Freedom of an Indie Fiction Writer
The term “Indie Fiction Writer” will mean something different to everyone. For me, what it means is that I do not have an agent, and I do not work with a publisher. I do not work with an editor either, nor do I have a proofreader, a muse, or any other individual to give me feedback on the stories I write before I publish them. In other words, I have complete and total creative control over everything I write and publish.
I have only been a writer for two years, and in that time, I have published more than 50 short stories on various online publications, and I have authored one paperback short story collection. I have not yet published anything on Amazon Kindle, although that is something that I plan to do eventually.
I write at my own pace, without any deadlines, commitments, or contracts. Any profits from book sales go directly into my pocket. If I spend an entire year writing adult fiction, then decide that I want to write a short story anthology for young readers (which I am doing right now), I can do that, and there is not anyone around to ask any questions or to try to convince me to move in another direction.
If I want to spend my time writing a second book simultaneously for adult readers (which I am also currently doing), there are no barriers standing in my way. If I want to publish my short stories online, then subsequently publish them in paperback format, I do not have to worry about infringing on anyone’s proprietary rights, because I personally own all of my content.
In other words, I do what I want, when I want, how I want. My creations are mine alone, and the books that I publish will succeed or fail on their own merits. I know exactly what I want my books to look like — everything from the book’s size to the book’s cover, and I design them accordingly.
Primarily, I write and publish as an indie author because I am only writing short stories and a few novelettes, at the moment. I have not started working on a novel, nor do I plan to do so in the near future. What I have learned during my brief stint as a writer is that novels and nonfiction books are what sell. It is incredibly difficult to make money writing short fiction, or even writing novellas or novelettes.
But I write short stories because that is what comes to me naturally, without much struggle or difficulty. As a writer, I have learned the importance of doing what comes naturally, and allowing the creative process take its course. So for now, I continue forward as an author of short story collections, which suits me just fine.
The idea of working with an editor is somewhat appealing, and I would very much like to work with someone who could read my material and give constructive feedback along the way. Unfortunately, if an indie writer like myself is not working with an agent and a publishing house, the services of an editor are expensive. I do not feel comfortable paying thousands of dollars out of pocket for the services of an editor, when I know that I will not make that money back in book sales.
It is unfortunate that the sales of fiction books have continued with their downward slide during the past 20 years. However, in this modern era of print on demand technology for physical books, indie authors can have the freedom of writing, designing, and publishing their own cherished creations on a $0 budget (see article below).
Although us short fiction writers are no longer making the big bucks (and sometimes no bucks at all), the level of creative freedom which is now available to us is priceless.
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