tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post788983156919089171..comments2024-03-18T09:25:56.836-04:00Comments on The Write Conversation: Independent Publishing—Self-Publishing is all Grown UpEdie Melsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-30095018280456939722015-08-18T15:36:59.013-04:002015-08-18T15:36:59.013-04:00I self-published two years ago with my first novel...I self-published two years ago with my first novel and I always felt as if I had to explain why I didn't have it traditionally published to people. It is refreshing now to see the shift in the public's perception of self-publishing. I'm working on my second book now, and though I'd like to be traditionally published, I certainly will hold my head up high if I do go the independent route. Thanks for sharing the links!Jessica Berghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07202702271553269093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-90186943452629594932014-03-08T09:05:47.182-05:002014-03-08T09:05:47.182-05:00Bob, so very true! The signs were there years ago ...Bob, so very true! The signs were there years ago and you must have been among the first to recognize the trend. The audience is definitely out there if we are willing to bend to the new world of authorship and break away for those with their heads in the sand. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! Blessings,Edie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-89811719891430596842014-03-08T00:14:38.002-05:002014-03-08T00:14:38.002-05:00Of course. Whenever you'd like!Of course. Whenever you'd like!Charity Tinninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10018622301923641762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-59072656564749351712014-03-07T22:16:56.477-05:002014-03-07T22:16:56.477-05:00Having coined the term "hybrid author" o...Having coined the term "hybrid author" on my blog in June 2011, it's been interesting to see the wheel get reinvented over and over. Those of us who jumped ship from NY in 2009/2010 looked ahead and saw what few saw. What's funny is that now, in 2014, many still fail to see the handwriting on the wall. To me a telling statistic few are noting is HQ's constantly falling earning every single quarter. Yet the CEO of HQ, just today, acted like they'd weathered the storm and things were going to be okay. I wish I had whatever it is he's imbibing.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17030209378371995304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-33647778737909196042014-03-07T21:07:17.804-05:002014-03-07T21:07:17.804-05:00Edie, how sweet of you! Happy to anytime! I'm ...Edie, how sweet of you! Happy to anytime! I'm so pleased how you're bolstering indies with your blog!Heather Day Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12353914883176152555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-14506482541872364532014-03-07T19:48:54.900-05:002014-03-07T19:48:54.900-05:00Heather you are another Indie author who has set t...Heather you are another Indie author who has set the bar so high. I LOVE your book, GOD'S DAUGHTER! I'd like to extend the same offer to guest post to you as well. Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-29914707799053673182014-03-07T19:47:04.395-05:002014-03-07T19:47:04.395-05:00Mark, I'm glad to help and I wish you the best...Mark, I'm glad to help and I wish you the best with your series! Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-26232327600352099602014-03-07T19:46:24.683-05:002014-03-07T19:46:24.683-05:00Charity, thank you for letting me snag it! And pro...Charity, thank you for letting me snag it! And promise me you'll come on and share a post with us about your own Indie journey! Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-91403648984559085622014-03-07T19:45:32.314-05:002014-03-07T19:45:32.314-05:00Jess, you are so right - and definitely one of the...Jess, you are so right - and definitely one of the experts! I'm so excited what you and Charity are doing to further the options authors today have available! Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-39698085912805381622014-03-07T19:42:47.526-05:002014-03-07T19:42:47.526-05:00Ellen, thankfully that is changing. Blessings, EEllen, thankfully that is changing. Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-77013345724233822672014-03-07T19:41:38.476-05:002014-03-07T19:41:38.476-05:00I'm so glad to be helpful! Blessings, EI'm so glad to be helpful! Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-63705301462242436052014-03-07T19:41:15.092-05:002014-03-07T19:41:15.092-05:00Connie, Charity is so right. And she's part of...Connie, Charity is so right. And she's part of the up-and-coming new trend of excellence in Indie Publishing. Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-2819410588823879562014-03-07T19:38:58.938-05:002014-03-07T19:38:58.938-05:00Barbara, I love all the options that are open to a...Barbara, I love all the options that are open to authors now! Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-26661689298125400552014-03-07T16:22:24.046-05:002014-03-07T16:22:24.046-05:00I'm so thrilled you're highlighting the po...I'm so thrilled you're highlighting the positive things about self-pubbing, Edie. I, too, didn't consider it an option just a couple years ago, but honestly the quality is now amazing and authors are juggling many hats quite effectively. Those who started out years ago are more than willing to share info with "newbie-er" indies like myself. And yes, Charity's cover is so eye-catching and her book sounds interesting! As far as indie blogs, I love Joanna Penn's, not to mention Joel Friedlander's The Book Designer blog. I will add that Novel Rocket is also a great place to go and is integrating more and more indie-oriented posts. Heather Day Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12353914883176152555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-59603636443725178172014-03-07T15:26:38.715-05:002014-03-07T15:26:38.715-05:00I will definitely take a look at your links, I hav...I will definitely take a look at your links, I have self- published three children's books, (series title: Edwin the Entrepreneurial Bear) but I still need to learn how to promote my books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-1567583707827369582014-03-07T15:25:03.988-05:002014-03-07T15:25:03.988-05:00I love your thoughts, Edie. Perception about self-...I love your thoughts, Edie. Perception about self-publishing has definitely shifted in the last two years, and I think it will continue to grow a more sound, respected reputation.