As I’ve progressed through my authoring journey these past few years, there are some harsh truths I’ve had to come to terms with. I’ve decided to make a list here of the things I just have to accept as an Indie author:
There will be typos in my book – I have personally edited my story at least 4 times, have then sent it off to a professional editor, found some issues before sending it off to be formatted, and STILL found a few minor errors after it was published.
My dreams are bigger than my wallet – I would adore a leather-bound, gold foiled, embossed cover for my book AND to produce a dramatized audiobook version! But my latest estimates are almost $9,000 for the special physical copies (of only 250 books total) and another $5,000 minimum to produce the audio.
I have to learn ALL the things – taxes, quickbooks, how to find a cover artist, how to find a formatter, how to copyright, how to get ISBN codes, how to set up my work for Amazon, and Barnes and nobles, and anywhere else. How to make a website and an e-store, how to develop/design/distribute my own merch line. I am author, artist, marketer, finance department, social media connections, business woman, product tester, research and development, and so much more.
People won’t get it, or me – I’m gonna get the looks of pity, disdain, and dismissal when I tell them my day job *is* being an author. They’ll offer un-asked for advice as if I haven’t been researching daily all aspects of MY career. They’ll both assume you have no money and yet act as if you can easily become a millionaire. They assume that because you’re “just a writer” that your schedule isn’t hard and fast and is the first they’ll try to break when they want something. They’ll want to label me as lazy in one breath, “You haven’t written in *how* long? You’re just daydreaming, that isn’t *real* work!”, and then declare they’re amazed at what I’ve accomplished in the next, “Oh I could *never* do what you can!” They will stay stuck waffling between states of awe and pity.
I will never not be working – Every conversation, every interaction, every time I watch a movie or reach a book, when I’m scrolling online, when I’m cleaning my house, when I’m going for a walk, shoot even when I’m sleeping! My mind never quits. I get story ideas, marketing ideas. I’m thinking about what next post I should develop, what product I want to create for my store, how to fix my current plot hole, and balancing research on how to keep growing and engaging with others. I’m looking into my next in person event. I’m connecting with other creatives and trying to be an encouragement to them. I don’t have a 9-5. I have a whenever I sit down I come up with something, schedule. There is never a space where I won’t randomly take out my notes and jot down something that comes to mind. There aren’t “weekends off.” And it isn’t just a state of my mind naturally always running (which that is a normal state for me), but it is also the case that in the creative sphere in order to survive you have this consistent pressure to be “on” all the time.
I will remain at odds with myself – There will be a litany of things that I hate about being an Indie author. Things I hate about trying to make being a creative my career in general. But in the very same breath there is a deep unbreakable love for the whole process and all the things I get to bring to life. So much of it will breathe deep into my lungs and then turn around and suffocate me in the next instant. It is a push and pull that if I were to voice out loud too often people might think I should be committed.