Indie and Proud

Tiffany T.J. Craig and Zoe A. Craig

Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2012 Tiffany T.J. Craig and Zoe A. Craig

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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There are many different types of writers in the world, but it seems the most popular currently is the indie author. But what is an indie author? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages to being one, and what can one do to be a successful one? Read on and I will tell you.

The term 'indie' is an abbreviated form of the word independent, meaning to not be controlled by another. When you apply this term to movies, music or writing, you get an artist who chooses to work on a smaller level without the big record companies, publishing houses or movie studios. For a writer this could mean using a pod publisher, printing your books by yourself or dabbling in eBooks. All of which are ways that give an author more freedom with their work.

Freedom to do what you want with your writing is one of the biggest advantages to being an indie author. Others include not having to wait as long for your books' debut, being able to set your own price and the ability to offer promotions and coupons whenever you want. Let's not forget getting to keep most, and sometimes all, of the money for yourself.

However, there are disadvantages to being an indie author. You usually won't get an advance and you probably won't make much money to start out. Some authors never make any money at all when you factor in printing costs, marketing campaigns, etc. Although, there are some methods that are either free or very cheap to use. It's up to you which route you go.

So what can you do to be a successful indie author? Find the cheapest resources out there! EBooks will cost you nothing to make and you can sell them on sites like Smashwords and Docstoc, or promote them on Scribd and Calmeo. Squidoo is a wonderful free site that you can use to advertise your books and include links to your online store, whether that is your website or one of the others listed above. If you do decide to go with a pod company make sure their reputable and are not a scam!

I hope I have given you enough information to, at least, begin thinking about going a less traditional route with your books. Of course, it's up to you to decide which route is right for you. Several authors have made it big with the traditional houses and you could too. As long as you keep writing and believing in your dreams, you'll be a published author in no time.

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Hi, Tiffany Craig here, I hope you enjoyed this story brought to you by the wonderful people at Craiganmore Books. If you would like to read more works by our talented authors, or if you would like to connect with them, please visit any of the following:

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