Looks like you already knew. I just hate to see people silenced by an antiquated system. The future needs to hear voices like yours, to speak their wisdom and insights across time, that is the beauty of writing.
I knew about most, but in this rapidly-changing landscape I wasn't aware of all of them, so this was helpful. But I agree 100% about the new era, I always feel sad to see people bogged down by the old system and having their dreams crushed as a result.
While there’s more publishing tools available than ever before words like “effortless” give me pause. Being your own publisher is no small task and it comes with a huge learning curve. My limited exposure to this realm is that people who view their writing as a business tend to do well. They are driven by sales, numbers, profits, and the joy that comes with running a successful business. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this mindset.
For writers who want to be the best at their craft and interact with readers, being their own publisher is no small feat. Ideally I’ll find a small publisher who has the expertise to guide me. I don’t need to earn money from my books so profit for me is strictly ego driven.
Thanks for sharing your excitement and knowledge for self publishing tools available. I may go that route. I’ll see what the future holds.
Well, I will put it this way, loving what you do certainly makes it feel effortless. I write without constraints, no one dictating what I should create, think about, or imagine. In 2024, that matters more than ever. As indie authors, we enjoy freedoms that the traditional publishing world could never offer us. Launchbooks rejected me, and multiple literary agents ignored both me and my work. As I looked around, I saw countless writers breaking away from the labyrinth of traditional publishing choosing to carve their own paths instead.
So, I stopped trying to navigate that convoluted backward system and focused on acquiring the tools and skills to transcend it. The era of these needless gatekeepers, agents, editors, sensitivity readers is over. It’s an antiquated structure built on the outdated notions of a paper based, pre-internet world that we no longer have to tolerate. For me, the choice to become my own publisher wasn’t just practical it was empowering! It’s about reclaiming control over the stories we tell and the worlds we create.
I respect and applaud your decision. I tried the literary agent route for my first book and it failed. Looking back at my writing I can see why. In the ensuing years the bar has only gotten higher and the timelines to get anything traditionally published have only grown longer. My health situation is also forcing me to look at timelines. Plan A is to look for a small publisher I can approach directly, though hybrid or self publishing are definitely on the table. I’ll have to see what I’ve figured out when I have a book in publishable condition. Right now my writing is on hold other than responding to others on Substack. It’s one thing that keeps me sane and grounded while I’m going through a long, slow convalescence process.
Taking care of your health is a priority I totally get it. At my age, I figure if I want to accomplish anything meaningful, it’s got to happen within the next twenty years, while my brain’s still firing on all cylinders lol! Taking the leap into publishing isn’t easy, but it’s definitely doable.
Responding to others on Substack is a meaningful way to stay connected and keep your creative spark alive, it’s no small thing. I would say take the time you need as you heal, and trust that your words will be waiting for you once you have recovered. Often, those quiet moments of reflection and recovery bring a profound depth to your writing down the road.
You take good care now.
Also (if you are interested) I documented most of my seven-year journey right here.
Great post Kenneth, thank you!
Looks like you already knew. I just hate to see people silenced by an antiquated system. The future needs to hear voices like yours, to speak their wisdom and insights across time, that is the beauty of writing.
I knew about most, but in this rapidly-changing landscape I wasn't aware of all of them, so this was helpful. But I agree 100% about the new era, I always feel sad to see people bogged down by the old system and having their dreams crushed as a result.
While there’s more publishing tools available than ever before words like “effortless” give me pause. Being your own publisher is no small task and it comes with a huge learning curve. My limited exposure to this realm is that people who view their writing as a business tend to do well. They are driven by sales, numbers, profits, and the joy that comes with running a successful business. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this mindset.
For writers who want to be the best at their craft and interact with readers, being their own publisher is no small feat. Ideally I’ll find a small publisher who has the expertise to guide me. I don’t need to earn money from my books so profit for me is strictly ego driven.
Thanks for sharing your excitement and knowledge for self publishing tools available. I may go that route. I’ll see what the future holds.
Well, I will put it this way, loving what you do certainly makes it feel effortless. I write without constraints, no one dictating what I should create, think about, or imagine. In 2024, that matters more than ever. As indie authors, we enjoy freedoms that the traditional publishing world could never offer us. Launchbooks rejected me, and multiple literary agents ignored both me and my work. As I looked around, I saw countless writers breaking away from the labyrinth of traditional publishing choosing to carve their own paths instead.
So, I stopped trying to navigate that convoluted backward system and focused on acquiring the tools and skills to transcend it. The era of these needless gatekeepers, agents, editors, sensitivity readers is over. It’s an antiquated structure built on the outdated notions of a paper based, pre-internet world that we no longer have to tolerate. For me, the choice to become my own publisher wasn’t just practical it was empowering! It’s about reclaiming control over the stories we tell and the worlds we create.
I respect and applaud your decision. I tried the literary agent route for my first book and it failed. Looking back at my writing I can see why. In the ensuing years the bar has only gotten higher and the timelines to get anything traditionally published have only grown longer. My health situation is also forcing me to look at timelines. Plan A is to look for a small publisher I can approach directly, though hybrid or self publishing are definitely on the table. I’ll have to see what I’ve figured out when I have a book in publishable condition. Right now my writing is on hold other than responding to others on Substack. It’s one thing that keeps me sane and grounded while I’m going through a long, slow convalescence process.
Taking care of your health is a priority I totally get it. At my age, I figure if I want to accomplish anything meaningful, it’s got to happen within the next twenty years, while my brain’s still firing on all cylinders lol! Taking the leap into publishing isn’t easy, but it’s definitely doable.
Responding to others on Substack is a meaningful way to stay connected and keep your creative spark alive, it’s no small thing. I would say take the time you need as you heal, and trust that your words will be waiting for you once you have recovered. Often, those quiet moments of reflection and recovery bring a profound depth to your writing down the road.
You take good care now.
Also (if you are interested) I documented most of my seven-year journey right here.
The Making Of the Novel “Awakening” Part 1 https://open.substack.com/pub/kennetheharrell/p/the-making-of-the-novel-awakening?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
The Making Of the Novel “Awakening” Part 2 https://open.substack.com/pub/kennetheharrell/p/the-making-of-the-novel-awakening-066?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
This post is a great reference. I will definitely refer to it if/when I get to my next book.