<br /><br />And thanks for using my cover! Packaging (cover, formatting, and book description) is extra important for indie authors like myself because we don't have the prestige of a publishing house behind us. That first impression must be a compelling one, and I could not be happier with the design team I contracted with. Their work on the cover alone has built a pre-release buzz about Haunted that I couldn't have fostered myself. Charity Tinninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10018622301923641762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-66061181977048110972014-03-07T15:16:12.636-05:002014-03-07T15:16:12.636-05:00When I started considering indie publishing seriou...When I started considering indie publishing seriously, I camped out here: http://www.susankayequinn.com/p/for-writers.html. Sue offers tons of great advice and resources. Charity Tinninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10018622301923641762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-36888734436313232672014-03-07T15:14:18.724-05:002014-03-07T15:14:18.724-05:00"Much of the thinking in the indie world is t..."Much of the thinking in the indie world is that you sell your books by establishing a reputation for quality. You can't do that unless you are putting out quality." <br /><br />Hear, hear! Authors might be able to get away with self-publishing one substandard book, but if you're goal is a career as an indie author, you must strive for excellence. Charity Tinninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10018622301923641762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-10275019718841336472014-03-07T10:46:47.853-05:002014-03-07T10:46:47.853-05:00Great stuff Edie! As a Indie/Hybrid I am loving th...Great stuff Edie! As a Indie/Hybrid I am loving this new era of opportunity - but you're absolutely right, the opprotunity is there, but it shouldn't be used as a shortcut. In fact, Charity Tinnin (the owner of that FAB cover in your post) and I were talking the other day about how we feel like as an indie, you actually have to produce a much higher quality product then you'd do in trade if you want to be taken seriously and you want to sell. Its a lot of work - hard work. Harder than any of my trade stuff has ever been. But its very rewarding.<br /><br />Great website list! I'd add these too:<br />Successful Indie Susan Kaye Quinn blogged a step by step guide for people thinking of "going indie" - http://www.susankayequinn.com/p/for-writers.html<br />NY Times Best Selling Indie Hugh Howey resently launched a website devoted to showing how much indies vs. trade make - http://authorearnings.com/<br />And, as a Hugh Howey fangirl, I go to his site every day too for his latest advice: http://www.hughhowey.com/<br /><br />Best of luck everyone!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-26261013742356049832014-03-07T10:33:31.036-05:002014-03-07T10:33:31.036-05:00Oh, and I see you don't have Joanna Penn liste...Oh, and I see you don't have Joanna Penn listed up there. She's great. Here's her website: http://www.thecreativepenn.com/Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473774179937702258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-10963971038632571432014-03-07T10:14:37.580-05:002014-03-07T10:14:37.580-05:00Are you in my head today? This is all I've bee...Are you in my head today? This is all I've been thinking about this week. I'll keep trying the trad route, but I see no reason to let good work die on the vine just because some publisher doesn't have a spot for it. And that's my question of the day: where does one begin?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473774179937702258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-49129262067640342652014-03-07T09:13:47.084-05:002014-03-07T09:13:47.084-05:00Thanks for the information. One question or though...Thanks for the information. One question or thought. Many people I know think of self-published authors as less than traditionally published authors. How does someone get around that, or is that changing too?Ellen Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05474986203062305511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-53224472192757826832014-03-07T08:45:12.005-05:002014-03-07T08:45:12.005-05:00We can always count on you, Edie, to provide good ...We can always count on you, Edie, to provide good advice and links. :)Southern-fried Fictionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17274634359952391833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-30638991809555267562014-03-07T08:09:19.010-05:002014-03-07T08:09:19.010-05:00Wow! It seems indie-pub is on EVERYONE's mind ...Wow! It seems indie-pub is on EVERYONE's mind these days. Maybe because I just became an indie author and it only seems that way, tho my plan is to be hybrid one day. I've learned a lot over the last few months as I've spent more time among real, honest-to-goodness, money-making, indie authors. It is a viable alternative as long as you don't, as you mentioned, use it as a short cut. Much of the thinking in the indie world is that you sell your books by establishing a reputation for quality. You can't do that unless you are putting out quality. Thanks for the websites. Adding them to my list.Connie Almonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01128392223880799585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-92002442947461709012014-03-07T06:15:22.274-05:002014-03-07T06:15:22.274-05:00I haven't published a book yet, but I have bee...I haven't published a book yet, but I have been reading the options on www.bookbaby.com and trying to compare it to some others I have read about.<br />Thanks again for all the great tips. Hope you have a blessed day!Barbara Lattahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06095727992126656197noreply@blogger.com