An Ode to Indie Authors
Damn, and I thought writing the book was tough.
My name is Michael Maguire, author of The Lost Company, a heroic fantasy novel that hits shelves on 11th April this year. For the past few months, I have been trudging through the world of self-publishing and it has been an eye opener to say the least. Let me get this out now before I go any further, indie authors… I see you!
I started this journey during the dying throws of 2024, when after a year of trying to get traditionally published via finding an agent, I grew impatient and started researching self-publishing. Had I known the struggle, I might have tried a little harder and longer at finding an agent.
The reason I have italic-ed try twice in the previous paragraph, is I feel I didn’t really give it my all at getting traditionally published. I sent my manuscript off to about 15 agents, who I had researched thoroughly and knew the sort of books they represented. I have heard of plenty of authors who had queried 100s of agents before getting picked up, and went on to get published. “ain’t no body got time for that!”. In hindsight I could’ve worked a bit harder in looking for suitable agents, I could’ve sent out more queries, and waited less time between “batches” before sending out another wave of queries. But I didn’t, and I got tired of waiting 3 months to hear back with a pre-populated response of “Not today thanks”.
So that’s my history. The reason I wish I’d tried a little harder isn’t because I hate self-publishing. This experience has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. I say it because it requires all the same things that I disliked traditional publishing. Patience, attention to detail, research, hard work, and more patience.
So here is my ode to all the indie authors out there. There is a common misconception amongst some readers and trad-writers that those who went down the indie route are simply those that didn’t have the persistence or talent to make it as a traditional author. And that is perhaps right for some (I’m looking at you Author Who Drew Their Cover On Paint). But for the majority of indie authors, they have approached their work with the same love and hard work as any trad-author, whilst also forking out all the costs, and taking all the risks.
What risks you say? Well lets look shall we. New indie authors don’t have on pay-role editors and cover design artists who can tidy up a book and paint an eye catching cover design with the snap of a finger. We have to go out and find them. It’s not just about footing the bill, that comes part and parcel with whole self-publishing thing. It’s the fact you can pay the cost, and still not be happy with what you get in return! Freelancer websites are full of comments with people who have been unhappy with the editing they got back, or the cover design.
We also don’t start off with a team of dedicated reviewers ready to sing the books praises. I’m just looking at my copy of Joe Abercrombie’s Last Argument of Kings, with a footnote from none other than George RR Martin himself saying “Joe Abercrombie is terrific”. Isn’t that nice! The Winds of Winter will be out before I’m likely to find an author willing to read my book and endorse it. Or anyone for that matter.
And then there is the marketing! THE MARKETING!! You watch YouTube and you will find 100 different videos on the best marketing strategy for your novel, and everyone of them will say something different. I recently purchased an indie author’s book by the name of G F Allen, purely from his persistence in marketing his book EVERY, SINGLE, DAY! Another author, Lee Hall, does a great job of marketing his books, and spends a ton of time supporting other indie authors too! And a last mention for Rebecca Crunden, who whilst a prolific indie author in her own right, also runs the account Indie Book Spotlight, which has amassed almost 45 THOUSAND followers purely on singing the praises of indie authors.
So believe me when I say that self-publishing isn’t taking “the easy way out”. I can’t imagine there are many writers out there that wouldn’t love their books to be picked up by a traditional publisher and hand over all the leg work to them. But self-publishing is also about having the freedom to write what you want, not being beholden to the “Big Five”, and whatever the trend is at that moment in time. Its stepping away from that ridiculously competitive world where if they think your book doesn’t have the potential to sell a GIZILLION copies, it won’t be considered. Its opening yourself up to a community of like-minded people who have all been through the same fight you have. And lastly, its about making a success out of your book, and having ownership of what success looks like. For me, that’s just about getting the characters I love out there for the world to see, no matter how many people pick it up!
So here is to you fellow indie author. Congratulations on your book, you should be very proud.
I will finish on a plea. If we want to succeed in a world where the Big Five dictate what people want to read, then we need to support one another. Not just say it, live it. So maybe knock Sarah J Maas, or John Gwynne, or Brandon Sanderson, down your “To Be Read” list and add an indie book or two in there instead. If you see an author marketing a book, give him a like and a retweet, it cost nothing. As a character in my book says – “Be the change you want to see in the world”. KIDDING! That was Gandhi, but its true.
You can follow my entire indie publishing journey via my YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/@MichaelMagWritesThings
My debut novel The Lost Company is available for pre-order and is out April 11th 2025
Follow me on X - @mikewhomwrites