Just Inspiration and a Plan
This year–like all years, truthfully–I have not made any New Year’s Resolutions. The practice has never appealed to me. Partly, I think, because if we want to change something, a year is an awkward time frame for it. If we fail, then for some reason we feel obliged to wait an entire other year before getting back on track. So we end up dieting, exercising, being kinder. quitting smoking, writing more, reading more, being tidier or whatever… for about a week (If you make it a week, that’s actually pretty good). Everything I’ve ever done (or quit doing) successfully, I’ve had to tell myself “Okay, I blew it just now, so I’m starting again now.” … and then repeated that as many times as it took.
But this year I did do something different. I made a plan. And not just a 2011 plan, but a ten-year plan. For the past two years I’ve been watching the publishing industry carefully, listening to those who succeed, and researching as much as I can. In that time I’ve had short stories published and my first novel accepted by Lyrical Press. So it’s been a time of good news, but it’s also been a time of serious disillusionment. Like most writers, in my early days, I had mentors and teachers who told me how things work. And now that I’ve been published, I can tell you, most of what I “learned” was twaddle. The piffle became clearer when I started realising that most published authors have day jobs. I started digging into why. Why can’t an author make a living wage, even ones with agents and three-book deals?
Although disillusionment doesn’t always feel great, I actually feel quite liberated. And thus the plan. I started looking at authors who are making a living, how they’re doing it, and adapting their ideas to my own business plan. After all, I’m looking at writing as a career, not as a hobby and not something I want to sit around wishing and hoping and querying for years. I have no plans to sit around pleading with the gatekeeper, especially not when I’ve seen a path to success that mostly involves *gasp* writing. Because the most successful people I’ve seen in the past two years are going indie.
I must confess that having my first book accepted by a “real” publisher gave me the confidence to pursue indie publishing. I think that’s why so many authors still pursue agents, even though I personally think agents may be a dying breed. They just want someone “in the know” to tell them they can write. I will admit too that having the experience of going through the process with my publisher has taught me things I couldn’t have learned on my own. Now, I’m not saying that you must be traditionally published before you can indie publish, but just that the experience opened my eyes to what publishers do… and what they don’t do.
So in 2011, expect to read not one, but three India Drummond novels. As planned, Ordinary Angels is coming from Lyrical Press on April 4, 2011. My first indie novel, Blood Faerie, is scheduled for release on June 1. And now I’ve had the inspiration for a third novel, which I plan to finish writing this winter and release next fall: Haywire Witch. This one will be “The Charms of Gerda Graves–Book 1″, a lighthearted paranormal comedy series, or as I like to call it, “Witch Lit.” (I should trademark that! It’s cute!)
And because I really wanted to take the week between Christmas and New Year’s off, instead of writing, I did some playing around with cover art ideas. I’ve never done vector art illustration before, but I like the style, so I thought I’d give it a whirl. (See illustration at left for results. If you are reading this via email or in a reader, the image may not come through, so you might have to click the link to view on the web.) The finalised cover may change before the book release, but I like doing an ‘inspirational cover’ when I’m in the outlining phase. It helps me get my thoughts together and focus my tone. While I was drawing these red curls, I was thinking about Gerda, what type of person she is, how she talks, how she behaves… and I tell you, she’s a handful! I’m excited about my new books… and the new plan. I feel like I’m in charge, for the first time since deciding to call myself an author.
So, Happy New Year, dear readers! I hope you have big plans this year as well!
Have you thought of going indie? If so, have you? If not, what’s stopping you?
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Hi India!
You did a professional job on that cover.
I look forward to your new books!
Did you get an editor for them?
(I read that indie authors should get them)
Here’s to a wonderful 2011!
Rob
[ Follow me on Twitter: rkcharrongmail.com ]
That’s a gorgeous cover, India and something I’d pick up. Good luck.
Love the cover too…good luck with your master plan, I should get one myself instead of procrastinating (that’s my big word for the day).
Happy New Year .. yes I agree .. great cover!
[ Follow me on Twitter: michelledevans ]
Yes, Rob, absolutely. In addition to a half-dozen beta readers, I have hired a professoinal editor for the final polish. Even though I’m confident in my own abilities, I know there’s no way I could catch all my own mistakes.
Thanks for the kind words on the cover, all!
[ Follow me on Twitter: IndiaDrummond ]
I assume that by “indie publishing” you’re meaning self-publishing? I’m curious if that is the case, why you just don’t say it. Is “indie” more PC these days? More… acceptable than the dreaded sp words?
Self-publishing is something I’ve considered. It’s actually something that I’m doing, in a way, with my short stories this year. I’ve decided that I’d rather my shorts be out there and, because I don’t want to spend time querying, waiting for acceptence and resubbing and waiting some more, to simply post them on my website and then advertise via Facebook and Twitter.
However, it’s a way down the list when it comes to novels. I think unless you have been through the process of traditional publishing, you’ve no idea how to successfully promote yourself. I know I sure as heck don’t.
But I do think that more authors will go the self-publishing route after a first (or second) traditionally published book. It’s partly down to confidence, partly down to being “properly” published – once those experiences are had and learnt from though…
All the best. The more author us aspiring writers see succeed in this, the more will follow suit.
