Let's Talk About Writing, Publishing, and Everything In Between
Is the Grass Greener…
If you have ever wondered what you’re missing as an indie author vs a traditionally published author, now you can find out. All you have to do is listen to the Publishing Rodeo Podcast to hear traditionally published authors candidly talking about their experiences in getting their books published and then decide for yourself if the grass is really greener on the trad side.
I find myself looking forward to it each week, even though I have no interest in traditional publishing. I just find writing and publishing a very interesting subject. If you are interested, it is best to start at episode 1, as that episode lays out what most traditional authors won’t say for fear of getting on the wrong side of their publisher.
I was born in 1950 and spent the 1960’s reading hundreds of SF books while dreaming of becoming a SF author when I grew up. I enrolled as a journalism major in college, but dropped that after my freshman year when I realized I was too shy to be a journalist. I then decide I either had the talent to write or I didn’t. Time would tell. In the late 1970’s I finished and submitted a SF novella, a SF short story, and a fantasy novel. They brought me a small collection rejection slips. I continued to write for fun. In 2009, now with a computer with a built in spellchecker I got more serious and completed three novels the course of next six years, for the fun of writing. I had no intention of submitting them to traditional publishers. Been there, done that. If I felt they were good enough, I’d self-publish them, which I did in 2015, for free since I don’t need to be paid for having fun. As of 2021 I have published 10 SF/adventure novels, 2 novellas and one children’s short story.
I’m married. My wife and I have two children, and two grandchildren. I have lived most of my life in Wisconsin. I’ve worked at various jobs, including 13 year with a commercial printer and small town daily newspaper. I operated a cottage industry mail order tea business for a decade, and quit my day job at 53 to try my hand a making a living as an artist. Never made it big, never went bust. We’re retired these days and living a quiet life. The type of life I like.
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Has to be 2009 / 2010 when I last tried the ‘ancient three chapters and a synopsis’ way and it was either give up or go Indie which was slowly evolving. Thanks Amazon who stole the march on Barnes and Noble. I have honestly lost count of the ebooks I’ve put out and even now I have one as w i p languishing in my loptap. Painting and an exhibition has dominated my time lately but I’m gradually getting that itch to continue the story but I need to consume more of my homebrew beer to get myself in the zone. I’m sure my indie journey is a common story for thousands who would never have found a voice had it not been for this opportunity. I’m 70 yo and it’s nice to think my efforts will be on line for years after I’ve gone for people to discover and hopefully enjoy. Yeah, go indies.
It’s not like there’s a choice, is there Chuck? Had some trad-publisher picked up anything I’ve written, all queried and repeatedly rejected, I’d still be pursuing that venue. But, the writing quality lacked, although the stories had merit, so indie was the only option.
And yeah, in my opinion “author” is a self-aggrandizement. I suspect the balance of indie published content should be categorized as “vanity” publishing. I just wanted to see my stories in print, with my head-shot on the back.
What traditional or indie published author, upon receipt of that heavy box of first-prints—self-purchased or not—didn’t bask in their own self-absorbed glow: “Look what I did! Me! I did this!”?
We may not have had a choice, but we may well have dodged a bullet nevertheless. They say that 60% of traditionally published authors are out of the business within 3 years (likely they get only one contract) and 90% are out after 10 years. I suspect that the statistics are similar to the indie publishers who get into the game expecting to make money or a living at it. People like you and me who publish simply because we want to tell stories can last longer because we aren’t burning our candle at both ends – burning out ourselves by producing multiple books a year, and our readers by producing the same book over and over again because we have to produce multiple books a year.
I just hope that by the time I can retire, 5 more years, I won’t have become either burned out or senile.
One of the so-called excuses for retiring early is “do you hate your job?” Yes. But he’ll if I can justify quitting now. But if I had a paying writing gig…
It is an accomplishment, though. As for whether anything we’ve written and published has merit, that’s not really our problem once the thing is out there in the world.
