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| Photo credit: its caleb on Flickr |
Not too long ago, we lived in a time where writers were
forced into a scheme of delayed gratification. We would hole up in our writing
spaces for hours, weeks, months, even years slaving over a novel while giving
up time with our families/ friends/ video games/ television shows/
extra-curriculars in order to finish the darned book. We would then submit to
agents and maybe, if it was the right time, months later we’d have
representation. After that—editing, then submission to publishers, more
editing, until the glorious book contract sat on our kitchen countertops,
waiting to be signed.
After that, eventual publication. You know, in a year or
two.
Now things are a little different. Although the delayed
gratification traditional publishing scheme is certainly still an option, it is
now just that—an option.
With the advent of upload-now-insta-publish indie publishing
upon us, suddenly it is up to us—the writers—whether or not to delay the
gratification of being published. The power, my friends, is in your hands.
Now that’s not to say that indie authors are avoiding
delayed gratification altogether—there’s still the matter of writing the book
which is anything but instant, but from there writers have a choice: do you
publish now? Spend a couple months (or years) editing? Go the traditional
route?
Why delay our gratification at all?
I don’t need to tell you that the temptation for instant
gratification is there—most of us know by now how to prepare and upload a book
onto Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords and even if you don’t, it’s not
difficult to find out how. But should you?
Friday’s post will cover my thoughts on delayed
gratification, but first I want to hear from you.
