Indie Authors & Indie Books: The Controversy

I've had the pleasure to meet some incredible writers, both in the "mainstream" and in the so-called "Indie" community.

I've also read indie material that wouldn't get a second look by proper publishers. There seems to be more of this around these days and in my view it's causing increasing problems for able writers and may eventually seriously impair the growth of indie writing and self-publication altogether.

As an author of a book which was proposed and positioned by me and then developed collegially via a team of writers, leading industry editors, an international review team and then marketed and sold by the publisher via their well-established marketing channels, I understand the process required to bring a ground-breaking text to market.

I also realise that this might of experience and commercial savvy I gain from taking this route is inherently expensive and the co-authors, whose intellectual property comprises the product, do not solely benefit from the profits. In fact, an indie author could easily gain 4 times the profit from each book sold, than I gain from one of my books. Proper marketing and a captive community of practice rewards the hard job of development with strong marketing, established channels and experiences sales forces with higher spend.

The idea of working for yourself is not a new concept and is attractive at first to the uninitiated, wannabe writer. This is particularly the case for people who dream of untold riches and fame. I think many of know that there is a vast difference between dreaming and doing - those of us who have continually brought our dreams into reality know this well.

I need to mention some indie authors who could easily choose to work for publishers if they wanted. Terry Tyler, Paul Rega, David S Wills and Charity Parkerson all produce product worthy of international publishers, but choose to bear the risk themselves, retain complete creative control and apply their skills through hard work. They know that proper writing is a full-time job and not suitable as a "get rich quick" scheme. They work for themselves, at their own discipline and routine and proudly publicise their own, worthy "products" to the market. They can all write, they network, they reciprocate with their fellows and understand social media but don't spend valuable writing time fucking about with it.

There are others who like the idea of the limelight, are romantically involved with an imaginary self-image of themselves, probably all sub-consciously wrapped up with a vision of themselves at the centre of a "Murder She Wrote" type fantasy. They pump out product which they fool themselves into thinking passes muster for real writing and the rest of us put up with the results and the image that is continually conveyed to an ever-doubtful customer.

The 4 authors I mention all have a plan. They are relentless in their pursuit of a fine job and won't sink to less. They've done the basics, the rudimentary work of learning what makes good writing - they know the "craft" of writing.

If the indie and self-publishing craze is going to develop into a proper profession which has parity with its publishing-industry authors, then changes will need to be made.

The present "you do your thing, and I'll do mine and good luck to us all," atmosphere will need to be exchanged for alliances of decent authors who have a track record and can maintain standards for the book buying public.

Those that cannot meet the standard need to pale. I'm hazarding to guess that I'm striking a chord with many leading, capable, self-publishing authors. They no doubt despair at the deluge of crap in the guise of "the best story you've ever read - very much like Stephen King when he was at his best" being pumped into the marketplace and jading the palates of confused readers everywhere. When you read it, you realise it's not Stephen King at all. At best, these are cheap knock-offs. They're the book equivalent of those cheap, nasty Rolex watches you find for sale in dodgy markets.

I'm not sure if this my Jerry McGuire moment or not. I'll find out if you invite me for lunch in a crowded, public place, so I don't make a scene...

Happy writing.
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