I’ve referenced agent Lori Perkins before because she’s not constantly talking about how to write a better query or cheerleading constantly. YOU!CAN!DO!IT! YES!YOU!CAN! as if the odds of being picked up by an agent and, in turn, a publishing house aren’t astronomical. (And for a pittance, even.)
Anyhoo, today’s LoriPost What Does This Economic Downturn Mean For Writers? is even more sobering for those of you still laboring in the shadow of the faint hope of The Call:
These publishing companies work so far in advance, that when they decide to slow down acquisitions, they can literally just stop buying for 6 or 9 months. And that’s what I predict will happen here.
And yet the news with epublishing is exciting, the industry vibrant and growing, niche markets blossoming as readers find what they want to read that isn’t the SSDD the gatekeepers must buy to maintain their bottom line.
Perhaps it’s time for more writers to shake the dust of [sneer] self-publishing (otherwise more properly known as independent publishing) off their feet and make like the shoppers at Home Depot: Do it yourself. Yeah, it’ll take some time, quite a bit of money if you do it right (e.g. and *ahem* avoid the more egregious vanity/subsidy presses, pay an editor, hire a graphic designer), a complete 180-degree shift in your thinking and attitude, and a helluva lot of hard work (details! O, the details!) but you’re in control.
Freedom, man.
My mother once asked me, “Why are you basing your goals on decisions someone else has to make?”
Your mother is a wise woman. And that’s a fantastic way of looking at it.
Yeah, she is. I’ll let her know you think so. 🙂
I can’t name any other industry in the country where doing it yourself garners so much disrespect. I mean, I’m sure there are some, but…what are they?
Do it yourself brain surgery?
I don’t know, but I do know that all the slandering of indie publishing really lacks a lot of common sense, and there is only so long people can stop it just by “shaming” those who do it.
I mean what, are we in third grade here? You were bad, go stand in the corner.
At some point people realize they have the right to make their own choices regarding their future. And I really believe in the next 10 years there will be a definite shift in how most people view indie publishing.
I believe as more agents and publishers sign those who started out indie, it’s going to become a legitimate springboard, and then a legitimate end unto itself.
But I don’t think ten years from now, when that happens is the time to jump on the train.
The time is now.
I am on the train. And I expect cool things to happen.
Oh and also I added you to my blogroll. I’m sorry I didn’t get to it sooner. 😀
Okay, you got me on that. Darned indie surgeons.
Sweet! Another indie writer.
“You’re in control. Freedom, man.”
That’s what it’s all about.
Hi, RJ! Thanks for coming by. I’m always happy to meet other indies.