Welcome!

Welcome to 101 Thoughts on Indie Publishing. I'd like to tell you a bit about myself as well as this project.

I became an independent publisher in 2011 after several months of chatting with and getting to know other writers. I began with short stories, as I wasn't entirely sure how this whole indie publishing business would work. When those stories received several positive reviews, I felt encouraged to write and release a novel length work. Sullivan's War, a science fiction adventure, was released in 2012. It spawned two sequels, and in all, I've published six novels and over a dozen short stories. My seventh novel will be out within the month.

I don't need to go into details about how the world of self-publishing, or indie publishing, has undergone a profound change in the past few years, primarily due to the rise of the eBook. In the three-plus years I've been doing this, I've learned some things that I wish I'd been told right at the beginning. At that time, however, just about all indie authors were still figuring out the details. I offer my thoughts to new authors in the hope that the journey from aspiring writer to published writer can be a bit smoother for you than it was for me. I hope other established authors can find something useful in these posts as well. Some of it may seem obvious to many of you, but I know I often find it helpful to think about something from a slightly different point of view. Perhaps I can offer a new perspective on some old concepts.

I originally conceived of this idea and began posting these entries on my personal blog, Myriad Spheres. Now that I've written quite a few entries in the series, I feel the time is right to separate it from my regular blog. These posts are directed toward other writers as opposed to readers, and giving the 101 Thoughts articles their own space will make it easier for my fellow writers to navigate through them.

I'd like to close by saying that I don't want these articles to be considered "tips" or "tricks." They simply reflect my own thoughts on indie publishing, which is of course informed by my experiences. What works for me may not work for you. I do believe, however, that your career cannot be harmed by anything I might suggest here. I'm of the opinion that anything you do for your career will have value, even if it is only to point you toward a different way of doing things.

I encourage you to comment on the articles. Let me know your thoughts, even if you disagree with me. An open exchange of ideas can only make us all more successful.

Best Wishes,

Michael K. Rose