My Path So Far

In this strange, amazing world of writing and publishing, everyone has a journey, and each story is different. This is mine...so far.

Like most authors, when I decided writing was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, my first goal was to publish a book. The problem was when I first started writing I knew nothing. After I finished writing my first book, an adult Urban Fantasy, I took to the internet for advice on what to do next. After reading several (hundred) posts on editing, I went back to work.

Arguably, my first book wasn't that good--truth time: my first book was awful. It needed work. A lot of it, and I needed more experience. So I wrote another book, a sequel to the first. It was so much better, but, of course, I couldn't submit a sequel when the first book still wasn't up to par.

After pulling out my hair for nearly a month, I did what any sensible writer would do. I moved on, started plotting another book. After reading many in the young adult genre, I decided to try my hand at writing it. At first, I struggled with voice, going from adult to young adult was different, to say the least, but I fudged my way through a first draft. After several rounds of edits my angel book was ready for another set of eyes. Off it went to my critique partner. While it was gone, I read as many YA books as I could get my hands on, and researched agents. When CP notes returned I did several more rounds of edits, and wrote about ten query letters.

Finally, my young adult angel book was ready for the world. The problem now? So was everyone else's. I sent out a small round of queries and watched agent blogs and twitter accounts. The one thing agents were seeing a lot of was exactly what I was sending out. Angel books were going to be the death of me. I'd waited too long, spent too much time perfecting it. *cue more hair-pulling*

The inevitable rejections stated rolling in. Those were tough to get through, heartbreaking. In the end I must have sent out over 60 query letters. I did gain some interest, some partials and even a few fulls, but ultimately, more rejection.

It was time to move on, to go back to what I really loved, write. So, I started on another story. While I wrote, I also entered a few contests with my previous novel, hoping to gain the feedback I might need to help better it. In one of those contests, Sourbooks Fire YALitChat Writing Contest, I actually made it through semi-finals, then the finals, and was chosen as one of the winners! Which was a huge surprise. I now had feedback from several contests and a credit to add to my query. I pushed the other manuscript aside and revised my angel book again, then queried another set of agents. To no avail. I still didn't have what they were looking for.

In the meantime, I wrote two more books and revised them. One I had worked on enough to finally send out to critique partners. So I did. While I waited, I took one more look at my angel book. I had so much love for the story, and I now had more experience, so I revised one more time, polished up a snappier query, and when the other book's notes came back, I sent out what I swore was my last round of queries for my angel book before I would put it in a drawer for good. This time I subbed through YALitChat's Submission Mailbox and got two requests. Both from publishers. Publishing with a smaller press had never been in my "ultimate plan," but no one would read it if it sat in a drawer. So, I submitted and waited. Not long after one publisher requested the full. Less than two weeks later, I had an offer in my inbox and tears in my eyes.

Suddenly it didn't matter that I was working directly with a small press publisher instead of an agent. Month9Books, a brand new publishing company wanted my angel book to be their first young adult release title! Georgia McBride, the founder of YALitChat and creator of Month9Books, admitted she loved my story when I subbed it for the writing contest, she loved it as a new publisher, and she loved it as a reader. The moment we spoke and I heard her passion for my characters and my story, I knew I'd found an amazing home for ASHIMMER OF ANGELS, which recently released on January 29th (and is available now *winkwink*).

I might still be looking for an agent, but if I never found one, that would be just fine with me, as long as I could continue to work with people who get my stories and want to share them with others as much as I do.

Hi!!! Welcome to our little corner of the internet. We’re 12 indie (small press and self-pub) authors working together to bring exposure to indie titles and help others along the way. And to get to know us a little, we’ve answered some questions for y’all. Also—stop by our About Us and Our Books pages to learn more!

 

 1. What is the most challenging thing about the Indie publishing experience?

 I think it's been getting noticed. There's so many books--good books--out there, and it's not a competition, but at the same time--you have to be seen. To be read, people have to know your there. And that's hard. (N~)

Making a name for myself and standing out in a crowd of others writers with the same goals and dreams. When you decide to take the indie route, you are accepting the responsibility of marketing yourself and your work. This is a big deal and a lot of work. Half of the time it feels like no one hears you or knows you exist, but you have to keep on knocking. (Monica)

 I think it's getting your book seen.  Swoon is great about that, but it's a challenge, especially if you're thinking the best place to find a great book is at one of the monopoly megabookstores, which carry few indies. (Stephanie)

For me, it's the time factor involved and keeping my life in balance. Getting started as a self-published author takes huge amounts of time for learning what you're doing, marketing, getting your name out there. I think, and I hope, that as I have more books on the market, and people know who I am more, the time investment will level out. But it's been super-great getting to know so many awesome fellow writers and book reviewers. It's a rewarding, time-consuming experience! (Leigh)

 

2. What Indie book changed your perception of Indies?

I’ve been following indie publishing since it really took off and was really impressed with the My Blood Approves series by Amanda Hocking.  I actually think those were the first books I read that were self-pubbed.  I loved them and really cheered Amanda on when she received her first contract. (Jaycee)

There are so many great indies out there. I don't think I could choose just one. A few years ago, when I picked up a kindle, I just started downloading and devouring all these small pub and indie titles. I was amazed by how spectacular most of them were. (Lisa)

I rave about this book, and subsequent series, all the time. I LOVE Beautiful Demons by Sarra Cannon and every single book she has written since. I cannot wait for her to continue the story from another characters point of view next year (Adrianne)

 

3. What is the best part of being an Indie author?

The community! Before I decided to go the indie route, I was trying to put together a query letter or find beta readers and it is such a cut throat industry, many people just did not have the time to talk to others or to help each other out. I have met more indie authors and gained so much knowledge about the indie world from the community that I could never go back to the traditional route. Making my ALL own choices is rather nice too....(Adrianne)

I get to decide ALL THE THINGS. Which is also a little terrifying, but since I'm a control freak…(N~)

For me, I'd say my publisher. Month9Books is a small press that launched last October with a charity anthology. A SHIMMER OF ANGELS was their first YA novel release. Everyone I've had the pleasure of working with there is not only amazing at their jobs but they are also great people. (Lisa)

 

4. Best piece of advice you have for writers or prospective Indie authors.

I have two pieces of advice:  1) Be thorough in your research, and 2) Write the book you want to write and write it well.  The rest will follow! (Jaycee)

 I hope this is good advice, and I guess I'll find out for myself if my first book turns out to be my last :) but it's that you should write the book you want to write and read.  Don't try to fit yourself into a mold or jump on a trend because by the time your book sees print the trend will have waned anyway.   And because it's a lot of work -- if you don't believe in it, you'll never be able to do all the work without making yourself miserable. (Stephanie)

If you have a story that you want told, that you want to share with the world, find the path that accomplishes that and take it. Make sure your work is the best it can be, research your options and take the plunge. If this means self-publishing or going with a smaller publisher, that’s fine. That doesn't make you less of a writer. The path to publication is not the same for everyone. (Monica)


Just keep swimming. And surround yourself with a group of supportive, optimistic, but clear-eyed writer-friends. You need that support. (Leigh)