I’m a fan of Indie Author Cooperatives: I’ve been in the Indelibles from the start in 2011 and joined the Emblazoners (Indie MG) last year. And, of course, I run an indie author cooperative on NetGalley. In the last year, I’ve joined several (closed, private) author groups on Facebook, where authors of like minds (by genre or experience) gather together to share information.
But a group of four indie authors (Stacey Longo, Dale T. Phillips, Vlad V., Ursula Wong) are doing something cool I haven’t seen before: working cooperatively to help each other with editing and covers, as well as support, knowledge, and marketing. They reached out to me, so I asked them to write something up about their unique group and how it works.
~*~
Once upon a
time, there were four writers, each struggling on their own to get their
stories out to the world. And it was tough. Each writer needed editing, good
covers, more knowledge, and had to market each work individually.
time, there were four writers, each struggling on their own to get their
stories out to the world. And it was tough. Each writer needed editing, good
covers, more knowledge, and had to market each work individually.
Then Vlad and
Dale met at the New England
Author’s Expo,
a perfect venue for networking. Dale had some books out with small presses, and
Vlad had just self-published his first book. They discovered a like-mindedness,
and a dedication to quality work and professionalism that soared far above the
norm for self-publishers.
Dale met at the New England
Author’s Expo,
a perfect venue for networking. Dale had some books out with small presses, and
Vlad had just self-published his first book. They discovered a like-mindedness,
and a dedication to quality work and professionalism that soared far above the
norm for self-publishers.
They started
sharing information, and ventured to a nearby writer’s group, where they met
Ursula. She hadn’t published anything at that time, but her talent was
apparent, and her work improved by leaps and bounds. She carefully considered
feedback, and each draft was so much better that it didn’t take long before she
published her first story, and then another. Soon she had written her first
book, and was seeking information on how to publish.
sharing information, and ventured to a nearby writer’s group, where they met
Ursula. She hadn’t published anything at that time, but her talent was
apparent, and her work improved by leaps and bounds. She carefully considered
feedback, and each draft was so much better that it didn’t take long before she
published her first story, and then another. Soon she had written her first
book, and was seeking information on how to publish.
They realized the
writer’s group didn’t offer the help they needed as their work progressed. So
Vlad, Dale, and Ursula joined forces. Soon, they were collaborating on more and
more projects. Everyone had to step up their game, because their editing of
each other’s work was fierce, the kind of structured, forced story critiques
that might sting at first, but are necessary for growth. Sometimes the truth
hurts, but it is better to hear it from a friend who will help you improve the
material, than from a bad review by a disgruntled reader.
writer’s group didn’t offer the help they needed as their work progressed. So
Vlad, Dale, and Ursula joined forces. Soon, they were collaborating on more and
more projects. Everyone had to step up their game, because their editing of
each other’s work was fierce, the kind of structured, forced story critiques
that might sting at first, but are necessary for growth. Sometimes the truth
hurts, but it is better to hear it from a friend who will help you improve the
material, than from a bad review by a disgruntled reader.
They carefully studied techniques for
improving not just the writing, but the packaging and selling of books. They
shared a superb, affordable cover artist, started working bookselling
opportunities together, and improved everyone’s reach in the market. They communicated mostly via email, but got to know each
other over home cooked dinners.
improving not just the writing, but the packaging and selling of books. They
shared a superb, affordable cover artist, started working bookselling
opportunities together, and improved everyone’s reach in the market. They communicated mostly via email, but got to know each
other over home cooked dinners.
Vlad and Dale soon met Stacey, who
owned a bookstore and was a long-time writer and editor. There was instant
chemistry, and Stacey joined the group, adding her prodigious editing skills
and industry knowledge. Of course, bribing her with gourmet chocolate might
have influenced her decision to join.
owned a bookstore and was a long-time writer and editor. There was instant
chemistry, and Stacey joined the group, adding her prodigious editing skills
and industry knowledge. Of course, bribing her with gourmet chocolate might
have influenced her decision to join.
Each person brought something
wonderful to the mix, adding skills and abilities that made the whole better
than the sum of its parts. Since we’re a co-ed team, we can scan both male and
female characters for believability, which is a huge boon to rounding out rough
edges. Each person reads with a
different eye, and picks up something that would have been missed otherwise. So
far, there hasn’t been any clash of egos, because we realize we’re all rowing
this boat in the same direction. We want to succeed in getting quality work
published and sold to as wide an audience as possible.
wonderful to the mix, adding skills and abilities that made the whole better
than the sum of its parts. Since we’re a co-ed team, we can scan both male and
female characters for believability, which is a huge boon to rounding out rough
edges. Each person reads with a
different eye, and picks up something that would have been missed otherwise. So
far, there hasn’t been any clash of egos, because we realize we’re all rowing
this boat in the same direction. We want to succeed in getting quality work
published and sold to as wide an audience as possible.
