The decision is a big one, and it all depends on how much control you want over your work.
I looked over my newsletters and they are all geared toward the indie author. That is what I know, and for me, going indie was the right decision. But it might not be right for you.
When you are sending out query letter after query letter, the idea might flit across your mind, too. For me, the decision was easy. I simply had no other alternative. Fifteen years with an agent and no book published? After years of quick response from her, then one entire summer when she was in the hospital, all communication stopped. I believe my agent died. We were in a financial jam, my books were all I had to try to make money, the clock was ticking, and I had no intention of starting the hunt all over again.
It was time to pull the plug on the whole traditional publishing idea and self-publish. And it worked better than I ever dreamed.
The competition was not so fierce then. If you look back a couple newsletters, you will see that the total number of books on Amazon now is estimated to be 48.5 MILLION. It’s easy to get lost in the crowd, but if you’re indie, you have options and tools to gain attention. If you are traditionally published, you have to hope your publisher is willing to do what it takes to get your book noticed, because otherwise, you are pretty much on your own anyway.
When do you give up and go indie?
Here is the most concise rundown of the pros and cons of each. Joanna Penn has it both in written form and in video. Give it a listen or read it over because if you are going to keep writing, someday you will be faced with this very decision.
https://www.thecreativepenn.com/self-publishing-vs-traditional/
In the meantime, let’s get to work on our books. After all, without a book, you can’t publish anything!