Stepping Up to the Plate: The Plight of an Indie Author (as told by one named M.C. Beeler)
While this post is very specific to me and my journey as an independent author, I hope that some may find a point or two they relate to, and know that you are not alone in this journey. The purpose of this post is to shed light on the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes for independent authors. Whether or not this is already apparent, the job of an independent author is full time. While it comes with a boatload of hurdles, the ones who make it over them will find that it is an incredibly rewarding journey and well worth the struggles along the way. It’s less formal and more of a list. Enjoy!
We are not only expected to produce the story, but make sure it gets in the right hands. This means marketing, which is a whole other beast and why large companies have specific departments dedicated to studying and executing it. As an indie, we take on that role, along with a number of others. We wear many hats, as the saying goes. While marketing can be daunting, it is essential and cannot be overlooked. You want readers, right? But this means less time dedicated to writing. It’s a balance, I suppose. And balance between the many hats is something an indie author must figure out if they wish to be successful.
We are not only writers, but production managers. This includes, but is not limited to, enlisting editors, beta readers, and ARC readers, contacting illustrators for cover and interior art, formatting—whether done by you or by enlisting help of another, and a plethora of other professionals contacted for help along the way. Producing a book is no simple task. It takes time and lots of careful attention to which members you are bringing on board your team. Some may fall off halfway through the process, and it is up to you to find someone else to fill that hole.
Most indie authors work a second job. The tragic, but true, story is that creatives do not get fairly compensated for the work they do. Did this come as a shocker? Probably not. The arts have historically been a very underpaid career. And what’s even more tragic, is that people expect artists to create for free (though I won’t go down that rabbit hole and explain why one should never expect an artist to create for free). I, along with what I would assume around 80% of other independent authors, work during the day. This means that writing time is limited to the hours not “on the clock”. Which also means that…
Free time is a rare commodity. Unless I’m having a self care moment in the bathtub where I physically cannot bring my notepad or laptop, I am “on the [writing] clock”. I am constantly thinking up new ways to promote my books, connect with new readers, figure out what’s happening in book two, plotting new books, and a number of other writing related activities. I have this nagging sense of being lazy in the back of my head when I am just sitting. As an indie, I am responsible for the success, or lack of, for my own book. While I am not actively out working on the next novel or engaging with readers online, no one else can fill those shoes.
The voices in the head are real…too real. I can’t count how many nights I haven’t been able to fall asleep because of characters or scenes that are begging to be written. Sometimes it’s too much, and I wish they would let me have a quiet moment every here and there. I love my characters, but gosh can they be demanding XD! I’m sure I sound crazy right now, but I promise you I’m not (maybe a little hehe). The voices are what motivate me to get my lazy bum up and onto the keyboard. If I don’t, I’ll be hearing them until the end of time.
Your fans will carry you. THIS is most important. Through all the struggles, there is one thing (well, a few things, but this is definitely at the forefront) at the end of the day that makes it all worth it. Your readers! I cannot express how grateful I am to have found such an amazing tribe. As an indie author, you have a unique angle at engaging with your audience (as in you do not have a PR agent). You have complete and total control of how you do so. For me, engaging with fans, creating real friendships, building trust and really getting to know my fans, has been the most rewarding aspect of the whole career. Finding people who love your stories just as much as you do is a joy I simply cannot put into words. For that, I thank you, dear reader (as I am assuming if you’ve read this far you are in fact one of those fans ;)).
I explain this all as I am getting to my point. It is all worth it. All the struggles, all the stress, all the sleepless nights, and all the tears (yes, tears. I shed some writing this, if you must know). There are some things in the world worth fighting for. Passions, I believe, are one of the top. After all, if your journey came without hurdles, the satisfaction of seeing it through would not hit nearly as hard.
I encourage whoever is reading this to find their passion. It might change your life, give you purpose if you were otherwise feeling a lack of. I encourage you to seek out your passion. Let it absorb you whole. I promise you the feeling will be nothing short of an intense high.
All the best,
M.C. Beeler, your favorite self-proclaimed Pokemon master ;)
“To practice any art no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow.””