Right now, this industry is changing. There’s more than one way to “be published” and it’s turned some heads. Different people have different views on the changes, and you know what? That’s okay. Healthy debates are… healthy. But let it be known that there is no such thing as an easier path.
Those who decide on the traditional route don’t have life any easier than those who decide to forge on alone, self publishing. There may be differences, yes, but it still involves tons of work.
For me, my path right now is independent publishing. It makes sense for me and it works for me. I spent time in college obtaining degrees in accounting and finance only to be tossed into the real world to find it didn’t want me. I sadly graduate college at the peak of the low of our economy. I was lucky to find a job but soon found myself laid off. That’s where writing took over and in many ways saved my life… but this isn’t a post about my life, this is about business.
I soon realized that I had the business education and skill – and dream – to run a company. I’ve always wanted my own business. I used to buy books on how to sell things on ebay, how to open a coffee house, and even thought about flipping houses. My fire inside was to own a company. Be my own boss. Enjoy life. Well once writing mixed with that urge, and finding some really great resources such as KindleBoards, it became clear that I was holding a business all along… the business of ME. Of Jim Bronyaur. Of writing and selling books.
I started an imprint called Dead Face Publishing and my journey began.
But like I said, it’s not easy. There are many articles about how independent authors who couldn’t get agents are making millions… I shake my head at it. Those authors aren’t just people who decided one day to write a book and get lucky. They are authors who have been writing their entire lives that found a new path to chase their dream. Many of those authors have huge backlists of books written, ready to go. And that’s their key to success. They were and are able to produce quality work time and time again. Being an independent (or self published) author means you are quite literally running a business.
This is a normal day for me…
Alarm screams at me at 5am. I’ll be honest here, on good days I’m out of bed at 5:10am. Normal days it’s by 5:20am. I get my cup of coffee and right now since it’s summer, I stand out on the deck and watch the sun come up. I remind myself that I’m awake, alive, and ready for another day.
Between then and 6am, I check emails and hit some discussion boards. I respond to readers, requests, follow up on sales, see what’s new in the writing world, and hunt down information for blog posts for the day. (I also freelance on the side so some mornings I look for potential articles to write for revenue.)
From that point until 7am or 8am, I write. I organize my projects, where they are moving, and get to it. I am also on a strict exercise plan so some days I’m out the door at this time to go to the gym.
Once I’m back from the gym – or done writing – I make time to see my children. We wrestle, play, watch Curious George. I make them scrambled eggs, we drink chocolate milk, and I cherish every one of those seconds.
From there, I’m off to my part-time day job… that’s what keeps the lights on right now.
Within the late morning and early afternoon hours, I spend my time taking notes, ideas, networking with friends and readers. I’m always sending my book(s) out for review to different blogs and sites, always working towards the next step in writing. I focus on my advertising plan for each and every book, and have to carefully analyze my expenses that I can control and those I can’t. I make sure I don’t overdo myself on costs so that I can expect the biggest return later.
Once I’m back home, it’s dinner and play time again. Never too much time with my kids!
Once they are in bed – which right now is around 7pm (I’m a happy parent for that) – I’m back to work again. I usually try and get all the little things done here. Respond to more emails, web site maintenance, etc.
Then I set a nice block of writing time to myself.
And of course, I have time with my wife, who is my biggest supporter. She’s always standing next to the printer waiting for the next project. She also helps coordinate ad campaigns and helps with cover decisions, blurbs, sites, etc.
Finally, when the smoke clears on my day, it’s almost tomorrow. I’m usually in bed around midnight, ready for the alarm to hit again at 5am.
That’s my day, every day. On the weekends, I splurge and sleep in until 6am.
And while this may seem like a lot – and it is – I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’m able to chase my dream every day, while having time to spend with my family, and I have their support. What more can I ask for? (Okay fine, more book sales, but who’s counting?)
My point here is that when you’re finally done with that book and you’re deciding what to do, you can’t base it on “what’s easy?”. Nothing’s easy. If it was, everyone would do it. There was a huge flood of writers back in April and May, everyone wanting to be like those authors who “uploaded their books and made millions overnight”. Many of those writers are faded now because of how much work it really is.
If you’re an independent writer you have to do it all:
1. Your book (writing, editing, etc.)
2. Cover (designing, paying, etc.)
3. Your site and/or blog
4. You exposure (social networking, discussion boards)
5. Publishing (formatting, uploading, dealing with errors and issues)
6. Advertising (is it worth it?, etc.)
7. Making sales
8. Collecting revenue
9. Tracking costs
10. Bank statements (making sure you get paid, the right amounts, balancing you bank account)
There are many more things you have to do there, but that’s a short example. And on top of all that? You have to be writing the next book… because the best advertising, the best exposure, the best thing to drive revenues and sales up and up is… *drumroll*… another book.
Never stop chasing your dream as a writer. NEVER. On the worst days, keep going. On the best days, keep going. On those in between days, keep going.
As far as which path to take – traditional or independent – that’s up to you. You know what you want. You know what your heart wants. You know what your mind wants. Follow it. Trust yourself and trust your writing and your path will eventually make itself clear.
–
Jim Bronyaur
Latest release: The Devil’s Weekend – http://jimbronyaur.info/?page_id=1452
My site: www.jimbronyaur.com
Follow me: www.twitter.com/jimbronyaur
Writing blog: www.jimthewriterb.wordpress.com
What an inspiring post just when I needed it! I tip my hat to you, sir, for keeping up with all of that. You make my one measly job and one husband (er…in comparison to husband and children, not several husbands!) seem quite manageable.
“On the worst days, keep going. On the best days, keep going. On those in between days, keep going.” YES.