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elise_rashaThere is a bit of a disturbing trend I've noticed lately amongst many of my fellow writer friends, one that has impacted the way they see things.
So here's the skinny of everything: I had a question about ordering proofs, namely the cost. I'm quite proud of the fact that I saved up the $295 required to purchase 10 ISBNs from Bowker. It wasn't an overly easy feat, not when there are other things I could use the money for, but this had been a goal of mine for a few years. I was not even questioning whether or not to purchase the ISBNs. That decision was already made. Self-publishing requires a certain amount of money and time be spent on promoting. I posted my question to my fellow self-publishers, and I got a response about how purchasing the ISBNs was a rip-off, that I was better off using the one provided, for free, through CreateSpace, after someone had asked me why I had done the saving in the first place.
Wait, what?
I'm pretty sure I asked how much proofs were going to cost me so I can determine the finished product will be to my liking and I can hit "publish". I'm pretty sure I asked that because the only money I have in my new bank account is going to cover the cost of the ten ISBNs only, not the costs of the proofs as well, and that those are going to cost me additional money to help me further my career as a writer. Why even bring it up if it has nothing to do with what I'm asking?
As a writer for the very broad genres of science-fiction and fantasy, I have made the conscious decision to not restrict myself in what avenues I pursue for publishing period. Yes, I've published all three stories to NOOK, and, no, I haven't seen any sales there as of yet. I've only seen one sale for The Sons of Thor as an ebook. I have friends who don't even own a Kindle or a NOOK, prefering audio or hard copy versions of books. By being ebook only at the moment, I have restricted myself in who can buy my books. That is not something I want to do nor something I will continue to do as I keep writing and keep publishing. I've even had to argue in favor of going to conventions because social media alone isn't enough to help with the promoting of books.
Now, I'll admit, I'll be the first one to recommend a self-publisher save up and buy a block of ten ISBNs. That's just a matter of control right there and a desire to be non-exclusive through one company or another. I don't even plan to restrict myself to self-publishing, but then this is what I feel I need to do as an author. I am trying to let go of my hidebound nature in that "this is how it must be done" when, in truth, it is not so. Each author, each writer has different needs and so much act upon them.
And this isn't just restricted to the conversation about ISBNs that I just had, either. It's been this way in regards to self-publishing, how Amazon is better for authors than the traditional publishing houses, how you need this or that in order to be considered a "real" writer. It's a level of extremism in thinking that truly disturbs me. Yes, I know people who don't even want to consider approaching a publishing house. I know people who do, and I know people who want to do a combination of self-publishing with traditional publishing, and that's all great! I even know people who want to get an agent first. All the more power to them.
But here is where I'm going to start taking jabs at various people and all based on conversations I've had or watched over in the last few years.
Do not be so hidebound in what you're trying to accomplish.
Don't presume you can tell another author the "best" way to accomplish something because it's how you feel, think. Every writer, every genre is different.
Just because you don't like something doesn't mean you need to discourage it in others. Your path is YOUR path, just like my path is MY path.
Do not restrict yourself because your plans aren't going the way you want them to.
Don't hide behind failure just because you got rejected. Everyone gets rejected. Even Stephen King got rejected.
Don't wait for financial stability to take any chances on your writing.
Don't be afraid to explore other options.
And most important of all, don't be afraid to take that chance on yourself. Who cares if your story is too out there for the "market" you're aiming to reach? You cannot expect anyone to take a chance on you if you are not willing to do so for yourself. Write your vampire and zombie stories, write that wacky weird thing where women rule the world and men are subjugated. Write your social justice stories. Just don't give up, don't stop writing, and don't stop perfecting your stories.
Because the only thing you will ultimately regret is not taking that chance in the first place and for letting the rejections get the better of you.
So here's the skinny of everything: I had a question about ordering proofs, namely the cost. I'm quite proud of the fact that I saved up the $295 required to purchase 10 ISBNs from Bowker. It wasn't an overly easy feat, not when there are other things I could use the money for, but this had been a goal of mine for a few years. I was not even questioning whether or not to purchase the ISBNs. That decision was already made. Self-publishing requires a certain amount of money and time be spent on promoting. I posted my question to my fellow self-publishers, and I got a response about how purchasing the ISBNs was a rip-off, that I was better off using the one provided, for free, through CreateSpace, after someone had asked me why I had done the saving in the first place.
Wait, what?
I'm pretty sure I asked how much proofs were going to cost me so I can determine the finished product will be to my liking and I can hit "publish". I'm pretty sure I asked that because the only money I have in my new bank account is going to cover the cost of the ten ISBNs only, not the costs of the proofs as well, and that those are going to cost me additional money to help me further my career as a writer. Why even bring it up if it has nothing to do with what I'm asking?
As a writer for the very broad genres of science-fiction and fantasy, I have made the conscious decision to not restrict myself in what avenues I pursue for publishing period. Yes, I've published all three stories to NOOK, and, no, I haven't seen any sales there as of yet. I've only seen one sale for The Sons of Thor as an ebook. I have friends who don't even own a Kindle or a NOOK, prefering audio or hard copy versions of books. By being ebook only at the moment, I have restricted myself in who can buy my books. That is not something I want to do nor something I will continue to do as I keep writing and keep publishing. I've even had to argue in favor of going to conventions because social media alone isn't enough to help with the promoting of books.
Now, I'll admit, I'll be the first one to recommend a self-publisher save up and buy a block of ten ISBNs. That's just a matter of control right there and a desire to be non-exclusive through one company or another. I don't even plan to restrict myself to self-publishing, but then this is what I feel I need to do as an author. I am trying to let go of my hidebound nature in that "this is how it must be done" when, in truth, it is not so. Each author, each writer has different needs and so much act upon them.
And this isn't just restricted to the conversation about ISBNs that I just had, either. It's been this way in regards to self-publishing, how Amazon is better for authors than the traditional publishing houses, how you need this or that in order to be considered a "real" writer. It's a level of extremism in thinking that truly disturbs me. Yes, I know people who don't even want to consider approaching a publishing house. I know people who do, and I know people who want to do a combination of self-publishing with traditional publishing, and that's all great! I even know people who want to get an agent first. All the more power to them.
But here is where I'm going to start taking jabs at various people and all based on conversations I've had or watched over in the last few years.
Do not be so hidebound in what you're trying to accomplish.
Don't presume you can tell another author the "best" way to accomplish something because it's how you feel, think. Every writer, every genre is different.
Just because you don't like something doesn't mean you need to discourage it in others. Your path is YOUR path, just like my path is MY path.
Do not restrict yourself because your plans aren't going the way you want them to.
Don't hide behind failure just because you got rejected. Everyone gets rejected. Even Stephen King got rejected.
Don't wait for financial stability to take any chances on your writing.
Don't be afraid to explore other options.
And most important of all, don't be afraid to take that chance on yourself. Who cares if your story is too out there for the "market" you're aiming to reach? You cannot expect anyone to take a chance on you if you are not willing to do so for yourself. Write your vampire and zombie stories, write that wacky weird thing where women rule the world and men are subjugated. Write your social justice stories. Just don't give up, don't stop writing, and don't stop perfecting your stories.
Because the only thing you will ultimately regret is not taking that chance in the first place and for letting the rejections get the better of you.
