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November is Entreprenuer Month
In 2011, President Obama recognized November as a month to celebrate the innovators, job creators, and small businesses that drive economic growth and inspire new industries.
Back in 2019, exactly 2,152 days ago I published this blog post. Next month will mark six years since I became an authorpreneur, and it is still surreal. My dream has grown into Amaryllis Co. Shop, Amaryllis Author Services, and the Amaryllis Author Collective. I published The Girl from Saint Petersburg and The Girl in the Triangle, released The Changemaker Journal, and in 2026, The Girl in the Newsroom will be released. Six years have changed a lot. There have been many accomplishments, but there is still much more to come. I am thankful for every single day that I get to share my love for literacy with readers and authors, and I thank all of you for joining me on this journey!
December 29, 2019: It’s Finally Here
I officially submitted my completed manuscript to an editor. One MFA, ten years, two kids and I’m finally turning my manuscript baby into my first published novel! The next six months will be rough as I go through my rounds of edits and begin the marketing journey. All while I still balance real life with a day job and family. But it’s finally going to happen and I can’t wait!
As I set up my author website, I’ve been thinking about what I want that to look like. One of the things I want is for this to be a place where I’m transparent about the indie author journey and what goes on behind the scenes. The reason for that is I’m publishing this way as a conscious choice, and I want others to understand that choice. Both as readers and as other writers contemplating self-publishing for themselves. There’s a stigma still attached to self-publishing. I’m hoping that by lifting this curtain, I can help alleviate some of those negative associations.
Like most other English majors and MFA grads, I always assumed traditional publishing was the only route worthy of considering. Self-published authors were sell outs who couldn’t hack it with the publishing industry, right? So, I put in my dues. I joined the Writer’s Guilds and attended conferences. I listened to the agent/editor panels and furiously took notes about what they were looking for, what it would take to get past the gatekeepers and I even paid to have my manuscript reviewed by agents and editors. But after awhile, I started to question why.
I knew plenty of writers. Extremely talented writers, sitting on amazing manuscripts, waiting for their chance to come. They sent out endless pitch letters just praying to be accepted. I even knew writers who HAD been picked up by agents only to have the process take years till publication. And then they were still responsible for all the marketing themselves and only claiming about 30% of each sale. I heard repeated over and over that writers don’t go in it for the money, it’s for the love of the art, right? But in this digital age where anyone with a voice and an internet connection can build a following should that really still be the case?
There are still self-published authors who give credence to the hack stigma. But there are also extremely talented, successful authors out there who either began in self-publishing and built careers or who are now leaving their traditional publishing houses to voluntarily self-publish moving forward. Why? Because it makes more financial sense for authors. AND it gives authors complete independence and authority over their work. Instead of having no control over their manuscript’s illustrator or cover designer, they can choose their artists and be part of the design and entire experience.
Authors can also choose how they earn their income. They can see more proceeds of their royalties by self-publishing. Or, they can diversify their earnings by publishing both ways. The point is, the author is in control. They’re no longer dependent on a big publishing house to get their work into the world. They CAN do it themselves. They can be an authorpreneur and treat their writing as the small business it can be.
As a society we applaud entrepreneurs and small business owners. So, I think it’s time that we relinquish that starving author image and instead encourage and support authorpreneurs to value themselves and their earnings potential. I look forward to sharing this journey with you, and I hope I encourage others to share their own work as well!
Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!
Check out the Amaryllis Co. Shop, fully stocked with custom designs perfect for every book loving Amaryllis Girl! From shirts, mugs, wine glasses, and more, I have curated a shop with all of my favorites! SHOP HERE! You can also find my collection of bookish merchandise on Etsy.