[ Follow me on Twitter: misaditas ]
Yay for the plan and I wish you the best of luck with it. Glad to know you hired an editor. My only criticism of the whole indie publishing thing is that more writers need to do just that. Every writer needs a good editor—no matter how brilliant the writing, it can always get better. Also, I think it’s really smart for you to release you first Inide book after OA–it will help increase your “platform.” (The dreaded word…)
Wow!! This is a lovely book cover!! Well done you!! And well done with your three novels to be published this year!! Yay!!! Good luck with them!!!
Take care
x
Unpublished at the moment, I’m seriously considering going the indie route myself. Depending on what day it is, I could go either way. If my graphic art skills were as good as yours, though, I wouldn’t hesitate. In my case, I can’t draw flies even if I don’t shower for a week
and depending on my son (who does have graphic skills but is flaky as all get-out) for a cover.
Good luck!
The cover is amazing – have you thought of freelancing covers for authors?
[ Follow me on Twitter: michellesussman ]
And like Michelle said…I would pay for cover art like that too! Beautiful!
[ Follow me on Twitter: karlkirkpatrick ]
Okay, I wrote a post, but it didn’t show up. Anyways, I recently went indie as well, best choice I ever made. I’m also looking for a career so I can give up the day job and write. I’m hoping after I release 2-3 more books this year, it’ll give me a better idea of what I can earn. I released my first book (a YA paranormal) in November and seen some decent success. Looking forward to see what 2011 brings!
Good luck to you!
(and sorry if my other post shows up as well!)
[ Follow me on Twitter: karlkirkpatrick ]
Hi India!
This is an awesome philosophy and plan, good luck with it! And I love Witch Lit. I would read that in a second-the industry needs the next “monster” after vampires, zombies, etc.
I am also looking into the indie/online publishing thing, both for my nonfiction writing and my short stories/novels. Thanks for inspiring me to go forward!
[ Follow me on Twitter: destigarribia ]
First of all, the cover looks fabulous!
Second, I think the smartest thing you ever did was come up with a plan for the year. So many people look at the traditional publishing/indie route as either/or — and it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s smart to use *both*.
I’m excited for you! Good luck, and great job so far. I’m off to make my year plan.:)
[ Follow me on Twitter: netta50 ]
Well you know where I fall on the indie/self-pub scale…and I feel very empowered by my choice to open my own private publishing company. I can’t imagine jumping into the trad publishing mire at the moment, though for those who don’t want to do everything themselves it’s the only way to go. And my books are selling better every month, which helps solidify my decision.
I can’t wait to read your books – and I love that cover mock-up – it’s wonderful! Good luck with your future plans…and if you need any help with the pubbing side, let me know.
[ Follow me on Twitter: JamieDeBree ]
The cover is awesomeness squared.
I’ve ran through several permutations of what I was going to say here, but I figure I CAN’T find an explanation for any lingering hesitancy when it comes to going solo with a novel. The non-fic? Sure. That stuff is better served when traditional publishing is removed from the equation. Arguably, every major non-fiction work – aside from biographies – in the last twenty years has fallen outside of traditional publishing, so there is precedent for my feelings in that regard. There’s still the shadow of the awful self-publishing boom in the late-80′s at the back of my mind, when everyone who wanted to publish decided to. When people dismiss self-publishing out of hand, that is the cause of their attitude.
It’s 2011 now, and we’re ten years past the point where self-publishing was seen as the poor alternative. If anyone still believes there is shame in self-publishing, then they haven’t seen some of the reviews or sales figures which are oft-mentioned in bringing new people to the fold… But that feeling in my gut, the churning and groaning, refuses to leave. I think I know where I’m getting my mental blocks from… I don’t have the time to properly care for an indie book. It’s not merely the promotional aspects, it’s keeping the momentum up for a sequel as well. With a full-time job, I can’t honestly say that I would make a very good indie publisher. I do wish everyone the best, but it’s not for me at this point in time.
I’ll make sure and let everyone know when I finally come to my senses…
[ Follow me on Twitter: BigWords88 ]
Oooh love your cover art!! And your plan. I’ll be looking for those books!
[ Follow me on Twitter: Tessasblurb ]
That’s so exciting! Can’t wait to see how you feel between publishing traditionally and independently.
You GO, Girl Fren. Your Ten-Year-Plan is brilliant; from the sound of it, that decision did for you what my Bucket List did/is doing for me. I don’t put anything on my BL that I wouldn’t include in a T-Y-P. It’s just that I spent soooo damn much time in the business world, I developed a dislike for plans (and reports and meetings and so on)
Your cover art is sensational, but NO don’t branch out and do it for others; you’re a terrific writer and I can’t wait to read what comes next, and next, and next.
[ Follow me on Twitter: girlfrenkate ]
Three novels, woo!
I’m really interested in Indie publishing but… not yet. Maybe after I’ve had at least one book traditionally published. Or if I can cut work down to part time and learn how to work on more than one writing project at a time [g] It doesn’t help that the last novel I finished was an MG, the current one is historical romance, and the next one I’ve got planned is historical romance in a completely different time period. Gah, none of my research overlaps!