Sunday, March 6, 2011

Who has good news???

Well, I've been MIA for a while. I don't really have a good excuse aside from the fact that I've just had a LOT going on. Most of it is good stuff though, so that's a plus!

With that, I want to make the formal announcement: I'm going indie!

It's a choice I came to after MUCH research and time spent considering my different options. I will say, getting into the writerly mindset, I'd decided from the start that I'd pursue traditional publishing. Even now, the traditional route is fine and good for some. I just don't feel like it's the right fit for me right now. Call me controlling, but I favor the idea of calling the shots in what happens in my story. I'm willing to put in the extra time and effort to promote my work, and the traditional world is in a place of upheaval. Most authors don't break into the publishing world with clout and best-seller potential. It does happen, of course! There's always someone there to break the mold, so if that's YOUR dream, don't give up on it!!!

For me, it comes down to: What do I hope to accomplish with my writing? The answer, as simple as it is, proved a challenge for me. I researched the ins and outs of both traditional and indie publishing. I sought the advice and recommendations of others. In the end, it boiled down to me. My desire is to write novels...not query letters, not multiple versions and pages of a synopsis, but novels.

It dawned on me one day after reading a post from Amanda Hocking regarding "Indie vs Traditional" publishing. I highly recommend you check it out. It's informative in a way that doesn't read like a police report. ;) Anyway, it dawned on me after that... I don't want to spend (potentially) years trying to get published. Publishers are picking up less and less new authors for the simple fact they aren't often likely to take a chance on losing money. You can't really blame them when the publishing industry is in a state of change as it is now. That's a whole different post in and of itself though!

I've spent countless hours, days even, researching agents and publishers. I've searched innumerable databases for information on getting ahead and learning every piece of information I could on getting published. And I hated every second of it!!!

Like a magical though painful lighting bolt, inspiration struck me. "Hope, you're wasting so much time."

I don't *need* to be traditionally published. I'm a stay-at-home mom. We're blessed that I don't have work outside the house. Writing is for me in my (little) free time. So following the reasoning of the wunderkind, Amanda Hocking, I decided, "Why shouldn't I have books available while I write instead of waiting and working for something that's really no more than a shot in the dark?" (Please don't assume I haven't worked my butt off on my upcoming book!!! I finished the first draft around December of 2009. Not knowing what I was doing, it took me a while to find the right people to help me with editing and locate some really amazing beta readers and critique partners!)

I found some of the most amazing and knowledgeable folks on earth for support and assistance. HAVEN is coming along splendidly in some hardcore revision and editing (thanks, Chi ;), and we're looking at an early June release!!!

So, I have tons more to say about going indie, and I'll try to get to that ASAP. It really is a little known, though growing!, option for writers. There is a lot of misinformation out there that I fell victim to. I hope you all can research and make the right decisions for yourselves. Don't take anything at face value. Learn to make your own decisions and...

Keep Writing!!!

7 comments:

  1. FANTASTIC! So glad HAVEN will be getting into reader's hands soon! Thank you for letting me read the manuscript and I LOVE it!You refer to Amanda Hocking and your style will resonant with her fans. I want to schedule a book blog tour for you, so let me know when you're 100% for the book to be public. This will be so much fun! Congrats!

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  2. Congrats on your decision hope! Can't wait to see it in book form :). (And beta it way before that, of course.)

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  3. That would be Hope, not hope ;)

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  4. Hope, I have just started taking the time to research these things myself. I have been a long time writer, but until this last year I never allowed myself to make writing a priority. Now that I have everything is so much happier! I'm getting away from my point. Although, I have only finished one novel and I'm not even sure that I want to share that one with the public, my current project is something I definitely want to share when it's finished. I am a long way from publishing, but the same thoughts have crossed my mind. I am in a similar position that you are in that I am mostly a stay at home parent and the writing is something that I do for me. I am blessed to be able to just let things be what they are and as such I think that I am coming to the same conclusion about publishing. When it's time to publish, it will probably be through indie publishing channels. I realize the work that that will put on my shoulders, but all in all it's my baby so the responsibility is mine too! Good luck Hope! I can't wait to read your novel!

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  5. Thanks so much, Julie! I can't wait to get things underway in that area. A slightly scary idea, but exciting!

    Layla, you know I have it when you're finished with that brilliant MS of your own :D

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  6. Amanda, I know what you mean! Writing fulfills that part of me that belongs to *just me*...if that makes sense ;) I'd struggle to be happy if I didn't write. Congrats on finishing your first novel, whether you pub it or not! That's an enormous accomplishment in and of itself :D The indie route is one I came to after deciding to follow my own path. I encourage you (and everyone) to do the same. I'm really bad to see certain in black and white--ironic since I write YA para-ro/fantasy--but it's something I'm learning to adjust and overcome. What's right for one isn't right for all. Growing as a writer has taught me as much about life as it has about writing! If you're ever interested in chatting I'm around! I may not have a lot to offer you, but you have my support. :) Thanks for the well-wishes!

    ~Hope

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  7. Congrats on getting your novel written and edited - can't wait to see it hit the shelves! Please do blog about becomming an independent writer when you can - I see this section at the bookstore and it is definitely GROWING!! As an aspiring writer myself I'm always interested to know what's out there for my possible future...thanks for sharing! And good luck with the release!

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