Indie authors work on their own terms (and won’t be shoved around)

Timothy Pike | About me

Why did you become an independent author?

Probably because you wanted to work on your own terms.

You know that when you publish your own books, life is simpler. You write the novel. You set the release date. You keep full creative control, both over the content and the artwork on the cover.

By contrast, if a publishing house takes your book on, watch out! Here comes an editor to slice and dice—and blood will be spilled. Your favorite passages? Gutted. Entire chapters? Disembowled. That character you worked hard to develop? Off with its head!

But as—

Can we put away the knives please?

Thanks.

You got a problem with Tom? (Adriaan Greyling)

But as an indie author, you stay in control.

What you say goes.

For instance, if you decide that Tom, your character with the body of a man and the head of an ostrich—who has an annoying habit of blinking rapidly when talking and jumps out of his seat every time he hears a word that starts with P—needs to stay in the book, then Tom stays in the book.

Now plainly, it’s perfectly plausible (sorry, Tom) that an editor you’ve hired will suggest a major change that will dramatically improve your story, so keep an open mind and a listening ear.

But ultimately, no editor can force you to remove the best parts of your novel.

When you’re an indie author, you’re sharing with the world the story you truly wanted to write.

What are your reasons for self-publishing? Your comment is welcome!

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I’m Timothy Pike, copy editor and self-publishing coach, and I’ve been in the book business since 2014. I created the writing and reading community ChapterBuzz to help authors publish their books affordably, and founded Books & Buzz Magazine to showcase prominent authors, reviewers, and books. Join our private book society on Facebook!