Can I be independent?

I've gone from considering self-publishing to seriously considering self-publishing. I have been waiting to hear back from a few publishers for what feels like ages. Once picked up by a publisher, it would still be a long road before seeing my novel in print.

I'm not considering the self-publishing route because it's faster and I'm impatient. Although I would like to make money as an author, that's not my highest priority either. The thing that attracted me most to traditional publishing was that the publisher would take care of all the editing, formatting, cover design, and maybe even do some marketing. If I'm going to be independent, then I need to hire all these things out or learn to do them myself.

Since I use Scrivener, I figured formatting my novel would be no big deal. Except that editors use Microsoft Word which makes it easy to show which changes were made. The thought of taking my manuscript from Word and somehow getting it back nicely into Scrivener makes my head spin. Plus, I'd like to make my novel look a little more special, which makes Word the better choice for formatting. But now I'm trying to figure out how to set the paper size, embed fonts, and hide headers on new chapter pages in Word. It's frustrating.

For each manuscript I've drafted, I like to make a little cover graphic to keep me motivated. As I got further along in the process of writing, editing, and submitting my first novel, I've actually made a pretty eye-catching cover. I'm no graphic designer though, so perhaps I'm just too close to it and my cover made with Gimp (which I have as much love for as Word) is actually terrible. Perhaps hiring a cover designer would be a good idea.

I do know for sure I would need a professional editor. I went ahead and found a few who are currently doing a sample edit. I've heard recommendations here and there that writers should get their manuscripts professionally edited before starting submissions to get traditionally published. But from where I stand, editing will be the biggest expense to get my novel ready for sale. If I'm spending that much up front, maybe I should do it all myself.

I've researched making a business, tax consideration, and the fun math accounting stuff. Maybe I really can do this on my own.

Except I know nothing about marketing. But other indie authors have said the best way to market your first book is to have a second (and third) book. I've already got that second book, and it's ready for line edits. I think I can make a go at this. We'll have to see.

Too busy for fiction

While my personal life has been a bit of a whirlwind, I've set aside a lot of activities while trying to heal. Although I haven't abandoned writing, I've been doing a lot of journaling, and not a lot of fiction drafting. I want to get back into a writing routine, but it still might take me a while.

My son started full day preschool, and with him gone during the day I thought I'd be able to get a lot more done. Lack of motivation aside, that hasn't quite been the case. I still have my daughter with me and she's full of energy and in the terrible twos. Whatever I'm doing, whether it's cleaning, typing, or getting dressed, she is right there trying to help. It's sweet, but finding time for writing during the day is still hard.

I've still been getting responses from agents and publishers on my first novel. Though I haven't gotten an offer, the feedback has been really positive. But the idea of continuing to query this particular manuscript makes my stomach turn. I was very thoughtful about who I sent submissions to and don't want to send my book to anyone who wouldn't be a great fit.

In the meantime, I have been researching self publishing. The success of some self published career authors gives me hope that maybe this would work for my writing career. I could pursue self publishing for my first book, or I could get my second finished manuscript ready for submission and focus on that one instead. I'm not sure; I need to think about it.

Pen Names

Early on, before finishing the first draft of my first book, I knew I didn't want to use a pen name. I've stuck to this decision so far, but after doing some research on my name, I thought I might have to.

At first, I wanted my work to be discoverable by friends and family. Everyone that I've ever known should go out and buy my books! Of course, the flaw in this plan is that they still won't know that I wrote a book until I somehow communicate this information to them. Or maybe some stalker types my name into Google and will find the books I've written. But honestly, I'd like this future stalker to buy my book as well.

After using "Elizabeth Martin" on all my queries and submissions, I decided to check and make sure there wasn't another already published author using my name. I found four. They write in a variety of genres, none in science fiction. But once I ask people to look up my book, I don't want them to type my name and buy the first novel that comes up... which probably won't be mine (at least at first).

Next, I checked variations of my name, and everything was either already taken or very similar to another author. I don't want to use a pen name dissimilar to my name. I know it says Victoria Smitherson is the author, but I swear I actually wrote it!

I kept looking up variations of my name and potential pen names until I finally checked my nickname, "Beth".  Although it doesn't have enough characters to stretch across the width of a paperback cover, it is easy to remember. And that will be important when I meet new people and network, and tell them to check out my novel. Just search my name-- it will be the top result.

At least that's the plan for now. I'm still waiting to hear back from a few more publishers.