Interview With An Aspiring Indie Author

Chelsea Jo, aspiring indie author. I really miss my red hair and this haircut!

Okay, transparent moment, I find it 100 times harder to write a blog post than I do a story!  Insane, I know, but my mind isn't quite wrapped around the idea of sticking to a topic, without going on a tangent.  In the end, I stayed on topic by interviewing myself, what can I say, creative solutions.  Well, now that that is out of the way, let's talk about the first step in my journey to becoming an Indie Author.

Obsidian Sky: First question: You're not published, can you call yourself an Indie Author?
Chelsea Jo: That's a tough one that may depend on definitions and such; however, I've decided to just own it.  I am an Indie Author, unpublished as of yet.
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Obsidian: Why would you choose to become an author?
Chelsea Jo: I love writing, all kinds of writing.  I also love to research and to read.  I'm also really good at all those things, so I have a strong resume to be an author.  I chose to be an author at this time in my life because, well, COVID-19 happened.  As a nurse with serious allergies, I pretty much can't work.  No one wants a private duty nurse, that's coughing and sneezing, around their immunocompromised child right now.
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Obsidian: Why not work at a hospital or something?  Continue school?  Why take this huge risk?
Chelsea Jo: Why indeed!  I'm not gonna lie, this decision has me scared, worried, doubting.  It's certainly not the easiest option, perhaps not even the wisest.  I guess it comes down to being burnt out on nursing.  This was a difficult realization for me, an emotional rollercoaster of a decision, because I love nursing and helping people.  I loved working with special needs kids and families.  Lately, though, I found it was no longer feeding me - I was constantly giving my all to it, and getting less and less back.  I don't mean money either.  It's hard to explain, except to say, my time off was spent recharging a battery that wasn't holding a charge anymore.  It's not the first time I've been through this thought process.  It is the first time I didn't choose nursing.

Obsidian: So what's the plan?
Chelsea Jo: The plan is simple: write a book, publish it, pay rent.  Rinse and repeat.  The execution is more complicated.  Right now I have a story and I'm working on developing that story - plot, characters, style, everything.  This is the easy and fun part, at least for me.  The hard part is figuring out the business side of it; how to publish and market the book.

Obsidian: Wouldn't getting a publisher be easier?  Why go the independent route?
Chelsea Jo: So I've actually done a bit of research on the various options available and independent publishing felt like the best one for me.  Getting a publisher can be difficult and time consuming; and, it doesn't afford me as much control over the process as I would like.  Today, there are many options for publishing independently that are affordable, even free, and still provide exposure to a broad audience with decent returns, money wise, to the author.  Granted this is speculation based on my research, so I won't know for sure until I've been through it.

Obsidian: How do you plan to do the marketing of your book?
Chelsea Jo: Well now, that's what this webpage and my Facebook page are for!  I want to publish both my experiences navigating the indie author route, as well as samples of my writing on Eclectic Solitary Gemini (ESG).  I will use Facebook to spread the word, while I figure out SEOs to make my website more visible.  After a while, I may expand my social media outlets, but that depends on time and such.  Hopefully, this will grow my audience while I work on the book.  I feel like people are more likely to buy a book from an author they recognize.  From there, I will do a publishing launch, perhaps some Facebook ads, and finally utilize word of mouth and networking.

Obsidian: Do you have plans for more than one book?
Chelsea Jo: I have plans for many books!  Right now, the story I'm working on will be a trilogy, it could grow, but right now it's a trilogy.  The other book ideas I have are more advanced, as far as plot, world building, and character arcs, so I'm saving them for when my skills are up to par, in order to do them justice.

Obsidian: You mentioned writing samples, what kind of samples are you going to be posting?
Chelsea Jo: For starters this blog is, inherently, a writing sample, though very different from the fiction genre I usually write.  I also plan to post writing exercises, which are far more fun then they sound, and writing prompts, which are as fun as they sound.  I find the best way to improve my writing is by writing, and getting feedback on what I am writing.  I'm hoping these samples will help me improve my writing, as well as market it.  

Obsidian: There is a link on your page called "Writer's Block," what is that about? (edit - this is no longer a separate page but a category within this blog)
Chelsea Jo: I love to research.  I have found that, sometimes, when I'm stuck in my writing I'm missing something.  Research is where I find that missing piece, it inspires me to write better stories, and makes the worlds and people I create so much richer.  In "Writer's Block" I want to share my love of research with those who may not know how to research for fiction or don't understand the importance of it.  I have heard people comment "It's fiction, why does it need to be accurate?" "Why waste my time researching when I can just write?"  This can be frustrating to a reader who is enjoying a story or plot but, because the author didn't do a little bit a research, some bit of nonsense rudely drags the reader out of the story.  If it's egregious enough, a reader can't even finish the story, because their mind is stuck on that one little bit of nonsense.  It sounds dramatic, but it really happens.

Obsidian: What about feedback?
Chelsea Jo: I LOVE and welcome feedback, constructive criticism, and editing suggestions.  When I was a student, I didn't feel right unless my draft was returned covered in corrections and edits.  I am realistic with myself when it comes to writing.  I'm really good at it, but I have plenty of areas where I need to improve.  Therefore, I encourage everyone to gush over and criticize my work, whenever they have the time or inclination!  Every piece should have an area where you can leave comments or, if you prefer, you can contact me through email.  You're welcome to leave comments and reviews on my Facebook page as well.  The more we all interact, the more visibility my work gets, so I definitely welcome and encourage feedback.

Obsidian: Anything else you want to say?
Chelsea Jo: Thank you so much for reading this and visiting my page.  I know it's sparse right now and I will be adding more soon.  Don't be surprised when you come back, and things look a bit different; as, I'm still working out which webpage theme I like best.  If you like my work, I encourage you to share it on your social media.  If you haven't already, please like my page on Facebook to keep updated on what's happening here.  Thank you again and I truly appreciate all of you!

Signing Off, 
Chelsea Jo

P.S. Who is Obsidian Sky?  It's me... it's a long story just go with it!