In my previous post, I went off on a tirade about the various pitfalls coming out of modern indie. But indie authors are still our greatest hope.
Big book publishers (and other establishment cronies), when in control, pretend to challenge “the establishment” by creating strawmen to knock down. They sustain this lie for as long as possible. They want you to think you’re standing up to The Man when in actuality you’re standing with The Man. It’s incredible how often people fall for this ruse.
But the moment the political wind starts blowing a different direction, they change their tune to adapt to New Popular Stance, pretending they believed it all along. Fair weather followers.
Those brave enough to self-publish stand the best chance at not only taking back the culture, but writing a classic that stands the test of time. Independence brings full control over your narrative, the freedom to take risks on new ideas that major publishers would deem too controversial or risky.
You want fresh voices? Fresh ideas? Chances are, you’re looking in all the wrong places. You won’t find anything too inspiring on streaming services or in big publishing houses. At least not right now.
The latest pendulum swing overstayed its welcome and lasted so long, the masks came off completely. Those in power made no qualms about wanting to keep the pendulum frozen in time forever, and started wielding the power it granted like a bludgeon, banning and shaming and humiliating en masse.
But the moment they realized they might be on the receiving end of the next bludgeoning, they heel-turned on all the morals they claimed to stand for. It was never about principles; Morality is not a fluid concept. If your morals change with the fair weather, that means you never knew right from wrong in the first place.
That’s why the great visionaries never lose sight of the truth. They see beyond the rhetoric that surrounds them.
The writing world doesn’t get revolutionized by a book that cozies up to the status quo. Maybe on the short term it sells well. But that’s it.
So forge forth, indie authors! Delve into the unexplored depths of storytelling. Dig into character motivations and experiences to create a more nuanced world that truly immerses readers. Transport them away from this everyday mundane reality and the ever-changing fluid morals of “Modern Audiences”, and you’ll be right on track.
Nick Enlowe 