A Manifesto for Independence

For those of you who may be wondering exactly what’s meant by ‘indie author’ or self-publishing, who may think of ‘vanity publishing’ when you hear it, or who may wonder why on earth I and numerous other authors have chosen to go it alone, let me do my best to describe its challenges and its joys.

What Self-Publishing Is

Self-publishing (a.k.a. “self-pub”) is an alternative to the traditional publishing route with which most of us are familiar. It is sometimes referred to as “indie” (independent) publishing, which I feel is more illuminating because at its heart, you are independently undertaking the business of transforming a manuscript into a publishable book, regardless of whether you choose to sell it.

It differs from traditional publishing in that it is the author alone who handles all aspects and expenses of publication. Traditionally, a publishing house is the one who reviews manuscripts, has them edited, formats them, prints/uploads them, markets them, and distributes them. A self-published or “indie” author handles everything, even if they contract others to handle a certain aspect for them (such as designing the cover, or physically printing copies).

Simply-put, compared to even ten years ago, there are now a bevy of platforms and services that enable us to do it ourselves. It is a rapidly-evolving landscape, and so I expect definitions to evolve, too.

What Self-Publishing Isn’t

“Self-publishing” was once synonymous with “vanity publishing”, which is arguably the dirt from which it sprung. However, the distinction is much clearer nowadays. “Vanity presses”, as the name suggests, are printing services that charge an upfront cost to authors to print their book, often in bulk. They are uninvolved with the development of the book and its marketing and post-publication life. This approach is regarded negatively by both authors and other publishers, despite the on-paper similarities to self-publishing.

“Why?”

If you’ve read the above and thought to yourself, “That sounds like a lot of work, money, and stress.” – you’re correct, it is or can be. If you’ve then asked, “Why would anyone want to do that?”, read on.

There are as many reasons why an author – whether they’ve been previously published or are just starting out – might choose to self-publish as there are authors. But, here are some of the common ones:

......We want to bypass the time-consuming, often demoralizing traditional querying-and-submission process. We want to work to our own timetable.

......We want to take home a greater share of the profits.

.....We want to keep a tight rein on our rights.

.....We want to publish something unpopular or risky, according to someone else’s perceived marketing trends.

.....We want greater creative control. We want to design it ourselves, hire our own illustrator, print it in a nontraditional format, etc etc.

.....We want greater business control. We want to choose where we invest our money and our time, and where / with whom.

.....We just like the feel of having done it all ourselves!

With the exception of folks who are only publishing for themselves or family and friends – in other words, not looking to make a profit – all of the above doesn’t mean we’re completely ignoring the publishing industry at large. While profit and popularity are themselves on a sliding scale of importance for every author (everyone defines success differently), a significant portion of authors are still treating their book like a business: they’re conducting market research, performing some version of cost-benefit analysis, and cultivating a certain image for their chosen audience. In other words, they’re still thinking of their reader at the end of the day.

Inevitably, this means that self-publishing is full of challenges – it can be a trial-and-error journey at times, and we do not undertake it because it’s easy – but its rewards can be incredibly fulfilling.

What About You?

I chose to self-publish for a mix of the reasons listed above. I like having more control and working to my own timetable, but honestly, I also enjoy learning all of the ins and outs! Which isn’t to say it can’t be frustrating at times, or that I haven’t needed help or made mistakes – and it definitely needs a different hat to the one I wear as a writer – but by and large, the pros have outweighed the cons.

By far one of the biggest blessings to choosing this route has been the gratification of building my readership from the ground up. I feel much more in tune with my readers this way, and better-able to form lasting relationships – which, to me, was what writing was all about in the first place.

Why Should I Support Indie Authors?

I’m biased, of course, but here’s four big reasons why I’m proud to be part of the indie author community and why I think we deserve more credit:

......Indie authors put an incredible amount of time and energy into getting their books out there. Finishing and polishing a book is hard enough, and any author nowadays is expected to do their fair share of the heavy lifting when it comes to marketing, but for us this is especially true. Our book’s success or fade into obscurity depends entirely on our efforts – there’s no publishing house to help shoulder some of the burden. A passionate and vocal readership alleviates this burden – every 'like', every share, every sale, every review not only helps us work the algorithms, but puts a pep in our step!

......The indie publishing field allows unique voices and ideas to flourish. We’re not beholden to marketing trends, nor do we have to “make the cut” for the list of ten titles a publishing house can release this year. To drill down further: by supporting diverse voices, you are doing your part to subvert the homogenization of publishing. This means you get stories you might not have otherwise!

......You are, in essence, supporting a small local business rather than a big conglomerate. While a traditionally-publishing author may only see 15% of a sale, an indie author may see more like 50% (or even more, if you buy from them directly!).

......You’re helping a wider creative community flourish. Whether it’s the impact of exposure or money, it’s felt much more strongly in the indie community: readers find more books they love (maybe even inspiring future authors!), artists and designers get more exposure, independent publishing as a whole grows – it’s all good for the ecosystem.

All in all, I hope that should the opportunity present itself – whether it’s with me, or with any other independent creator or business – you will choose to support someone who will feel and appreciate it keenly, rather than a billionaire or a faceless corporation. Stories are our oldest and perhaps dearest heritage. In these current times where creative expression, even truth, is subject to question or suffocation, supporting your storytellers will always be worthwhile.