Hey Anna, fiction writer here. I wrote a fucking great novel that took me five years to finish, self-published it to avoid the gatekeepers, and promoted it myself for a grand total of two thousand copies sold. It’s not horrible, but it’s not my dream, and call me delusional, but I’m sure more people would enjoy my novel if I had better distribution. To succeed as an indie, you need to write and publish at a pace I can’t keep and take care of the whole process, which is exhausting.
I’m now going for the traditional book deal because it’s a lottery ticket, but at least there’s a prize.
(Disclaimer: at this point in my life, I’m in no rush to make money so that helps)
I understand that with non-fiction, publishing yourself and making money/growing an audience in other ways is probably the most sensible path. But in fiction, I haven’t found a better way. I’m more than open to suggestions.
First of all, I want to read your novel! Link please? Secondly - I honestly have no f-ing idea how to "succeed" as a novelist - my first 2 books were novels and I'm now, a decade and a half later, writing another one but just "for fun." The reality is that despite my 2 novels being published by HarperCollins, it didn't really mean anything beyond they were in B&N for the first 2 weeks they were out. All that being said, you still CAN, in some cases, build a business from a novel. My book about recovery got me some work in the recovery field. But honestly my suggestion is extract as much joy from the process as possible and know that you wrote a great f-ing novel.
Hey Anna! Thanks for your answer and your interest in my novel!
Unfortunately, it’s in Spanish, but feel free to check it out if you’re curious—and at the very least, you can admire my gorgeous cover! It’s under my real name, BTW, but I promise it’s me → https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0CYWBS1DW
The dire state of the Spanish trad market is what convinced me to take the plunge and try publishing in English under a pen name. Let’s see what comes of it. If I ever manage to become at least a midlist author, I might go into teaching storytelling, which I’d genuinely love, but first, I have to prove my worth.
This is the very reason I am publishing — albeit the DIY way — with you. I am certain my clever book, which is so niche, would have been reimagined and rewritten by now.
Super grateful for this perspective today, Anna. I'm that person who thought a traditional deal was all I wanted and endgame but "they realize the traditional publishing deal isn’t going to happen". My creative spirit isn't broken, but I'm definitely floundering as I accept what is NOT happening and try to figure out what will. Love this idea that it's really not hard and probably right in front of me.
This is a wonderful perspective. The older I get, the more I'm realizing that the joy of being a writer is . . . wait for it . . . being a writer. We all need goals, of course. Winning on some "big" level might be satisfying and validating, but it isn't everything. Writing has given my life focus, interest, joy, challenge, and spice. With two traditional small press novels published, I'm not exactly famous OR rich. It's okay. I wouldn't trade my writing life for ANY life that didn't include writing. You know?
Or cancelled for calling someone waving a machete at a baby carriage ‘crazy’ instead of saying they are an individual with severe and chronic mental health conditions who also happens to be unhoused and addicted to meth 😂
This is great Anna and so helpful. I’m not an author, I’m a playwright and write musicals…and my latest is a solo show that has been *almost* picked up by the traditional professional theaters three times, but for whatever reason didn’t. These things in theater take a LONG time. So I’m producing it myself, my mini tour- first in my hometown at our adorable firehouse theater with 220 seats, and I’m doing two shows, which if I sell out will make me something like $8000 and then it’s on to NYC solo festival, and then I’m hoping to bring it to Edinburgh Fringe. It’s really hard to move past the authority gate keepers, but it can be done. But, it takes a lot of courage. It’s easy to get caught up in what it might feel like to be traditionally published. But the reality is my first two musicals are traditionally published, and it’s not really that glamorous. But selling 200 seats to your community of work you’re proud feels really real. Thanks for the great article! It helps as I plod along.
