Want To Succeed In Self-Publishing? by Laurel Garver #Indiestructible

Laurel Garver

One of the biggest questions I faced when considering publishing paths is “Is self-publishing the right path for me?” Hearing from agents “this is good, but…” (too niche market, crosses genres, etc.) doesn’t automatically mean one’s only option is to go it alone. In my journey, I’ve met many who have found a great home for their stories with small presses.

My desire to strike out on my own had more to do with my desire for autonomy and my existing experience in magazine publishing—two things that gave me a certain edge in taking on being my own publisher.

When I was invited to contribute to Indiestructible, I knew that “is it right for ME?” was the question I felt most qualified to talk about. Indie publishing can be overwhelming and disheartening if you lack a key thing: entrepreneurial drive. Having experience with either design or marketing or basic business skills is a bonus, but many of these areas can be outsourced.

What can’t be outsourced is vision. You have to have it for yourself. No one is going to build the right one for you and your work if you don’t have one. A publicist can only get you so far. Even he or she will ask you to build a long-term plan—one built from your vision for your work.

My article “Five Essentials to Succeed in Self-Publishing” teases out what comprises an entrepreneurial spirit. These include being:

• Passionate
• Resource-Minded
• Eager to Learn
• Goal-directed
• Creative

Other contributors to this collection share personal stories about learning to dig deep and develop “the entrepreneur within” so that their stories had a chance in the world. Indiestructible is sure to be an inspiring and eye-opening resource for anyone considering the indie path.

What questions arise for you as you consider the question “which publishing path is right for ME?”

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Just $0.99 on Amazon

100% of proceeds will be donated to BUILDON.org, a movement which breaks the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through service and education.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE INDIESTRUCTIBLE 

Contributing authors:

Alex J. Cavanaugh <> Angela Brown <> Anne R. Allen <> Briane Pagel <> C.S. Lakin <> Ciara Knight <> Cindy M. Hogan <> D. Robert Pease <> Dawn Ius <> Emily White <> Greg Metcalf <> Jadie Jones <> Jessica Bell <> Karen Bass <> Karen Walker <> Kristie Cook <> Laura Diamond <> Laura Pauling <> Laurel Garver <> Leigh Talbert Moore <> Lori Robinson <> Melissa Foster <> Michael Offutt <> Michelle Davidson Argyle <> Rick Daley <> Roz Morris <> S.R. Johannes <> Stephen Tremp <> Susan Kaye Quinn

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About Laurel Garver:

Laurel Garver is a magazine editor, poet, and writer of faith-based fiction. She enjoys quirky independent films, British TV, and geeking out about Harry Potter and Dr. Who. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter. Learn more about her books at her website.

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The Artist Unleashed: WHY REJECTIONS AREN’T SO BAD, by Stina Lindenblatt

The Artist Unleashed posts have moved to a new domain. Please click HERE to read the rest of this post and for the opportunity to comment. Just search for the title of the post in the search bar on the new site.

It’s a Small World After All, by D. Robert Pease #Indiestructible

D. Robert Pease

When I was in art school, well over two decades ago, my idols were twin artist brothers. The Hildebrandt brothers were, in my estimation, the greatest illustrators on the planet. I wanted nothing more than to one day have my work grace the cover of fantasy books filling bookshelves around the world. Their story was incredible. They were introverted, men toiling away in obscurity until one day they had the nerve to plop trash bag covered paintings on some editor’s desk and mumble, “Tolkien pictures, we paint them.”

I think back on this time of utter fandom and remember the longing I had to meet these brothers who I considered so much greater than the mere mortals who walked the earth with me.

I tell this story to point out the fact that the world is a very different place now. And I suppose I’m a different person too. Sure the Hildebrandt brothers are still amazing artists, but I suspect if I ever met them I’d find that, in fact, they are human just like me.

This was highlighted by an interaction I had over the past week with another great artist, Keith Thompson. He’s the illustrator for Todd Westerfeld’s Leviathan trilogy. I’ve been working on some illustrations for an omnibus version of my Noah Zarc trilogy, which will be coming out in December of this year. I loved Keith’s art and hoped that I could create illustrations similar in style to them. I don’t claim to have come anywhere close, but do like the direction they are going. And this is in no small part because of the help of Mr. Thompson. You see I found a tutorial of his online that showed his process. Following that tutorial, I created the first illustration. But it wasn’t quite there, so I found his email address and emailed it off to him. In a day or two he emailed back with some suggestions. I took his advice, and created another illustration, which was much stronger than the first. Then I asked him a question about scanning, which he replied to. In the mean time he had looked at some of my work online and emailed me back. In short, I had an ongoing conversation with a professional illustrator, and you know what? He’s a human being, just like me. Sure he’s uber-talented. But he was normal, just like those I interact with every day.

