Indie Publishing Isn't for Losers

Yes, its not just for losers, anyway.  Some of the best illustrators, authors, and even book marketers have shared their experiences in deciding to choose Indie or Self-publishing routes for their books, rather than traditional publishers; and, the consensus seems to be that the experience is worthy.  Its worthy of our effort, time, and attention; so, it must be living up to its promises on YouTube, Kindle Direct, Smashwords, and so on.

The main reason authors indie publish: royalties.

With Kindle Direct, an author/illustrator/indie publisher can bring an e-book to the public without print costs or bindery.  This translates directly to lower overhead expense, and the royalties are either 35% or 70% for all sales. Standard publishers often offer advances, however, and sometimes it's just hard to get all the work that creating a book really does involve done on little to no budget.  The perks gone, of an advance, the publisher's also have a marketing team.  They get the reviews done and in place by the time the book is viewable by the public.  A strategy this intelligent from a self or indie publisher costs money out of pocket, which could even include dinners for friends who won't want to read another book for a while.  Choosing a more professional route to get reviews in place, is time consuming and requires investments in free books and incentives.  So, there must be another reason.  Here are three that helped me choose indie publishing for my books.

Additional Reasons Great Authors Indie Publish Their Books

No agent required.  Although having an agent is probably great, there doesn't seem to be a open interview process and most do not accept solicitations.  In other words, unless you already know an agent, or someone who can get your foot in the door, its nearly more work getting an agent.  By then, your book is done, kids really like it, and its go time!  Its just so easy to click that PUBLISH button and if you are not a little impatient, you probably haven't written a book.

Make vs. Wait - a.k.a. Doing Both. Two sticks can play music while waiting your turn.  Since it can often take years to land an agent, and they often like working with authors and artists who can prove they know what they're doing, why not have a few titles to twelve titles selling and bringing in the revenue while the wait continues for the top five to go looking for authors, again.  A few greats have wowed with their top 10 status which put them in the spotlight, and/or the Best-Seller's Lists.  This makes easy work of getting an agent, whereas the wait line is costly, the create line earns royalties until seen.

Its just fun.  Maybe we are A.D.D. or slightly over-achievers; but authors like writing books, and artists like illustrating them.  We do the work, anyway; because it is fun.  Kindle, Nook, Smashwords, and many other book sites bring to light the work we've done that might also be stacked on a desk, or art table somewhere like the old printing press shops of the late 1600s.  Now we can bring this work - and fun - to readers so quickly that its forgotten how many months of long hours the dedication to write books takes.  

If this sounds like you, and you are waiting to get noticed, the general thought is an agent looks at a bound book with reviews as quickly as a manuscript these days.  Undoubtedly there are purists, but they might have to change, too, unless they are open to solicitation.

Why would an author charge 99 cents?!  Find out, here.