Today’s post is part of Indie Life, a blog hop hosted by the Indelibles. Click here to see a full list of participating blogs.
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By now, fellow indie authors, you must have realized how being an indie author is similar to running the space program. Oh, you didn’t? Let me explain.
- Much like NASA scientists, most indie writers have unrealistic concepts about money, making it impossible to write a budget or manage the financial side of what we do.
- We indie authors set deadlines that sound reasonable, provide plenty of time to check and double check our work, and ensure our story/spaceship is at peak performance, but somehow we always end up behind schedule. Maybe it’s due to the weather, maybe it’s due to technological snafus, or maybe it’s because we spend too much time “working” on Angry Birds: Space and lose track of the other stuff we’re supposed to be doing.
- Just as getting accurate data about the hydrocarbon content of Martian soil may not sound exciting to the general public, some people may not realize how important one book sale, one new contact, one re-tweet, or one positive review on Amazon can be. Sure, it’s not the same as landing on the Moon, but every small achievement gets us just a little tiny bit closer to our ultimate goal, and those small achievement are always worth celebrating.
- There will always be someone who thinks this (the space program or the life of an indie writer) is a waste of time and money. Those people are frustrating, but we have to try to ignore them. If they don’t understand the value of such bold and ambitious endeavors, they probably never will.
So whatever kind of writing you may be doing or whatever dreams you may have, remember to keep shooting for the stars.
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Like the end of your post, and hope everyone keeps shooting for the stars!
I understand about the unexpected delays in publishing – I had my pc crash two weeks before my self-publish date. Somehow I powered through anyway. I’ve already invested in more backing up my stuff more, and I plan on giving myself an extra month for “unexpected” setbacks next time.
That is a very wise plan. I try to factor in extra time as well, and yet too often I fall behind schedule anyway.
LOL! I love it. Sometime pushing that “publish” button is eerily similar to strapping yourself to a 5 megaton bomb (aka the Space Shuttle) and launching yourself into space!
And thanks for joining Indie Life!
I’m so glad Indie Life is a thing, and I’m glad it is thriving. This publishing business (aka strapping yourself to a bomb) feels much safer knowing I’m not the only one doing it.
Brilliant post! I kept nodding my indie loving head… “so true, so true.”
LOL. Thanks so much for visiting!
Indie publishing, the Space Program, Fine Arts Curriculum in schools…nobody thinks any of that is important anymore. Or they sure as heck don’t fund them if they do. Good post, James.
Fortunately there are still people who think these things are important. It’s a shame so few of them hold public office at the moment, but they’re out there nonetheless. It’s not just fine arts that are suffering; schools are cutting back on their science programs as well. Now I know my life story is not typical, but without both the fine arts AND science classes I had in high school the career I have today would never have been possible for me. What’s worse, I’d never have even known what I was missing. We need to expose kids to a wide range of subjects, not limit their skills to taking tests and writing resumes.
Really cool, analogies, James. Interesting that you use the space programme. In effect self-pubbers are shooting for the stars and beyond. 🙂
I think I might have lost my first comment, unless you have comment modification. Anyhow, I said that self-publishing is akin to space exploration. We’re basically aiming for the stars and beyond.
Sorry about whatever happened to your comment. I have comment moderation turned off, so I can’t explain it. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post, and thanks so much for visiting!
Awesome! We’re pioneers, exploring new territory! What a thrill.
I should’ve added that to the list. Indie publishing is very much new territory!
Very cool post! I will definitely keep on reaching for the stars. Sabotaged dead-lines have everything to do with little green men. They mess everything up.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
Found you through Indie Life.
I love Indie Life. It’s so exciting to meet so many fellow writers. Thanks for visiting!
I live in tiny achievements now, thank you for reminding me that they are worth celebrating:)
My motto (at least for my life as a writer) is “slow and steady.” I’m still taking my first small steps, but each one feels like a giant leap.
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