Being an independent author can be rough.
Being a new independent author can be even rougher.
How do I know? Well, cause I am one. Boy, what a journey it has been too! Let me back up to the beginning of my journey and along the way I shall inform you, the readers, of the frustrations of being not only an independent (indie) author but a new independent author.
My journey actually started back in 2008 with the first words of what is now my very first published novel. As I stumbled my way through my undergraduate career and through some very trying circumstances at home, writing this ‘story’ is part of what kept me sane. I didn’t think it was worthy of publication at the time.
Fast forward to 2015, four years after graduating from Rogers State University and on the verge of beginning my master’s studies, I ran into an opportunity that was provided to me because of a networking group for Full Sail students. I met a woman, a previous Full Sail graduate (the same program I was starting in fact), who was starting up an independent publishing house. Within the week of opening the house, she announced the first group of signed authors and I was privileged to be a part of that group.
That is where the frustration started.
First, one of the downsides of being a part of a small house like the own I belong to is the fact that because of being small this also means the staff number is small as well. This means there could be a wait time – a long one – when it comes to getting your manuscript through the editing, cover design and final publishing phases. While understandable, it certainly requires a lot of patience on your part. When you are a newbie author you are excited and ready to show the world your baby that you put a lot of sweat, tears and sleepless nights into and here you are - having to wait anywhere from a few weeks to several months before it is finally your turn.
The second downside of being a small house is the incredible lack of advertising and public relations capability. This means that while you get some help from the house a large majority of your advertising is going to come from you and your wallet or your time. If you are financially challenged, this really limits your capability. As for me, I have to rely on Facebook posts, Twitter posts and whatever else I can conjure up to help me get the word out about my work (soon to be works). Again, while it is understandable it makes you want to cry. It takes a lot of time to create the posts and format them to the particular media that you are using to advertise. I spend several hours a week trying to get the word out about my novel and it takes its toll on the brain.
There is also the incredible perk of proving yourself to the world (I say this with a lot of sarcasm, by the way). When you are new and competing against a lot of other well-known authors or authors already decently established, you have to do everything you can to shine above the others. Not an easy accomplishment to achieve, mind you. My situation is much like this. It really gets frustrating right now because my book has been on the shelves since 2014 and a friend of mine has released or put up for pre-order several titles as of late and she has outdone my total two year sales by miles – just in one title! Don’t get me wrong, readers! I am happy for her but it certainly is depressing to watch unfold.
Reviews. Hah. Reviews. This is perhaps one of the absolutely most frustrating aspects of them all. You send your work out to many, many people. Sometimes you send them out as a purchased gift from your own wallet. Sometimes you send them out as a gift in exchange for reviews on Amazon and GoodReads. However, there will only be a fraction of this number come back as reviews to you.
These are but a few of the frustrations that you face as a newbie indie author. It gets overwhelming at times. And at times it makes me want to throw in the towel. But my advice to you, readers, is to not give up. When you make a sale no matter the sale price and you have a bit more money in your pocket; or, when a review comes back to you and it is absolutely glowing, it makes the frustration worth it. Take my most recent review as an example. It pretty much all but equated my novel to Terry Brook’s “Shannara”” series, except more modern and more directly rooted in real world locations. Let me tell you - it gives you the energy and motivation to keep going on this frustrating and draining journey just a little bit longer. If you choose this path, it’s a lot of work and a lot of energy, time and money spent. However, the end result speaks for itself.
