Honie Briggs

There’s the writing…

The need to retreat into your mind, immerse yourself in the story, the characters. Describing something that is very real, there’s a movie in my head and I need to get it out of there! That description written by another Indie Author, for me, painted the picture of pure passion for crafting words with meaningful purpose to cause spontaneous laughter, provoke a reaction, and create a diversion.

Words methodically measured, every phrase properly placed, but whose prose perfect produces writing with no soul, style without substance is paint by number. I’m not talking about grammatical correctness. Sentence structure, spelling –  uh, punctuation – of course these are important. I’m talking about the difference between words that flow together into a pool around our ankles versus words that engulf us, crash around us so loudly that our senses pitch and roll until the rhythm of our pulse races to catch them before they rush away.

Then there’s the other stuff…

In almost the time it takes to have a baby (nine months, for those who don’t know) I’ve been marketing my book. I’ve joked about approaching strangers, giving away as many copies as I’ve sold. I’ve confessed my tech challenges and professed my refusal to get side tracked by feedback. In other posts I’ve said it takes courage, strength and lots of patients to bring any book to market, no matter how it is published, and how authors who choose to self-publish face challenges from without and within. I’ve called marketing an action adventure, trying not to be overly concerned about the snobbery of the publishing elite while being realistic about the quantity over quality in the marketplace.

Frustration and doubt are indeed relentless saboteurs.

Self-published authors can, and many do, deliver the best of both print on demand and eBooks. At times it is overwhelming trying to follow all of the advice out there on the best way to market my work. At times it does seem like failure is imminent. Validation that self-publishing was the right decision is secondary to the truth that the alternative was, most certainly, rejection. It’s not like there’s an Indie Author’s Got Talent or Iron Author competition. There is, but it’s a pay to play proposition and frankly, the how low can you go pricing structure for self-published books is ridiculous enough without forking over hundreds of dollars to simply get someone to read your book.

I’m not complaining. Really. I know the realities. Writers are a dime a dozen. Best sellers are a shot in the dark for even the most talented, established authors. I get it. I’m a novice without agent or attaché. I can fail under the radar, never crossing the line of demarcation.

Am I okay with that? Honestly, no.

I’m doing this. Whether or not I’m going about it correctly is up for debate. My purpose hasn’t changed. The story of Katherine Doyle and her ability to summon strength from everyone she encounters, characters both minor and major, is a testament to my own experience. Every person makes an impression on us; every reader, writer, lover, hater, mother, father, sister, brother, leader, dreamer, son or daughter, worker, slacker, doubter, supporter, helper, hoper, creator, follower.

I can hardly wait to see what happens next.