Some of the best books are written by indie authors. Whether you’ve read indie books before or you’re considering picking up a new book by an indie author, here’s some reasons why it’s a good thing to do.
The Author Owns The Whole Story – You’re supporting a book that was written entirely by the author (and not tainted by a team hired by a big publishing company). No one else took the story and tweaked it in ways that would make it more marketable to a wider audience. When you buy indie, you can be assured that you’re reading the original story that the author created. This can be a con to people who prefer a more curated manuscript, but if you like raw then indie’s the way to go!
Indie Authors Don’t Have Our Own Marketing Team – Indie authors write, publish, and promote their own books! In general, most of us find this part fun, but it’s not easy to find interested readers willing to pay for our work. Each time we gain a new reader, this allows us to be a step closer to reaching our dream – to have someone read our work.
You’re Allowing Creative Freedom – Buying an indie book is akin to supporting a small business. Reading someone’s self-published work is supporting their creative freedom, because it encourages them to keep writing what they love. This one’s probably the most important reason for me!
Supporting A Small Business Is Cool – When you support a large company (We all do it from time to time – and sometimes there isn’t really a choice), you’re giving money to a corporation that pays employees a certain wage, so the dollars you’ve spent don’t usually have a real meaning to you. When you buy from a self-published author or any small creative business, you’re supporting someone’s ability to make their own income. Your dollar goes further when you buy local or support someone’s art. If an indie author makes $100 in a week, most of that income is going directly to them (70% if they’re published on Amazon). That’s pretty cool to think about. If a traditionally published author makes $100 in a week, a larger percentage is going to go to the publishing company.
You Get To Read Someone’s Raw Creation – It hasn’t been overly edited or controlled by someone else in the industry. If a work is 100% indie, you’re getting 100% of the author’s original idea which is cool in my opinion.
Indie Books Are Unique – Indie books can be the most unique, inspiring stories you’ll ever read. Indie authors invest a lot of time (and sometimes money) to present a good quality book for readers. Self-published books can be raw, even a bit unpolished, at times, but that’s the beauty of them. It’s art. The story is 100% the intellectual property of the author. Even if it’s been professionally edited, it’s unlikely that the author allowed an editor to rewrite their story. An indie author has the freedom to reject an editor’s suggestions, so you’ll be reading their authentic work.
You’ll Make An Author’s Day – If you download an author’s book and let them know you’re reading it, or if you leave a review, it’s going to make their day. A traditionally published author might not even read their own reviews (Some say it’s wise not to read reviews once you’re famous), or they have so many reviews that it doesn’t feel special when a new one gets posted. When you review the work of a less known creative writer, they’ll see it and be very happy; your act of kindness won’t soon be forgotten.
Check me out on the other socials! ❤
***
(Photo source: Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com)
Musings Of A Wildflower 
I agree, buying an Indie author is showing the publishing industry there is another way. It is special to be able to create a book.
Yes that’s very true, 🙂 ❤
Those are very good points. That’s why trying to promote great indy-author books is a good idea. I am now reading a lot more indy-author books than I used to. However, in the past I’ve also read many great indy-author books. I just didn’t know they were indy-author books.
That’s so cool you didn’t know you read books that were indy at the time. I think that’s important to remember – a lot of readers don’t know that book is indy. It feels great to support them. 🙂
For the most part, the indie books I read are just not the same as the traditionally published books I read. There is an undefinable difference.
Yes it depends on what you’re looking for.