The Right to be Published

[naomi_jay]

Right now, anyone who wants to can upload a book to Amazon and sell it on the Kindle. All you need is the technical know-how. And countless numbers of people are doing just that. The Indie Movement is for real, yo. And obviously I'm planning to dip my toes in the water with Wild and Night and Chaos. I've read around, I've heard the success stories, and yeah, the whole thing is pretty tantalizing. So I figure, why not? My odds for success are just as good as anybody else's.

Which is not to say I don't have reservations. The fact that anybody can do something doesn't mean everybody should do it. For every success story, there are countless writers languishing in obscurity. For every gem of an indie book, lovingly crafted, faithfully polished, there are probably dozens of crap-fests that should never see the light of day. And as well as reading the success stories, I've read the endless debate over just who gets to decide what's worth publishing when anybody can do it.

I guess the answer is obvious in one sense: readers will find those gems, word of mouth will help draw attention to them, and the cream will rise to the top. Good. My concern for myself is - am I objective enough to know if my own work is a gem or a crap-fest? As the author, am I actually qualified to judge? I don't believe for a second that just because I finish a book, I've earned the right to publish it, whether it be traditionally or independently. And I don't believe I'm entitled to a reader's money, time, or appreciation just because I published a book. I certainly don't expect to join the ranks of the Amanda Hockings and JA Konraths of the world and start raking in stupid amounts of money for my work (although obviously that would be a massive bonus).

So why am I'm testing the indie route now? And why with Wild, a book that has already failed to find a home with agents and publishers? What makes me think I know so much better than them? Surely according to my own belief, just because I slaved over the damn book for nearly five years, doesn't make me entitled to force it on the public, especially when all those agents and publishers have already rejected it.

Well... I might not know better. I might be one of the failures who languishes in obscurity, and I might end up bitter and resentful and sit around writing blogs about nobody gets my genius and there's a massive conspiracy against me. I don't think I will. I don't think Kyle or chaostheory  will let me, as they've both promised to bitch-slap me the minute I start acting like a diva in any case. 

So no, I might not know better. I might achieve nothing. Or, I might sell some copies and find some new readers who really love it. Frankly, I don't think I have anything to lose. I'll write more books. There'll be at least two sequels to Night and Chaos, and based on my beta readers' reactions, I'm hopeful that at least will find a happy home on the Kindle. And you know what? I love Wild. I believe it's a good book and I want to share it with people. The indie route gives me the opportunity to do that.

So, no, I don't think that just because you can do something, you should. And no, I don't believe that every single thing I write is worthy of being pushed on the public. But I think 2011 is going to be my year of living dangerously.

Comments

[mermaiden.livejournal.com]

This is awesome and wonderful, and I'm cheering you every step of the way--you rock, lady! <3

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

Thank you :) I have to admit, I've been really inspired by so many of your posts and general outlook on life, so you can probably take some credit, lol.

[mermaiden.livejournal.com]

Awww, you totally and completely made my day--thank you so much~ :)

You inspire me!! Every time I think BUT WHAT IF I NEVER GET PUBLISHED? I think of you, and then I think: Naomi did it, and I can do it, too. It's really inspiring and happy, and I appreciate you so much~ <3

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

You will do it! And then we can start a mutual admiration club :)

[blythe025.livejournal.com]

Well, well. I may have to go and get myself a kindle now. Suddenly the prospect appeals to me.

And it's wonderful you have friends who will bitch slap you if you misbehave. Friends like that are wonderful things to have. :)

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

I have the Kindle for PC app. I find it quite hard to concentrate on reading on my laptop for very long, but I'm using it more than I thought I would.

And yep, friends who will kick your ass when need be are invaluable :)

[blythe025.livejournal.com]

That is exactly the reason why I've avoided it. I don't focus well when I'm reading on a screen.

I didn't know there was a Kindle app for the PC, though. That's kind of cool. I may go with that when I start trying it out.

[huntressogotham.livejournal.com]

I've been considering it too. I've certainly stopped having getting an agent being my goal. I'm going to submit to the small indie publishers more, and give up on the big houses for the foreseeable future. It's too much of a crap shoot, and everything the big houses puts out is a cookie cutter of what they put out already. Indie is the way to go.

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

Small presses and indie is my plan now too. Any time I've had any success as a writer, it's been when I'm on my own, not when I had an agent. And your writing is definitely good enough to be out there for the public!

[huntressogotham.livejournal.com]

You just made my day. =D

I just wish I could write short stories. Then I could submit to anthologies.

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

Short story writing is hard, but it's worth the practice, I really do think that. I spent the whole of my degree learning to write 5k shorts and I do think it benefited my novel writing. I don't know if it would be worth finding an open anthology you're excited about and just trying something?

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

It's true that it might go either way; but the fact remains, there are lots of very good books that for one reason or another just don't get bought by a traditional publisher. There's no reason to think yours isn't one of them.

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

I certainly hope that's the case!

[six-old-cars.livejournal.com]

It's true there's a load of crap out on kindle, but there's some good stuff too. I've read some of your stuff and you definitely can write. That much is obvious from the ones you have got published. Wild just seems to have been unlucky.

(To be honest, if I were a publisher I'd put your stuff in print well before any of mine!)

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

Lol, thank you! Well, here's hoping Wild's luck turns around :)

[spiderling.livejournal.com]

Well I am getting a Kindle and I will download it (if cheap enough... I am super cheap- apologies)

But to answer you paragraph about why put up a book that agents and publishers turned down- That IS why! What have you got to lose? If it's a book you love, and a book that is well edited and pro enough to represent you well go for it!

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

^_^ I'm not planning to price anything higher than $2.99, and am toying with starting out at 99 cents for a couple of weeks as a introductory thing.

[spiderling.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I'm apalled at people who want $12-$15 for a VIRTUAL BOOK! I don't think so! I can buy a real copy for that!

But yay! Let me know when you put it up :)I'm also going to put my copy of Afterlife on the Kindle too :) Super happy to not have read off the screen!

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

I know! Some of the prices are ludicrous for what is essentially a file.

[spiderling.livejournal.com]

$2.99 is really good!

I must admit the cheaper pricepoint on some of the indie stuff makes me want to take a chance on some of it. Quite a few have good reviews, and not just from friends and family