Lately Konrath has become so notorious as an outspoken Indie publishing rebel that his every utterance is studied, dissected, and critiqued. His business decisions are weighed and measured against anything he might have previously said contradicting what he's chosen to do. Traditional publishers probably do see him as a Khan to their Captain Kirk, but I've even seen some steadfast fans implying he should be cautious making even more giant changes like recently when he talked about accepting a modified traditional deal. Why on earth would any Indie author want him to lay down his machete and stop carving a path through the jungle when we're not out of it yet?
Konrath's ongoing willingness to change his mind and approach to best fit his business needs and then--God bless the man--show all the rest of how to do it is a good thing. Behind the censure hides a very basic fear of change that each person needs to resolve for themselves. Frankly, it has me shaking my head. I frequently find myself hoping Konrath's Indie book sales are huge enough to pay for a really good bullet-proof vest in case he ever needs one, or least enough to buy some really, really good booze now and again to help shut us out. No matter how much vitriol he receives, the man continues to light the way for Indie authors regardless how much hell is being raised. How can you not admire that as a business person?
It was one of Bruce's IT friends who first mentioned Smashwords and made me curious enough to do research, but it was JA Konrath who watered and fertilized the discontent growing in me with traditional publishing. His blog, A newbie's guide to publishing,
is on the recommended reading list of most every Indie author for very
good reasons. He is a fountain of genuinely useful information and
action-prompting-thought overflowing into the Indie publishing world. To
get it all, you have to read the archive posts too. Some are epic. All
are worth the time.
Here is the post from December
2010 that caught me and changed my life, and not just because he was a
man admitting he had been wrong about something, though I sincerely enjoyed
that also (no offense, JA--I write humor):
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2010/12/you-should-self-publish.html
In December 2010, "Donna McDonald" was an unknown, but moderately good writer with a growing collection of traditional industry
rejections that could have, and likely would have, continued growing over many more
years. Authors like Konrath helped me change that outcome. Now in September of 2011, I am a writer with six published books and
another one coming out in October who is actually making money from
the work. I have a profound gratitude for what JA Konrath is doing and for his ongoing honesty. Because of him, and others like him, who remain willing to tell the good and the bad stories of Indie publishing I am armed well to take risks in the business of being a published author.
Writing romantic comedies is my creative soul and my life, but before I ever received my first $35 royalty check I realized being an published author is also a demanding business. I guest blogged about that on the Gem State Writers blog this week, but I remain cautious still about coming out of the self-publishing closet and bringing traditional industry wrath down on my head, too. I longed to be noticed by them for so many years. Then I chastise myself for being afraid to just talk openly about even my modest success because as a business person I know fear is not reasonable. If I was selling any other product than my books I wouldn't be afraid to talk about anything. See how crazy that is? So I'm glad there are well-known, widely published authors on the Indie front lines like JA Konrath, Barry Eisler, Dean Wesley-Smith, and Kristine Kathyrn Rusch who are fighting the first round of censure bullets for the rest of us.
Konrath was already too busy to connect with me individually when I found him, and I don't mind that a bit. He probably hears from hundreds of people every day and I see his answers to many of them on his blog, in his interviews, and in articles. I still mention him, credit him, and try to be reciprocal to give back to him all the paying it forward he does every day that I reap the benefits from as I study his example.
You know what else I think? Though he didn't agree, even Captain Kirk saw that Khan had intelligent reasons for thinking like he did.
Where I get to talk about romantic comedy, writing, books, and life
8 comments:
I think you hit upon one of the things I appreciate about Konrath, the fact that he is constantly reassessing the ever-changing publishing climate and making his decisions accordinging instead of adopting a dogma that is resistant to new data and course correction.
I was only in favor of self-publishing for established mid-list authors until Konrath's blog pointed to the opportunities for unknown authors and got me doing more research.
I, too, had to admit my assumptions might not hold up to changing circumstances.
Margo, thanks for the comment.
I handled being unknown by offering a free book which made me risk free, and like to think I am doing this with an eye on being a published author for the long term.
In some ways, being a complete "newbie" might have made self-publishing an easier choice. In other ways, I had to modify my publishing dreams to take the risk at all. I can honesty say I don't regret this path.
The first reader who bought my book and wrote to tell me they liked it made all the work and effort worthwhile.
Donna, you and I followed the same path -- or so it seems. I read Konrath, too. I may not agree with everything he says, but I have a great deal of respect for him and appreciation of the fact that he will share his good and bad decisions...helping those who follow behind to avoid those pitfalls. I'd buy that man a drink and thank him profusely if I ever met him in person. Agree or disagree with what he says, his Newbies guide to publishing is worth reading.
Love, your blog, Donna. I followed you here from your visit today at the Gem State Blog. Lots of good info here. Marsha
Ruth, thanks for commenting. I think we all have to walk our own path, but I am one of those people who look for role models or people who have already done what I want to do. I feel very fortunate there are Indie authors willing to share.
Hi Marsha! Thanks for stopping by.
I read Joe's blog too. And to be quite honest, he's the reason my backlog is coming out again as ebook format and published by ME. *I* am Edin Road Press, thank you.
I started self-pubbing in 2002 before it was "cool" to do so. Those of us that started back then were ridiculed and never taken seriously. Not that we're taken all that seriously now, but we're getting more and more mainstream as we go.
I went the long way and FINALLY got one book picked up by a "trad" but very small press. And it soured me on the way the industry is run. Hey, if I have to do all the work anyway, I might as well indie pub and keep all of my royalties. This crap of getting only 12% of the sales for doing 100% of the work sucks. I'm a whole lot happier.
I've just started my publishing trip this year and it'll take me a while to get there. But I'll get there. I am patient, I am diligent, and I am happier.
Joe led the way for me, as did Barry and John Locke and Amanda Hocking. And now, you! I have hope and faith.
Hi Jesse, thanks for commenting.
Sometimes I think the best thing that happened to me was getting rejected by the traditional publishing world. My work is considered to be "niche" and therefore lacking mass appeal because of the age of my characters. None of that sort of thinking bothers me as I happily collect new readers by the recommendations of previous readers. My readers span ages from 20-85, but even if they didn't, Baby Boomers (which my characters mostly are) are a very significant chunk of the population. LOL.
My disappointment made me determined. My naivete made me brave.
Post a Comment