My ethos is, ‘if I ain’t created anything today, it’s been a wasted day’ Painting with one hand, writing with the other. I still get a trickle of £££ for my efforts of poking a sharp stick at the literary world, not withstanding the mighty Zon’s striving for world domination (nuff said) , so I shouldn’t complain.
I suppose the main lesson to take from all this is the lack of excuse for writing. Regardless of where our abilities lie on the Rictor scale of ability, we can still get it out there. I find comfort in that.
I listened to the first episode of Publishing Rodeo this morning on my way to a book fair. I grew impatient with the banter and preliminaries and switched to something else. My debut novel was published by a traditional small press. The experience was so stressful, I decided to go indie moving forward.
Sorry it wasn’t for you. It is very much focused on trad publishing, and if that’s not your jam, it probably doesn’t have anything practical to offer for indies, other than than the sad fact that it ain’t easy – or lucrative – being an author no matter how you do it.
I’ll have to give it a listen. So often, publishers, editors, and agents are spoken about with hushed reverence by both published writers and those who are still submitting their works with hope in their hearts.
As I sup yet another of my homebrew pints, thinking of the creative process, the similarities are quite evident. Writing, painting. Blank sheet, (loptap) or canvas. it’s the same. An idea from the subconscious, a period of cogitation, the deep breath and cracking of knuckles then in we go. The setting of place, introduction to the characters, the engagement of the audience with the story. Finally the conclusion and hopefully some satisfaction for ourselves and those who choose to join us on our journey.
It’s what we do. I play with clay, push the paint around, churn out the words. it doesn’t matter. Same process and effort.
When it comes to the ancient ‘Indie v Trad’ debate, the spaceship we fly is irrelevant. Its journey through the cosmos of creativity is all that counts. If your selected vessel gathers up the kindred spirits to fly with you, well, job done.
Thanks for that, Audrey. A dozen years ago or more, drinking and writing were my reason to live and I did write some strange stuff as I drank. Once sobered up the next day I’d look at the rusty computer and think, “I know I wrote something last night, but I’ve no idea what.” So with a high degree of trepidation I’d open up said file and take a peak. And then to my surprise I’d proclaim, “Blimey (or words to that effect) This **** is actually okay.”
I think my Dusty Miller ebooks were born that way and a few folk are still buying into those. Now. I’m not advocating drinking four liters of booze a week as a way to literary success, although we can all name a few greats who achieved that, don’t try this at home.
My drinking is more controlled now and I’m less surprised by my writing. If the history books bother to say anything at all about my life it might make interesting reading.
It was one of King’s book that kick started my writing. 100 pages in and I said, “This is boring, nothing’s happened. I could do better than this” and so the journey began.
Writers Supporting Writers 
Has to be 2009 / 2010 when I last tried the ‘ancient three chapters and a synopsis’ way and it was either give up or go Indie which was slowly evolving. Thanks Amazon who stole the march on Barnes and Noble. I have honestly lost count of the ebooks I’ve put out and even now I have one as w i p languishing in my loptap. Painting and an exhibition has dominated my time lately but I’m gradually getting that itch to continue the story but I need to consume more of my homebrew beer to get myself in the zone. I’m sure my indie journey is a common story for thousands who would never have found a voice had it not been for this opportunity. I’m 70 yo and it’s nice to think my efforts will be on line for years after I’ve gone for people to discover and hopefully enjoy. Yeah, go indies.
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The great thing about art is that it is far more immediate than writing novels, and it is complete in and off itself. I want to get back into it.
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Totally concur. Without indie…
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It’s not like there’s a choice, is there Chuck? Had some trad-publisher picked up anything I’ve written, all queried and repeatedly rejected, I’d still be pursuing that venue. But, the writing quality lacked, although the stories had merit, so indie was the only option.
And yeah, in my opinion “author” is a self-aggrandizement. I suspect the balance of indie published content should be categorized as “vanity” publishing. I just wanted to see my stories in print, with my head-shot on the back.