Hey Anna, fiction writer here. I wrote a fucking great novel that took me five years to finish, self-published it to avoid the gatekeepers, and promoted it myself for a grand total of two thousand copies sold. It’s not horrible, but it’s not my dream, and call me delusional, but I’m sure more people would enjoy my novel if I had better distribution. To succeed as an indie, you need to write and publish at a pace I can’t keep and take care of the whole process, which is exhausting.
I’m now going for the traditional book deal because it’s a lottery ticket, but at least there’s a prize.
(Disclaimer: at this point in my life, I’m in no rush to make money so that helps)
I understand that with non-fiction, publishing yourself and making money/growing an audience in other ways is probably the most sensible path. But in fiction, I haven’t found a better way. I’m more than open to suggestions.
Thanks for your article!
First of all, I want to read your novel! Link please? Secondly - I honestly have no f-ing idea how to "succeed" as a novelist - my first 2 books were novels and I'm now, a decade and a half later, writing another one but just "for fun." The reality is that despite my 2 novels being published by HarperCollins, it didn't really mean anything beyond they were in B&N for the first 2 weeks they were out. All that being said, you still CAN, in some cases, build a business from a novel. My book about recovery got me some work in the recovery field. But honestly my suggestion is extract as much joy from the process as possible and know that you wrote a great f-ing novel.
Hey Anna! Thanks for your answer and your interest in my novel!
Unfortunately, it’s in Spanish, but feel free to check it out if you’re curious—and at the very least, you can admire my gorgeous cover! It’s under my real name, BTW, but I promise it’s me → https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0CYWBS1DW
The dire state of the Spanish trad market is what convinced me to take the plunge and try publishing in English under a pen name. Let’s see what comes of it. If I ever manage to become at least a midlist author, I might go into teaching storytelling, which I’d genuinely love, but first, I have to prove my worth.
I totally agree: finding joy in the process is literally the only guaranteed prize in this whole crazy journey. I actually wrote that almost verbatim in this week’s post → https://marinabrox.substack.com/p/how-to-make-peace-with-the-idea-that
This is the very reason I am publishing — albeit the DIY way — with you. I am certain my clever book, which is so niche, would have been reimagined and rewritten by now.
Super grateful for this perspective today, Anna. I'm that person who thought a traditional deal was all I wanted and endgame but "they realize the traditional publishing deal isn’t going to happen". My creative spirit isn't broken, but I'm definitely floundering as I accept what is NOT happening and try to figure out what will. Love this idea that it's really not hard and probably right in front of me.
Thank you for this. I would venture to guess that the traditional deal not happening may be the best thing that could happen?
First book done and with an agent. I so appreciate this perspective 🩷🙏
This is a wonderful perspective. The older I get, the more I'm realizing that the joy of being a writer is . . . wait for it . . . being a writer. We all need goals, of course. Winning on some "big" level might be satisfying and validating, but it isn't everything. Writing has given my life focus, interest, joy, challenge, and spice. With two traditional small press novels published, I'm not exactly famous OR rich. It's okay. I wouldn't trade my writing life for ANY life that didn't include writing. You know?
Or cancelled for calling someone waving a machete at a baby carriage ‘crazy’ instead of saying they are an individual with severe and chronic mental health conditions who also happens to be unhoused and addicted to meth 😂
This is great Anna and so helpful. I’m not an author, I’m a playwright and write musicals…and my latest is a solo show that has been *almost* picked up by the traditional professional theaters three times, but for whatever reason didn’t. These things in theater take a LONG time. So I’m producing it myself, my mini tour- first in my hometown at our adorable firehouse theater with 220 seats, and I’m doing two shows, which if I sell out will make me something like $8000 and then it’s on to NYC solo festival, and then I’m hoping to bring it to Edinburgh Fringe. It’s really hard to move past the authority gate keepers, but it can be done. But, it takes a lot of courage. It’s easy to get caught up in what it might feel like to be traditionally published. But the reality is my first two musicals are traditionally published, and it’s not really that glamorous. But selling 200 seats to your community of work you’re proud feels really real. Thanks for the great article! It helps as I plod along.