The holidays got me thinking ...
Hey, I hadn’t planned this, but I keep finding out stuff and I felt compelled to make a few changes to my About Page.
So here’s the revised portion (with changes indicated in italics):
What I Can Do for You
As a free subscriber, you’ll get the first look at my Honest Indie blog posts, occasional book reviews, reprints of my old columns (which remain surprisingly relevant), and other random links of possible interest.
As a paid subscriber, you’ll get access to my private Facebook Group for creators, as well as updates on my marketing efforts. I’m hoping to set up a collaborative space in which indie authors can find resources to assist them and share advice with one another. Hopefully, one that’s not on Facebook, at some point.
I’m currently weighing the benefits of building a community here versus one on Mighty Networks. The latter uses what I imagine might be the algorithms used to match people using a dating service to promote networking opportunities for folks with similar or complementary interests. It’s an intriguing concept. For all I know, this might be happening in all sorts of places online.
My goal is to create a community for indie authors and other indie creators to share their experiences and exchange ideas for marketing that go beyond simply appeasing Big Tech’s algorithms.
Rather than rehash all the usual arguments about going Amazon exclusive or not, I’d advise you to read this article by Smashwords founder Mark Coker. It’s from 2018, but just as relevant today as it was that fateful day in 2011, when Amazon virtually demanded we give them exclusive rights to our content.
I chose to go wide and, frankly, suffered tremendous financial losses as a result. And I get the distinct impression that I’m not alone in dealing with that situation. I’m intend to tell people my story, whether Amazon or anyone else wants to hear it.
The time has come to pool our resources.
I’ve been an indie author since 2009. The bottom line is, I’m not exactly a publishing newbie. And I believe as indie authors, we should seek new and different ways to connect with our readership. Ways that go beyond simply pricing our work so low and giving away so much, that we reduce the results our hard-earned efforts to mere commodities.
Along with writing novels, I’ve written a couple of film review collections. In fact, I’ve been writing screenplays and learning the ins and outs of that business. Indie filmmakers and podcasters have a great deal of experience and unique perspective to offer indie authors. And many of them aren’t huge fans of Amazon, either.
I’ve also observed that collaboration with other creators can provide major benefits to all parties involved, but can also produce quality work more efficiently. There are also possibilities for creating cross-promotions with others who have the same or different skill sets.
Along with opportunities to collaborate, I hope to establish a regular schedule of mastermind groups. Mastermind groups are not workshops, coaching, therapy, taking but not giving back, or bitch sessions.
Here’s what I’m talking about:
Mastermind Groups: What Are They, and How Can They Help You Grow Your Business?
Here’s one from Mighty Networks.
Take one or teach one? :)
I hope you’ll find this helpful. Among other things, I’ll discuss the decisions I’m making. I’ll keep you updated on my own progress. Hopefully, rumors of the death of indie publishing have been exaggerated.
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That’s it.
PS: Happy holidays! Buy from your local bookstore! Or buy from my online bookstore and support indie bookstores!