Don't Rush To Print: The Business of Becoming an Indie Author

Originally posted August 3, 2020

Thirteen years ago, I entered the arena of the writing community. I attended conferences, seminars, and lectures, in-person and online, and delved into the “craft” of writing. I learned, among other things, what a “pantser” versus a “plotter” was, what show don’t tell means, how to avoid cliches, write active dialogue, create character arcs, and immersed myself in books from leaders in the publishing world. My copy of Stephen King’s “On Writing,” Steven James “Story Trumps Structure,” and Martha Alderson’s “The Plot Whisperer” are broken at the seams from being opened so many times.
There are so many websites, and flourishing businesses, available for writers now. My writing resource for the past two years has been Amy Collins, at NewShelvesBooks.com, for her plethora of wisdom and free, but priceless, advice about the publishing industry.
Writing, editing, and now publishing my first novel has been an experience like no other. The journey has taken me to New York City, Boston, Atlanta and even Johnson City, Tennessee, and introduced me to hundreds of writers, agents, marketers, and editors. The writing community is truly like no other; every single person I have met is part of a tribe of readers. We support one another in the artistic creation of story, relying on and helping one another.
I am at the thrilling stage of self-publishing my debut novel, Emergence, which entails an extremely steep learning curve- no longer the craft of writing but the business of publishing. Building my author website, choosing the platform to publish on, hiring the audiobook narrator, getting third party book reviews, choosing the designer, buying a PCIP, copyrighting, purchasing an ISBN for each book format- paperback, hardback, audio and ebook, converting the ebook to a MOBI format, preparing a press release, emailing librarians and booksellers, requesting blurbs, deciding on the trim size and cost, getting an author photo… the to-do list seems endless.
But it is worth it. To create art and launch it into the world, with no expectations of outcome, takes bravery and tenacity, and for me thirteen years. If my book baby were a boy, in my tradition, we would be at his Bar-Mitzvah. L’Chaim. Write on.