So here we are with the last post before this blog takes its first silent day. At least an official one because there’s always the chance that I had to delete an old post that was the only one on a day, but that’s splitting hairs. Also, I might still be reblogging on the off days. Still working on the format, but I think today is the right day to talk about the future here. I do hope people read all of this though.
I’ll have been a full-time, self-published author for 2 years this February and it’s been a wild ride. I’ve made amazing friends, gotten further than I expected in this short bit of time, been part of some fun projects, and had a few Internet scrapes. Yet, it’s all come down to a question that a friend asked me:
WHERE DO I WANT TO GO?
Contrary to the above video, I do want to be taken seriously as an author and reach that next level. I want to keep doing what I love to do. I want to make enough money to support my family. I want to see paperback versions of my book in a store. I want to be accepted as a professional outside of the indie author circles, which seems to be a goal that angers others. Not that I don’t love interacting with everyone, but I do want to reach that next level. It’s always been my desire to get there and I need to start looking into how it can be accomplished.
I’ve always said that I think a great use for the self-publishing circuit is for traditional publishers to view it as a talent pool. This is our ‘Open Mic Night’, ‘Demo Tape’, ‘Open Audition’, and whatever else the other artistic avenues have. As far as I know, novelists have never had a true arena to reveal their work to an audience and prove they have something. Even short stories in magazines needed to get through editors or some kind of review boards, so the public didn’t always see it. We’ve had to depend on query letters with excerpts, which has become increasingly more difficult to hit the mark with. Through the self-publishing world, an author can gather an audience and reveal that they have something. I’d like to think I’ve done that part and now I have to figure out how to move to the next level.
After all, it isn’t just my books that I have to market. It’s me and that’s where I tend to fall short . . . height pun not intentional. I need to bring this blog back to its roots of focusing on my books and my writing. I need to enhance my professional reach and prove that I’m ready to take on the next level of this business. Yes, I would love nothing more than to write my books and leave the marketing to someone else. I’d occasionally crawl out of my cave to say hello to fans and prove that I’m still working. Things don’t seem to work this way any more if this was ever reality in the first place.
So where do I go from here? Forward and backward in some ways. I’m pushing for the next rung while pulling back on the personal stuff here. I’ll still post responses to any questions that people ask on here. I’ll still talk about my books, my characters, and writing in general. The weekly goals will be the extent of my personal life unless a big event is going on that I feel is worth sharing. We’ll see what happens and if I can figure out my way. I’m sure I don’t want to be 100% indie author for the rest of my life, but it’s just figuring out how to get there.
Legends of Windemere 
I loved your post and I think you just expressed what many indie authors go through. I also loved the analogy of the self-publishing is a talent pool for publishers. You couldn’t have put it better! Well done and all the best!
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Thanks. I’m glad you liked the analogy. It’s also nice to hear that a lot of indie authors have that moment where they want the next ring. I’ve seen many over the last year flat out declare war on traditional publishers for some reason. I’m just sitting here going ‘can’t we work together?’
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I’ve always said that pretty much everyone will end up following a hybrid model (heck, I’ve been traditionally published in Greece since 2009). I have little doubt that declaring war on trad publishers is bound to bite you in the posteria down the line. 🙂
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I agree. Maybe indie ebook and trad paperback? It seems the hybrid is the best method for an author.
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I think most of us want to go where you are headed. It will be an interesting journey.
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To the pizzeria? Kidding. I’m actually not having pizza until I finish my next book. That’s my reward.
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I do the same with beer.
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Thanks for your honesty. You know we’re all rooting for you. 🙂
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Thanks. Felt good to get it out there too. Though the original I wrote was a lot more combative for some reason.
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Every journey is different and meaningful, and we must create our own journey and follow the path wherever it takes us. My best wishes 🙂
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Thanks. Very true. No two paths are the same.
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Charles, thanks for sharing. I’m not mad at you. Your goals are your goals, nobody else’s. You don’t have to justify your plans. Best of luck. Looking forward to future blog posts!
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Thanks. It does feel like I have to explain myself sometimes. That or maybe I’m so used to doing it since I became an author. Whenever I found a new marketing venue or took any step, I’d have to field the questions: why? will it help? where are going from here?
It’s going to be an interesting future.
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It does feel like you always have to explain yourself. But really you don’t. haha.
Best of luck!
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I wonder too if it ever was reality. I know you will achieve your goals and find out the answers. I am one indie author who is behind you all the way on your journey! Best of luck to you! 😉
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Thanks. I have heard that authors of the past had to worry less about the marketing side of things, but things seem to have changed rather rapidly.
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I think you plan is a wise one. The indie author route is a great starting place and also probably works very well once you are an established traditional author. You have gone the indie author route and I would guess that it has worked well over the past 2 years, but I certainly don’t blame you for wanting to break into traditional publishing to expand the reach of your novels. I really do wish you the best as you try to figure this out Charles.
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Thanks. I’m really hoping I can eventually hit the point where my book ends up in a bookstore or a library. That’s a milestone I’ve yet to reach. 🙂
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Those are great milestones to reach for. When that happens you know that you’ve made it…at least in a traditional sense. 🙂
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Yup. Probably take some time, but I’m really hoping to get there.
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As long as you enjoy what you’re doing and keep trying new things, I know you’ll get there! Good luck, Charles.
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Thanks. Though I’m currently learning that math is not my strong suit. So I don’t think I’ll be trying anything with that again. 🙂
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