The old publishing system is dying. We indies know it, because we’re able to get our work out there, into the hands of thousands of readers a month, and make money from it. That’s publishing in a nutshell. If traditional publishing wasn’t going down the toilet, we wouldn’t be able to do that.
On the flip side of that, the fact we’re independently publishing our work is helping them along at the same time.
Yesterday my fellow Kindle All-Stars were at Wizard World comic-con in Philadelphia.
Alexander Maisey wrote a post about the experience, to which William Vitka wrote a follow up.
At the end, V said “We’ll give you something to be scared of…” and I think that just about sums up the hunger in the gut of every writer trying to have their voice be heard. Every writer getting their stories into the hands of readers. Underdogs cast down by traditional publishing who have found a way to bypass that jaded old system and take control themselves.
As independents, we have respect for what came before. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. But the old guard have nothing but contempt for the fresh blood entering the ring. They want to see us fall at every hurdle.
They just don’t understand we’re not going anywhere. It’s time to take us serious.
As Bernard said over a year ago now, “You’ve had a good run. Now get out of our way.”
Tony Healey 