Why do I bring this up? And what does this have to do with why I wanted to be part of Indiestructible? Quite simply, I love the world we live in—the world where I can instantly, or near-instantly talk with folks who inspire me. I’ve often wondered if I had been able to talk with the brothers Hildebrandt back when I was a wet-behind-the-ears illustrator wannabe if my life would have take a different path. I actually put aside my dream of being an illustrator simply because I never thought I’d attain the god-like standing of those amazing brothers. Now, as I get back to creating art again, I certainly don’t put myself in their category. I know the art I create, and the books I write aren’t anything worthy of fandom, but I’m enjoying what I do. And quite frankly, I am to the point where I must do it no matter what anyone else thinks. And my guess is if I spoke with most artists and authors they’d say the same thing. So I want to keep sight of this fact.

I love the small world we live in. I love opportunities for all of us to help each other. The community of authors I’ve met over the past few years just blows me away. Nearly every one has been kind, gracious, humble and willing to lend a hand, or a word of advice whenever it is asked. I want to be a member of that community. I want to help, in even the smallest way, someone who has wondered what it’d be like to write a story and allow someone else to read it. I want to give courage to that writer who has compared themselves to the great writers of today and felt inadequate. I guarantee that those authors, who have somehow achieved fame and fortune, have all felt the same way, and if we were to sit down with them we’d find they really weren’t all that different than us. So if we don’t feel up to the task, that’s exactly where we should be. If you don’t agree, then just ask your favorite author. You may be surprised when you hear back from them.

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Just $0.99 on Amazon

100% of proceeds will be donated to BUILDON.org, a movement which breaks the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through service and education.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE INDIESTRUCTIBLE 

Contributing authors:

Alex J. Cavanaugh <> Angela Brown <> Anne R. Allen <> Briane Pagel <> C.S. Lakin <> Ciara Knight <> Cindy M. Hogan <> D. Robert Pease <> Dawn Ius <> Emily White <> Greg Metcalf <> Jadie Jones <> Jessica Bell <> Karen Bass <> Karen Walker <> Kristie Cook <> Laura Diamond <> Laura Pauling <> Laurel Garver <> Leigh Talbert Moore <> Lori Robinson <> Melissa Foster <> Michael Offutt <> Michelle Davidson Argyle <> Rick Daley <> Roz Morris <> S.R. Johannes <> Stephen Tremp <> Susan Kaye Quinn

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About D. Robert Pease:

D. Robert Pease is the author of the award-winning Noah Zarc series. Originally self-published, they will be re-released in the summer and fall of 2013 through Evolved Publishing. When not writing, he can be found creating covers for fellow authors through Walking Stick Books as well as running his own website development company.
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Note from Jessica: I'm over at The Alliance of Independent Authors today talking about how indie publishing compares to the indie music scene. Would love to see you there!

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Why Literary Journals Should Accept Reprints & Simultaneous Submissions

What’s the benefit of literary journals not accepting reprints? And where is the logic behind it?

As writer and manuscript assessor, Roslyn Ross, said to me the other day, "That's like saying you can't win a cookery competition if you have cooked a dish for someone in the past and they have eaten it.”

Touché.

As the co-publishing editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal, where we do allow reprints, I do not understand the reasoning behind such a restriction either. A writer’s work is a writer’s work. And when it's published by another journal, it does not become the journal’s property (unless you sign your rights over in a contract). So why should the fact that a piece of work appeared on an author’s blog in the past, or another literary journal, or even in a self-published book, deem it ineligible for submission to someone else?

Surely it being available to read at a variety of sources is better for both the author and the literary journal regarding online discoverability and visibility.

