On being an indie

versus... getting an agent

Spoiler alert— I’m basically going to advocate for both. Hear me out.

But first, let’s draw a couple of cards from the Southern Botanic Oracle, because duh, ‘tis the season. Happy spring and Ostara, everyone! 🌷

Spanish Moss, for self-expression and flow, and Periwinkle, for leaving a legacy. OK well damn, we are right on topic…. this oracle does not lie. Because what are we really concerned with as creatives, as artists?

To be seen and heard, and ultimately to make a difference with those messages.

For many years I painted and wrote (and cooked, and built things, and sewed) “as a hobby,” as other people put it, but the things I made were in fact messages that I needed to share—and more than what I think the word hobby deserves. And I was right.*

Well, except for the sewing, which remains strictly in the inept hobby category, trust me. But back to the writing.

When I first came out with The Southern Gothic Oracle on Kickstarter, it was only about a year later that a very prominent publisher of tarot decks approached me, and inquired whether they might acquire the deck. I was elated! I was flattered! I was dancing around the house!

….. until my partner sat me down and asked all the important questions, albeit gently. These were his questions.

• Why are you elated? (because of course I am! They want me!)

• Who is they? Why do they matter? (This is the mainstream, baby! This puts me in the canon!)

• Was it not enough that hundreds of souls bought the deck from you and wrote rave reviews of it? (I mean, yes of course, but what about millions?)

• Does quantity matter to you? (I mean I want to reach as many people…)
  Because it definitely matters to them, as they’ll be taking 95% of your profits. (Me: silence)

Ultimately, I turned away the publisher, and the next publisher after that. Yes, there were a few, and yes, I was flattered (at first). But finally after becoming a publisher myself, and signing on others, I can honestly state the two—and only two— reasons for signing with a publisher. And they’re both totally valid.

Two reasons for signing with a publisher

1. The reach they can offer you (see our two cards above: flow, and legacy). Note that the importance of this has to be greater for you than the monetary income you imagine you’ll earn.

2. Because you would prefer that this work not become your day job. There are huge reasons for this: Perhaps you have the right day job already, or you are very busy with personal obligations such as caregiving. For most artists, this is because they want to keep creating, and not be bogged down with marketing.

Two reasons for staying indie

1. The freedom of expression (again, see see our two cards above: flow, and legacy). Ain’t no editor going to tell you that you cain’t say ain’t. Do whatever you like, fly your freak flag, ain’t no corporate committee going to hold you back.

2. Because you do actually want this to be your day job. You love the idea of ditching that thing you do every day in service of someone else, and packaging and shipping your work—as well as hauling it to the post office—sounds awesome to you.

Am I biased toward the latter, because it’s the path I chose for myself? Not anymore, actually. I long to have more time to create new projects, and sometimes I get bogged down by the demands of emails and fulfillment and customer service.

I am going both ways now… agented for some things, and indie for others.

I’m doing both! I am so pleased to have been signed by Three Seas Literary Agency, who will be helping me reach publishers for my written work. More on these pursuits in another post.

And the best part? My agent, also named Stacey (always trust a Stacey) is supportive of my staying indie with some things, and going mainstream with others. That’s a real partnership and I am very pleased about this.

Weigh in, other creatives. What are your thoughts and notions about staying indie?

Also, speak as readers. Do you have biases toward (or against) independently published works? Why or why not?

Stacey

* Without darting off too far into what constitutes a “hobby” and why I hate that word, just suffice it to say I find that to be a fairly derisive word.