It’s tough being an indie. Not only do you contend with all of the normal ups and downs (and idiosyncrasies and neuroses) that go along with the writing life; very often, you’re also going it alone.
Indies don’t have publishing houses standing behind us. If you’re lucky (or independently wealthy), you’ve managed to hire a PR person to help you with marketing and author events. But even if you’re working with professional editors and cover artists, chances are you’re the one managing the entire publishing project?from the first word of your novel to the last press release announcing its launch.
That’s why I love the Northwest Independent Writers Association. (See, you knew I was leading up to something, right?) This group of indie writers pulled together just within the last couple of years to support each other in their writing and publishing ambitions and to share what they’ve learned along the way to help each other out.
NIWA has grown by leaps and bounds. We?because I’m a member and even a program director this year?host vendor tables at cons, hold monthly meetings that even include guest speakers, offer the NIWA Seal of Quality (NSQ) to help set the gold standard of indie publishing, hold occasional write-ins to make sure our members are actually writing, have a very active online forum, and a good bit more.
I first found NIWA about a year-and-a-half ago, and I was immediately impressed by the professional planning and objectives of the group. This isn’t a writers’ circle or critique group?though we have subgroups for that, too. NIWA is a serious (and seriously fun) organization dedicated to helping new indie authors get started and in pushing established writers to new heights.
As NIWA president emeritus Mike Chinakos said at the NIWA anniversary party this past January, indie authors shouldn’t feel like we have to ask permission of the traditional publishing industry to share our work with a hungry public. In the words of current president Adam Copeland, indie authors often have just as much drive, talent, and skill to “tell stories for the ages.”
If you’re an indie author looking for camaraderie, trust me, these are the people you want to hang with.
Granted, NIWA is based in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon?we switch off for meeting locations?and so isn’t geographically convenient to all indies across the nation and around the globe. But chances are there’s at least a Meetup group of indie authors in your neighborhood. Why not check out what’s available in your neck of the woods? If there’s nothing that appeals to you, start a gathering of your own. You don’t have to go it alone.
(But if you are in this area, NIWA has its next monthly meeting today! 3 p.m. at the Space Lounge in Portland.)
Creative Commons photo by TinManVII.
Hello! I’ve just discovered you through the Blogathon. I totally hear you on the difficulties of being an independent author! It feels very much like being a independent designer trying to launch your business with no marketing budget and no outside help! And I agree that a good support group from a likeminded community is priceless! Glad to see you’ve found one.
Thanks, Meg! Do you have a similar support structure for your business?
I’m an Indie from the Philippines. I’ve published two books for children here in our country and now I’m working on a book on energy healing. I don’t know if the Northwest Independent Writers Association accepts members from overseas, but I’ll certainly take a look at the website.
Rosanna: Let me check this out for you. I’ll let you know what I discover.
A member of NIWA for six months now, I’m chiming in to agree with Jennifer, because I’ve gotten so much from it already.