What traditional or indie published author, upon receipt of that heavy box of first-prints—self-purchased or not—didn’t bask in their own self-absorbed glow: “Look what I did! Me! I did this!”?
LikeLiked by 2 people
We may not have had a choice, but we may well have dodged a bullet nevertheless. They say that 60% of traditionally published authors are out of the business within 3 years (likely they get only one contract) and 90% are out after 10 years. I suspect that the statistics are similar to the indie publishers who get into the game expecting to make money or a living at it. People like you and me who publish simply because we want to tell stories can last longer because we aren’t burning our candle at both ends – burning out ourselves by producing multiple books a year, and our readers by producing the same book over and over again because we have to produce multiple books a year.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I just hope that by the time I can retire, 5 more years, I won’t have become either burned out or senile.
One of the so-called excuses for retiring early is “do you hate your job?” Yes. But he’ll if I can justify quitting now. But if I had a paying writing gig…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is an accomplishment, though. As for whether anything we’ve written and published has merit, that’s not really our problem once the thing is out there in the world.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My ethos is, ‘if I ain’t created anything today, it’s been a wasted day’ Painting with one hand, writing with the other. I still get a trickle of £££ for my efforts of poking a sharp stick at the literary world, not withstanding the mighty Zon’s striving for world domination (nuff said) , so I shouldn’t complain.
I suppose the main lesson to take from all this is the lack of excuse for writing. Regardless of where our abilities lie on the Rictor scale of ability, we can still get it out there. I find comfort in that.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I listened to the first episode of Publishing Rodeo this morning on my way to a book fair. I grew impatient with the banter and preliminaries and switched to something else. My debut novel was published by a traditional small press. The experience was so stressful, I decided to go indie moving forward.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sorry it wasn’t for you. It is very much focused on trad publishing, and if that’s not your jam, it probably doesn’t have anything practical to offer for indies, other than than the sad fact that it ain’t easy – or lucrative – being an author no matter how you do it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it’s much easier to just be a writer.
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I’ll have to give it a listen. So often, publishers, editors, and agents are spoken about with hushed reverence by both published writers and those who are still submitting their works with hope in their hearts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Chuck. I do have some time today; I’ll give it a listen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As I sup yet another of my homebrew pints, thinking of the creative process, the similarities are quite evident. Writing, painting. Blank sheet, (loptap) or canvas. it’s the same. An idea from the subconscious, a period of cogitation, the deep breath and cracking of knuckles then in we go. The setting of place, introduction to the characters, the engagement of the audience with the story. Finally the conclusion and hopefully some satisfaction for ourselves and those who choose to join us on our journey.
It’s what we do. I play with clay, push the paint around, churn out the words. it doesn’t matter. Same process and effort.
When it comes to the ancient ‘Indie v Trad’ debate, the spaceship we fly is irrelevant. Its journey through the cosmos of creativity is all that counts. If your selected vessel gathers up the kindred spirits to fly with you, well, job done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A nice description of the creative process, Gary!
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Thanks for that, Audrey. A dozen years ago or more, drinking and writing were my reason to live and I did write some strange stuff as I drank. Once sobered up the next day I’d look at the rusty computer and think, “I know I wrote something last night, but I’ve no idea what.” So with a high degree of trepidation I’d open up said file and take a peak. And then to my surprise I’d proclaim, “Blimey (or words to that effect) This **** is actually okay.”
I think my Dusty Miller ebooks were born that way and a few folk are still buying into those. Now. I’m not advocating drinking four liters of booze a week as a way to literary success, although we can all name a few greats who achieved that, don’t try this at home.
My drinking is more controlled now and I’m less surprised by my writing. If the history books bother to say anything at all about my life it might make interesting reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, drinking and drugs can help writers, but at a physical cost. Some say Stephen King’s writing suffered when he quit taking drugs.
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It was one of King’s book that kick started my writing. 100 pages in and I said, “This is boring, nothing’s happened. I could do better than this” and so the journey began.
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King does take the long way around. But hey, it got you going!
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