The emotions that go along with self-publishing

When Donnell asked me to guest blog, she asked if I could "talk about the joys, the sorrows, the pitfalls, and finally the absolute thrill of taking the initiative to seize an opportunity within a changing industry."

How could I say no to that? First, I love her phrasing. (You can tell she's a writer.) Tomorrow it will be four weeks since my debut party at my joint blog, Magical Musings www.magicalmusings.com/.

Sorrow: So far I don't have any sorrow in this choice. I don't see how I will have sorrow down the road either. Not on this road.

What gave me sorrow was the old road I was traveling. I've been published in short fiction (print magazines in the '90s), nonfiction, and even greeting cards. I've won contests and I've finaled in a major contest. I've had four agents. I've had close brushes with selling, and it was becoming apparent to me that "the Call" from a major NY publishing house wasn't going to happen.

What frustrated me was that it wasn't the quality of my work, but the fact that NY editors are looking for certain types of books. My books don't fit their parameters. (Although I do have a couple of books with editors. I nearly forgot.)

Joy: Let me count the ways. The same day I announced on the GIAM site that I was going indie, I received an email from a newer member who I didn't know well, and she offered to do my cover. For free. I thanked her and said yes. I didn't ask to see her work. It felt like I'd be questioning a gift. And just look at the fabulous cover! For more information on this fabulous author, check out Laura Morrigan www.lauramorrigan.com.

Two different people asked to format my books for me for Smashwords and Amazon. More joy.

I wanted to put out the best book I could, and six writers read it for me. My joy bubbled over.

I told my CPs, one of whom was Michelle Diener, www.michellediener.com/ that I needed a new website. My old designer had quit the business. I wanted one that was in WordPress so I could update it myself. I got referrals for designers and had contacted one when Michelle emailed me and said she'd design it for me. Amazing joy!

And then Amy Atwell www.amyatwell.com was about to teach a networking class on GIAM. She suggested writing a debut party event invite on the GIAM Facebook to show how it should be done. Swoon. Fabulous Joy!

She got me off to a wonderful start. The first two weeks, I sold a small rush of books, and then there came a lull. But I never thought Cattitude would be a instant bestseller. I'm in this for the long run. I'm revising my next book, and I've been told that's the best thing I can do. Once that's done, I'll work on promo.

I can't forget Zoe Winters www.zoewinters.org, who saw the advantages of self-publishing more than two years before I did, and was doing well with just three novellas. She freely shared her knowledge with me. Fantabulous joy!

Pitfalls: I know the promo will be an ongoing thing, and I'd much rather write than promote. But most print writers I know are doing a lot of their own promotion. And the great thing about self-publishing is that no one is going to take Cattitude off the shelves in a month or two and replace it with another book. I have time to build my career and let word of mouth sell my book.

A couple times these past weeks, there have been announcements that agents/editors were taking pitches on blogs. Do you remember the scene in "When Harry Met Sally" when Sally (Meg Ryan) calls her best friend, Marie (Carrie Fisher), confused and distressed because she'd slept with Harry, and he couldn't wait to leave? Meanwhile, Harry is telling his side to his best friend, Jess (Bruno Kirby) who's Marie's fianće and is in the bed next to her? When they hang up, Marie tuns to Jess and says:

"Tell me I'll never have to be out there again."

He replies, "You'll never have to be out there again."

That's how I feel, a huge relief. I'll never have to be out there again. Not because I've found a husband, er, an agent or an editor. But because I've taken control of my own publishing career. I don't need that agent or that editor. Sure, I'll make mistakes--the pitfalls that Donnell mentioned--but I've also heard horror stories from friends who are published in print.

I won't repeat them, but if you want to know more about that end, go to Dean Wesley Smith's www.deanwesleysmith.com/ or J.A. Konrath's www.jakonrath.com/ blogs.

I'm empowered by my decision. Not all of it is a joy, but having wonderful friends and a way to take control of my own destiny... No question. It's absolute, amazing, fantastic, fantabulous joy.

Edie Ramer
Proud Indie Author of CATTITUDE
http://edieramer.com