Independently
Published and Loving It
by Joy E DeKok
I never intended
to be self-published. I knew any form of independent publishing meant
taking the harder, less accepted path.
Even after being
encouraged via brochures included with personal rejection notes from
editors from major publishing houses, I resisted. I filed my manuscripts
and dreams away.
Then I read some
books by a local author. She encouraged me to look at my publishing
possibilities—including print on demand. Her success intrigued
me. Reading the pros buoyed my spirits. Studying the cons deflated
them.
The manuscript
in the drawer bothered me and I considered sending it through the
shredder. Maybe then the dream would die a natural (albeit violent)
death. My husband asked me to wait and then he too asked me to consider
other publishing options.
As I continued
to research the industry my excitement grew. When I thought about
sending my work out to yet more editors at traditional houses, I felt
agitated. The longer I left the manuscript in the drawer, the more
unsettled I became.
I prayed. I studied.
I prayed. I researched. I prayed, asking God for another way. Then
I said yes. Relief and peace flooded my soul. Not yet knowing of my
decision, my husband entered my office with a check and asked me to
think about some form of independent publishing. I signed on with
a press and my career as a writing entrepreneur was launched.
From Both Sides
I've been published
both ways. My first book was taken by a traditional house and did
well. There were parts of the process I enjoyed and parts that discouraged
me. I understood the pros and cons of that side of publishing.
I was about to
live them on the other side.
Sadly, there are
sides. One side says the other is second rate, unpublished, and vain.
The other side says, there is more than one way to publish. One side
says anyone on the other side is not a real author and the other side
says we're all authors.
Self-published
books have a reputation of being second class or less. Much of this
is earned. Some of it is not. Most independent authors are aware excellence
is vital and many of us hire the same professional editors used by
authors published traditionally. I don't want less for my readers.
My reputation demands I do the best I can and then do it even better.
That standard is the same for all authors.
I am my own publisher.
I hire a press and a graphic designer for my covers. I work with my
own illustrator for my children's books. If things go wrong, I send
the book back for more work (at my cost). I use the same printing
company as most traditional houses. I am listed with Ingram and other
distributors. You'll find my books listed on the big online stores.
Readers don't have any idea (unless I tell them) that my books are
not published traditionally. They can't see a difference. Webster
defines published: to produce or release for distribution; to print:
to issue the work of (an author).
I have readers
who not only buy my books but also write to me. I have author signings
in bookstores. When asked what I do I usually tell people I'm a writer.
However, when others introduce me, they prefer the word author. Webster's
defines author this way: one who originates or creates; the writer
of a literary work (a book).
Vanity has very
little to do with independent publishing. The financial investment
to get the book in print, the marketing budget, and the sales strategies
are up to me. I study marketing as much as I do the craft of writing.
I spend as much time getting the word out as I do putting the words
on paper. It's my job. Until readers get a buzz going about my books,
it's up to me to get the news out. I have very little time to think
about how good it feels to be published. When writing the next book,
I'm simultaneously building a marketing plan and implementing the
parts I can ahead of time. There's very little room in self-publishing
for self-indulgence.
Loving It
I love being independently
published. Like my traditionally published comrades, I'm a writing
entrepreneur with readers. I'm a professional business woman who is
learning ways to sell books without bookstores, manage her writing
and financial assets, and living the dream.
This is not the
easier path. Not if you want readers and sales. Marketing is harder.
Readers are fewer (although if the statistics are right and most ISBNs
sell between 2,000 and 5,000 copies I’m in the same range).
Bookstores don't want you based on the myth they can't return your
books. (Many presses now handle this for authors and many more authors
are willing to take returns themselves.) Other writers (published
and unpublished) will reject you and your work without a fair reading
even though traditionally published books are not without errors and
many of them are terribly written. My bookshelves hold excellent books
written by authors from both sides. For me, as a reader, it's not
about the publisher. It's about the story and the way the author delivers
it.
I am part of a
growing population of writers and we're a spirited bunch. More and
more of us want to be read and realize publishing houses have to watch
their bottom lines. We don't mind watching our own. We're determined
to have our words on the page as part of a legacy of entertainment,
faith, and learning. The cost of independent publishing can be high.
The cost of not publishing at all is higher. We're not willing to
risk never being read. We're not satisfied with our talents buried
in a file cabinet. We understand there is another statistic out there...that
most independently published books sell 50 to 100 copies. Our scales
say that 50 to 100 beats zero.
We know that in
order to overcome the objections of other writers and booksellers
we must work harder. We're not willing to settle for less.
Most of us are
not proud, arrogant, or vain although we know authors on both sides
of the publishing street that are. We're often humbled by reader's
letters or driven to our knees when the writing gets tough. We're
very much like our traditionally published counterparts. Writing is
the labor we love.
We know that there
isn't one way to publish...there are many. And we love it.
©
2007 Joy DeKok |
