I’m an indie writer, which means I write stories and publish them either with other indie writers and publishers or on my own. This has given me a new avenue for community and writing pleasure, one that is very different from traditional publishing, and while I may one day dabble in traditional publishing, right now, I’m having too much fun as an indie writer.
When I first started writing, I didn’t expect my life to turn out like this. I wrote for pleasure, for pain. I wrote to get all those crazy imagined worlds out of my head and onto paper. But most of all, I wrote because it was the thing I could control. My very own fortress of love and beauty and horror.
I was a writer, probably like many reading this blog, who hide in their rooms, keep to themselves—heck! I didn’t even tell my friends I was a writer until I was in middle school. By then, I felt it was a safe enough talent to share. But I never had many writer friends.
Writers, be them indie or traditional, need to network and collaborate, but it’s hugely vital for the indie writer because their work tends to (more often than not) be sold by word-of-mouth. Word-of-mouth happens from community, and if I was going to get any semblance of credit for my work, I needed to emerge from my writing cave and join the book world.
And join it, I did! I founded two writing groups, and participated in dozens of other writing groups, workshops, presentations, and conferences. I had an overabundance of writing friends, many of whom I could not imagine my life without.
Then I got involved with several different anthologies. And the sheer thrill of working with other writers and authors on projects made me look at writing in a whole new light. There are tons of talented writers out in the world, but no single writer compares to a combined effort. I wanted to get involved with that more, and so I did. Now, I spend my days writing on my own and with others, publishing things either with my publishing house or with others because I have built up those secure connections—but that’s what it’s like in the indie writing world. And to see your work out there on the shelves after hours of hard work is really rewarding.
To be an indie writer means flexibility of yourself, your time, your writing, and the collaboration process. So, even if you do decide you want to be a traditionally published writer later, why not try indie writing? See if you like it. I know I sure do.