I respect the choices other editors make. And it's not my place to tell them how they should run their journals. But because I can't find any logical explanation for not permitting reprints, I can't help but wonder whether such restrictions are put in place out of greed. I suppose some editors might feel if a piece of work hasn't ever been published before, they will be the first venue people come to read it, and therefore garner their journal the most attention and recognition. But isn't that a little hypocritical? Doesn't that defeat the real purpose of literary journals? For writers (not editors) to receive more recognition for their work? That's my knee-jerk response to this. Do correct me if I'm wrong.

When I got talking to Roslyn Ross on Facebook the other day (the conversation which spurred this post), and I told her why I believed reprints weren’t permitted in journals and magazines, she said, “Makes sense. There is always a reason, although my understanding of 'spiders' in terms of Internet search engines is that in fact, if the work had been read by some, then the site which reprinted it would be more readily accessible through any search containing any of the words involved.”

I think she’s right. Could it be that literary magazine editors aren’t aware of this? And if not, could not permitting reprints actually be achieving the complete opposite of what they intend to achieve?

And what about not allowing simultaneous submissions (submitting the same piece of work to multiple journals at the same time)? This, I find, is rarer nowadays, but there are still a few out there who expect exclusivity.

Roslyn Ross pointed out that it does seem rather “counter-intuitive and counter-productive” to prohibit simultaneous submissions because it demands that someone write a piece of work that they will only submit to one publication. And then the author’s hands are tied. They cannot use it for months, or however long it takes for the journal to respond to the submission. Some of the "greats" can take up to a year to respond to a submission. Do we really have the right to expect an author to sit on their hands for this long? As a writer and an editor, I don’t think it’s ethical.

Perhaps some editors think that their time will be wasted if they choose a piece of work that is also accepted elsewhere. But you know what? If they accepted reprints, then this wouldn't be an issue, would it?

The big guns like The New Yorker and Tin House can easily get away with expecting such strict submission rules to be followed. They are prestigious journals, and such strict rules would prevent those less-than-serious writers from submitting a piece of work they didn't believe in. It's quality control, and I understand that. But for all the smaller magazines? I’m sorry, but I find these limitations completely unacceptable.

We should be encouraging writers of all stripes. Even if they are simply testing the waters or trying to get a bit more exposure. That's what we "smaller" journals are here for. We're another step up the ladder toward a writer's success.

Writing is hard work.
Let's not add to that by making it hard to read.

Why do you think some literary journals have these sorts of submission rules in place? And do you agree with them?

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PS: I'm over at the blog of author C. S. Lakin today answering the question: What three key bits of advice would you give new writers that you wish you'd known when you started writing? Would love to see you there!
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Is Self-Publishing Hard? by Laura Pauling #Indiestructible

Laura Pauling

Traditional publishing, small press, self publishing—so much to choose from yet … it has never been a better time for writers. Is self publishing hard? Yes. Is it competitive? Yes.

And with so many choices comes the responsibility of doing research and deciding what’s best for you. What are your goals? Your dreams?

I’m in the middle of debating whether to submit a workshop on self-publishing to a writer’s conference I attend. Having gone through the process, I understand what self-publishing involves. I have information and knowledge to share with writers who are experiencing the big how-should-I-publish debate.

I feel for them. I really do. Because I remember being there, scared and excited, wondering what was best for my career.

What I’ve noticed at conferences is that many writers just don’t do the research. We are blessed to live in an age where so many professionals in publishing share their wisdom … for free!

Yet, many writers don’t take advantage of this plethora of information.

I blog. I tweet. I read articles on all the different kinds of publishing. Why? So I understand what’s going on. What has changed. And how I might need to adjust.

Every writer considering any publishing decision should do the research. Take the time. It’s worth it.

When Jessica Bell approached her circle of writer friends about writing an article for Indiestructable, I wondered what I could offer that others couldn’t. Many of the authors writing articles for it are very successful. More successful than me.

What did I have to offer? What could I write about? What perspective could I offer, that might help or encourage someone how to self publish, or someone who already has, and is, looking for help?

I realized I could only offer my perspective. So I wrote Being Grateful for Small Milestones. What to do when sales don’t take off like you hoped. What to do when you see other book sales skyrocketing. How to move forward.

Really, the answer is pretty simple … you’ll find it in Indiestructable.

You’ll also finds lots of practical wisdom and different perspectives in this compilation of articles from self published authors.

And that is priceless. All in one place. Just for you.

