Jodi Whitehurst

In short, indie publishing means independent publishing. The lines between self publishing and indie publishing have become blurred, which makes it a confusing topic for many writers. At one time, the term “indie publishing” meant utilizing a small press that allowed hopeful authors to retain the rights to their work. Now indie publishing is the new IT phrase for any publishing outside of the “Big Five” (Penguin Random House, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, and Hachette Book Group). Nearly every writing conference will now have a session on indie publishing.

So, let’s break it down. The true indicator of indie publishing is power. The writer has power over her writing, over her publishing process (somewhat), and over the number of books printed. Power is what writers want, right? Well, that also means power over media and marketing, and many new authors are just not sure how to sell their books. In addition to this, power comes with a price tag. The author will need to pay for book printing and other services as well, such as cover design.

Many authors choose indie publishing because being published by one of the Big Five can feel like an impossible feat. Even with an agent– the Big Five rarely, if ever, take query letters from individuals– new authors are rarely accepted. In addition, writers are frustrated by the hurdles and wait times. Taking control of publishing is an appealing option, and indie publishing doesn’t wear the same stigma that “self publishing” has in the past.

I am currently writing a book and navigating the waters of publishing. I do have a small publisher interested in my book, but if they don’t make a tantalizing offer, I may do it all on my own. With so many options, it’s an extraordinary time to be a writer.