Thread by @AshiaMonet, Independent publishing is SO amazing, especially for marginalized creators. Traditional media is [...]

Independent publishing is SO amazing, especially for marginalized creators. Traditional media is making strides with diversity but it is NOT exhaustive. Indie storytelling can be just powerful. Is it easy? No, but neither is traditional publishing. Is it rewarding? Absolutely

Any industry professional will tell you that traditional publishing is a business. Publishers need to make money. This isn’t evil, it just means that trad. books need to be marketable. But what if you don’t have a traditionally marketable idea? Indie publishing, babey!

Going indie doesn’t mean your work “isn’t good enough”. There are TONS of brilliant indie books. (And haven’t you read good fanfic? Those are technically indie!) Good stories can come from anywhere. Even from you, alone, with a bunch of passion + determination

But like I said, indie publishing’s not easy. It will be time consuming. It may be expensive (there are ways of lowering costs while still maintaining a quality end-product!). Traditional publishing has its cons as well. Publishing a book is NEVER easy, but it can always be done

And get this—you don’t *have* to choose one or the other. You will not be damned for indie publishing a few books, signing with an agent, and traditionally publishing other books. Both are good! Both are possible!

You obviously can’t publish a book twice, but that’s okay. You’ve got more than one book in you anyway. Indie publishing one book and query your next one! No sweat, only vibes

Finally, if you are a marginalized creator, I implore you to explore your options before giving up. Not all ideas are for traditional publishing and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean your ideas are bad. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer. Keep trying and keep going.

We love stories of overnight success, but publishing is truly a marathon. It’s 2020, we live in the age of social media and instant accessibility. Your career is over when YOU say it’s over and not a moment sooner. Keep learning, keep refining your craft, and KEEP. ON. WRITING.

Anyway, time to plug my indie book THE BLACK VEINS, a YA urban fantasy about a found family of QPOC magicians on a road trip to save their friend’s kidnapped family. It is the first of many fun projects