Wednesday Writerly Way ~ The Indie Life Roller Coaster

I've always lived the indie lifestyle so it shouldn't be any surprise that I became a hybrid author. The comparison between being an indie author and traditionally published one.

If you don't not look for challenges in this life...you are just coasting.

I've never had a life a person could coast through. Whether it has been jobs I've had, or family issues, or marriage. Nothing has ever been simple and straight forward. So now I'm approaching another birthday. Yes, I'm a Taurian which accounts for some of my bull headedness, but mostly it's survival and always breaking new ground. I've never stepped away from a challenge.

My daughters on my last birthday threw me a surprise birthday party because in in all my years on this Earth, I've never had one. My youngest gave me as gag gift, a cane. Not just any ordinary cane but a survival cane for an outrageous lady. It's bright purple which includes a hello beautiful mirror, granny hosiery (because we are always losing our knee-highs), dirty old man repellent, a get out of my way horn, and old lady crossing sign. It makes squeaking noise when you press down on cane handle. A good laugh was had by all and my grandchildren had fun playing with it.

I should have taken it as an omen of things to come, but I didn't. A month later when I had my stroke she was kicking herself for her gag gift.

Life is like that. It's a roller coaster of events...some up, some down with twist turns and loop-de-loops thrown in for extra excitement. Why should being a indie author be any different? It isn't.

I'm not a Joe Konrath nor expect to be. I'm me and I don't compare my success or lack of success to anyone except me. I rarely compare my works to any other author because no other author can write a story like me. Indie author stands for an independently published author, but I like to think of it as an individual author. Everyone is unique, although they might have similar qualities.

Of course as an indie author, we envy or try to emulate his success. The fact is most of us can't and won't without twenty plus years of readers following our work. Wait a minute, I've got the years in paying my dues and have multi-million words attempted or in print. Why couldn't I be a Joe Konrath? Why not me? I tout thousands in sales and he touted hundreds of thousands. Excuse me a moment while I flick this little green imp off my shoulder. Even old Joe says there is no formula to success.

Seven_Deadly_Sins__Envy_by_kenshinHimuraDeviant

Envy, jealousy, and comparison is wrong and rings the death bells sounding in the chapel. In comparing your book or the sales with another breeds the green eyed monster. Why decide to go it on your own if you are going to do it on your own? Yes, I follow a lot of writer blogs because I can always learn from someone else's trials and errors. What works for me might not necessarily work for you. The world is full of imitators and imposters for that very reason. Why be a copycat when you can be a maverick?

I've watched hundreds of copies of my books fly off the shelves last month. For me, this is a milestone because I haven't published anything new in almost a year and it's double of what I sold last year. It proves I have longevity and I am finding new readers. That's success to me. With as little advertising as I've done the past year, I'm honestly surprised. So I'm tackling new ground once again and working on a new book. With a goal of 75K words, at times, seems daunting but although I did write but 642 new words last month...it's taking a step forward to a goal.

Isn't that what the indie life is all about, reaching goals and measuring success by your standards as a individually published author?

Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Tuesday Tumbling Term~ Independence

If you look real close at the image to the left you will notice in the word "Tumbling" there is a shadow. It was done intentionally, not sloppiness on my part in graphic design. It denotes movement... trembling tumble as it were.

The word for today is...independence.

in·de·pend·ence
[in-di-pen-duh ns]
noun
1. Also, independency. the state or quality of being independent.
2. freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.
3. Archaic. a competency.

Independence is important to many writers today. Especially, important for the indie author. They are free from constraints such as deadlines, influences of what they should write and when, waiting on rejections from agents and publishers, and have freedom to just write at their own schedule.

I speak from experience on this because I have been both traditional published and now, an indie author. I stopped writing for traditional publishing houses almost fifteen years ago.

My husband had two heart attacks and a stroke inside of six months, and then was diagnosed with cancer. The heart attacks and stroke were symptoms of his cancer. I gave up everything I knew...a corporate job in my own company and traditional publishing because it was more important to be here with him instead of traveling hither and yon to work. Over the next few years, I lost all identity of me separate from my husband or my elderly in-laws who I cared  for also, and my independence in focusing all my attention to their care.

My DH (darling hubby) spent 200 out 365 days in one year hospitalized that first year. 150 out of 365 days in the hospital for the next two years, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with heart failure and eventually died leaving my father-in-law's total on me. Time sure flies when you are busy with everyone else.

My DH stabilized although still listed as terminal, so I began writing again after almost a decade of being absent, and I was met with, "Jo who?" That was quickly followed by, "You have written what?" I had changed from writing nonfiction to fiction. My agents (both of them) did not represent fiction authors unless they had a proven record in writing fiction. No, I still couldn't travel for several weeks at a stretch to market or teach classes because I still had to care for my husband.

While my agents would gladly review anything nonfiction I had to offer-- at the thought of my writing fiction, I'd be back at the beginning starting over. How easily people are forgotten in this line of work. It's the proverbial question of what have you done for me lately raised its ugly head.

I was searching for my own independence. Trying to regain my own identity of who Jo Murphey was and I wanted to write fiction. Was that so wrong? I didn't think so. I made the slush piles or rejections for three more years before I decided to become an indie author.

Today, I still can't do more than overnight trips because of my husband, but I'm still an author and a published one at that. My appearances are few, but I have a virtual following. My schedule is my own. Write or not write is my decision also. I control my purse strings. I aid who I like and when. I definitely influence others judging by the emails I receive.

I am Jo Murphey an independent author, and glad for the opportunity.
On a personal note, today was my mother's birthday. Happy birthday, Momma. I love you and miss you.
Happy New Year to one and all. May 2013 be a better year.

So are you struggling with your independence?

Keep writing and loving the Lord.