gavriel Kay. That’s kind of it. Occasionally a really cool work of scifi will come out and I’ll find a new author. But that seems to be increasingly rare.
Julie, great post. You are the one that encouraged me when I wrote outside the box, and quite frankly, I like it here. I am an Indie Author because I am in control of my work. Getting rejections of “not connecting with the writing” and “close but not close enough” became mute points. See I agree with the other comments, there are good and bad in any form of publication. But there are also readers who like a writer’s voice, do not care how the book got published only that they can read it in any form, epub or print. I can give that to my readers. I’m not opposed to traditional publishing, they just need to get their heads out of the sand and look around at what is being sold. I too have read some great indie books, met some outstanding indie authors and attended excellent indie workshops.
Jordyn - I’m so glad we had the opportunity to connect way back when! I cannot say enough good about you - you were fearless from the beginning. You dove right into the world of self-pubbing before I could muster up the courage to do so. You formed a co-operative when it was just a tiny nagging little thought in a single one of my brain cells. I’m really happy for you! It’s fun, huh! Keep on writing!
Fun is a mild description. I am having the time of my life. I just retired and am writing full time. Lovin’ every minute of it. We Indies must stick together! Keep the faith Julia.
Yup. Us Indie Writers gotta stick together, Jordyn!
It is tough to find decent book reviewers with an audience who will take a look at indie or self-pubbed books, even once you have a sales record to back it up. I had assumed it would become easier once my first book started hitting best seller lists, but no go. And, to play devil’s advocate, I understand it. There are so many indie/self-pubbed books these days that it’s impossible to take a look at every one that gets submitted.
It’s just one of the things a writer has to do in addition to everything else — put together a list of reviewers they know have an audience AND will look at your work.
True, Mat. I’ve simply given up. If someone reviews one of my books they review one of my books. I no longer send out review requests.