It’s hard being an Indie Author, but I’m not complaining. I’m learning new skills, connecting with different types of writers, and getting to work at my own pace.
Which is why my blogs come few and far between!
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- That writing a short book description for your own work is much harder than I ever imagined.
Stepping back from your own “clever” plot and focusing on the emotional journey of the main character alone, is not what we do as writers of novels. We get to spell everything out and enjoy elaborating as we go along, including setting, plot, character development, themes, etc. A book description (blurb) is pure essence (plus a sales pitch – ugghh). Check out my latest attempt at https://carlakesslerauthor.com/my-books/
- That the indie author community is a sharing and supportive one.
Not only that, but our ranks are growing exponentially. We are not indie writers out of desperation. “Successful indie authors can command higher royalties than their traditionally published counterparts.” https://bit.ly/3YHnpsL “… now accounting for 30-34% of all e-book sales in the largest English-language markets…” https://bit.ly/3BTheYF
- That on becoming an indie author you also become an entrepreneur of your own creativity.
“If you don’t have any control over your metadata, your marketing, your pricing, your distribution network, or your rights, you’re not in business as an author.
Other people are looking after the business. You’re an artist, at the financial mercy of a system built around a few winners (which means most are losers).” https://bit.ly/3WBri0b
- That as an indie author I can work with my husband as the illustrator.
Check out his illustrations at https://carlakesslerauthor.com/gallery/inhabitants/ and get a free copy of the coloring book he created (ages 8 and up).
- That I’ve grown as a writer through the sharing community in the indie world.
And it’s fine to go back and make improvements on already published work. You have the control, the flexibility, and the tools.
Free middle-grade-oriented Terracolina coloring book: https://carlakesslerauthor.com/