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Just $0.99 on Amazon

100% of proceeds will be donated to BUILDON.org, a movement which breaks the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through service and education.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE INDIESTRUCTIBLE 

Contributing authors:

Alex J. Cavanaugh <> Angela Brown <> Anne R. Allen <> Briane Pagel <> C.S. Lakin <> Ciara Knight <> Cindy M. Hogan <> D. Robert Pease <> Dawn Ius <> Emily White <> Greg Metcalf <> Jadie Jones <> Jessica Bell <> Karen Bass <> Karen Walker <> Kristie Cook <> Laura Diamond <> Laura Pauling <> Laurel Garver <> Leigh Talbert Moore <> Lori Robinson <> Melissa Foster <> Michael Offutt <> Michelle Davidson Argyle <> Rick Daley <> Roz Morris <> S.R. Johannes <> Stephen Tremp <> Susan Kaye Quinn

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About Laura Pauling:

Laura Pauling writes about spies, murder and mystery. Her young adult Circle of Spies Series will be completed this fall with the release of book 3: Twist of Fate. Her stand-alone time travel thriller, HEIST, released August 15th, 2013.

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The Artist Unleashed: IS MY SETTING AUTHENTIC? by Dianne Ascroft

The Artist Unleashed posts have moved to a new domain. Please click HERE to read the rest of this post and for the opportunity to comment. Just search for the title of the post in the search bar on the new site.

Do You Believe In Rules? by Michelle D. Argyle #Indiestructible

Michelle D. Argyle

When I heard about Indiestructible, my heart began to race. I’ve never been an author to think self-publishing or small-press publishing is the only way to go, but I have always strongly believed no one path is best for any one author. Whenever I stop by a blog post that shouts and screams things like “don’t ever use adverbs!” or “never start a novel with your character waking up!” or “self-publishing is for those not good enough”, I get a nasty taste in my mouth. 

I don’t believe in rules for writers. I believe in good grammar and spelling. I believe most stories follow the same types of structure to work, but I do not believe there are rules everyone should follow no matter what. That’s what makes writing art and creative. It’s not a mold. We are not robots or machines. And publishing … well, it’s the same thing. There is no one way to do it. Any way you go about it can be done poorly, but the opposite is also true.

So Indiestructible is everything I embrace. It loudly declares how proud authors are of going down a different path from the norm. I’ve never been one to follow the bigger group of people. When I married, I had a dress made instead of going to buy one. It was from a Renaissance pattern because I wanted something completely different. I’ve always liked to feel different and unique, so it’s no wonder that in my publishing career I have followed a similar path—one not so well trodden. We authors who trod this path are indestructible. We are not better than others who go a more traditional route. What we are is unconventional, and I think that makes a difference in how we approach our writing. It gives us a fun, creative, and unique flair that adds to the richness of everything else out there.

I hope writers all of kinds pick up Indiestructible and leave with a wider view of what’s out there. I know I have!

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Just $0.99 on Amazon

100% of proceeds will be donated to BUILDON.org, a movement which breaks the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through service and education.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE INDIESTRUCTIBLE 

Contributing authors:

Alex J. Cavanaugh <> Angela Brown <> Anne R. Allen <> Briane Pagel <> C.S. Lakin <> Ciara Knight <> Cindy M. Hogan <> D. Robert Pease <> Dawn Ius <> Emily White <> Greg Metcalf <> Jadie Jones <> Jessica Bell <> Karen Bass <> Karen Walker <> Kristie Cook <> Laura Diamond <> Laura Pauling <> Laurel Garver <> Leigh Talbert Moore <> Lori Robinson <> Melissa Foster <> Michael Offutt <> Michelle Davidson Argyle <> Rick Daley <> Roz Morris <> S.R. Johannes <> Stephen Tremp <> Susan Kaye Quinn

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About Michelle D. Argyle:

Argyle lives and writes in Utah, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She loves the seasons, but late summer and early fall are her favorites. She adores chocolate, sushi, and lots of ethnic food, and loves to read and write books in whatever time she can grab between her sword-wielding husband and energetic daughter. She believes a simple life is the best life. Michelle currently has four novels published: MONARCH, THE BREAKAWAY, BONDED, and PIECES.

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CLICK HERE to subscribe to my newsletter. Every subscriber will receive The Hum of Sin Against Skin for free, and be the first to know about new releases and special subscriber giveaways.