The
four of us have broad reach in different states, different genres, and
different story lengths, which extends our collective reach. Every one has book
projects that now move along faster with help and support. We work four times
faster, and four times harder. We get the answers we need without slowing down.
four of us have broad reach in different states, different genres, and
different story lengths, which extends our collective reach. Every one has book
projects that now move along faster with help and support. We work four times
faster, and four times harder. We get the answers we need without slowing down.
Stacey says “I
know that when I send out a story to our group of four, I will get in return
valuable, high-quality feedback on content and storyline that will ultimately
make my writing better.”
know that when I send out a story to our group of four, I will get in return
valuable, high-quality feedback on content and storyline that will ultimately
make my writing better.”
Most of our collaboration is
informal. Each of us work and publish as separate entities, although we are
collaborating on our first collection of short stories (Insanity Tales, due in October 2014). Because we are sharing the
writing, we have contracts formalizing the business aspects such as copyright,
allocation of profits, and responsibility.
informal. Each of us work and publish as separate entities, although we are
collaborating on our first collection of short stories (Insanity Tales, due in October 2014). Because we are sharing the
writing, we have contracts formalizing the business aspects such as copyright,
allocation of profits, and responsibility.
So consider working collaboratively.
Finding like-minded writers in classes and workshops, and forging new
relationships can make the road easier for both new and established authors.
Finding like-minded writers in classes and workshops, and forging new
relationships can make the road easier for both new and established authors.
Even loose collaboration saves time, reduces cost, and
improves the quality of books. As Vlad says, “collaborating
can be the solution to keeping your Indie fire stoked and white-hot.”
improves the quality of books. As Vlad says, “collaborating
can be the solution to keeping your Indie fire stoked and white-hot.”
Personally, we
think of our collaboration partners as family, and in a good way.
think of our collaboration partners as family, and in a good way.
Will
this story have a happy ending? We sure hope so – and so far, the odds are
good.
this story have a happy ending? We sure hope so – and so far, the odds are
good.
For
a further discussion on the benefits of collaboration, see the guest post on
the site of Joe Konrath, Giving Our Way to Success
by Dale T. Phillips and Vlad V.
a further discussion on the benefits of collaboration, see the guest post on
the site of Joe Konrath, Giving Our Way to Success
by Dale T. Phillips and Vlad V.
Who We Are
Stacey
Longo (http://www.staceylongo.com)
Longo (http://www.staceylongo.com)
Stacey is the author of Secret Things(a collection of horror) and the editor of Wicked Seasons. Her novel Ordinary
Boy is due out in early 2015 from Dark Alley Press.
Check
out Dale’s story
collections listed
on his website:
www.daletphillips.com or the latest Zack Taylor mystery, A Shadow on the Wall.
out Dale’s story
collections listed
on his website:
www.daletphillips.com or the latest Zack Taylor mystery, A Shadow on the Wall.
Vlad V. (http://thevlad.net)
SALE!
All of Vlad’s ebooks are just 99 cents for a limited time! Buy The Button, Brachman’sUnderworld,
and Yorick at rock-bottom
prices!
All of Vlad’s ebooks are just 99 cents for a limited time! Buy The Button, Brachman’sUnderworld,
and Yorick at rock-bottom
prices!
Purple Trees (Haunted Mystery)
Susan, thank you for so graciously hosting us here, and for the advice you offer. Like you, we enjoy helping other writers and sharing knowledge, not just within our group. I've had your Indie Author Survival Guide listed at the top of the resource list on my website, as one of the books necessary for writers to absorb.
It's a wonderful age where writers can cooperate, not compete, or have to got it alone in a solitary profession.
My pleasure! And thank you for spreading the word about the IASG! I don't advertise that book because I want it to be truly word-of-mouth from one author who found it useful to another. Thanks for making that happen!
I second that!
Oh good stuff! I've been talking about such a group with my partner (a woman, Italian, and former New Yorker…I've got it covered). The biggest problem with indie writing is the loss of that support that gives the trad publisher an advantage. A co-op removes that advantage and, I think, creates an even stronger level of support, since each you are dependent on the the success of the group, whereas a publisher can dump you at the first sign of lost sales. Hey, thanks for sharing. I'll remember the chocolate should I need a good bribe.
Thanks for the comment, Ron. Let us know how things work out.
That was my thought, Ron.
I love how indies are making new rules and trying new things. Plus, indies (like you!) are so great about sharing what they learn. I'm curious to see how this works out.
Thanks, Julie! Sharing information is one of the things that's so great about being indie. We can share what works and what doesn't work, helping one another avoid pitfalls and embrace successes. It has really been a great advantage across the board, and makes the journey that much more enjoyable. Let's face it, writing can be a bit of a manic endeavor; it's a lot easier when you have people in your corner who can push you to continually improve.