courtesy and professionalism

Coming soon, the courtesy.  Today is about professionalism.

So, I'm an indie author, which I take quite seriously.  I work diligently on my manuscripts, wanting to offer well-written prose and easy to navigate ebooks that a reader would enjoy for the story as well as simplicity of reading.  Ebooks are a different animal than print novels, and I appreciate other indie writers who put as much into the presentation of their books as well as the narrative.

As I peruse Smashwords and various other venues, a wide gamut exists between the casually uploaded story, short, novella or behemoth, and the author seeking to carve their piece of the professional writing pie.  There's room for everyone, one of the benefits of Smashwords.  Anyone can publish anything, a free press.  And while I applaud that open, liberating stance, for me, time is squeezed. Between my work, taking care of Bob and the house, reading for pleasure, football, crocheting, feeding those hummingbirds, I am choosy.  Picky, discerning; I scroll through newly published ebooks every few days on the Smashwords homepage, but if the author doesn't capitalize their name or their synopsis, immediately I move on.  Sometimes I'll find a blurb that teases, but if I find that author has no photo or information, again I forge ahead.  The little details speak volumes.

I have downloaded a few tales, short and long, and am looking forward to delving into them.  Many authors use Smashwords as I do; to publish novels for the purpose of establishing a career, be it with financial goals or subtler dreams.  Either way, as independent writers, our shingles wave in the burgeoning indie breeze, and as in any profession, the better those signs appear, the more notice we receive.  That includes book covers, but other aspects factor into a professional look.

I don't download much right now, so many things on my plate.  But as more and more authors go indie, I see slap-dash entries on Smashwords, and I have to wonder why.  Why work so hard on a novel or short story, then apply so little effort to present it well?   As indies, everything is on US; editing, formatting, covers, marketing.  No one is going to tell us what we can or can't publish; equally, no one is going to clean up our mess.  We face deeper scrutiny; at this stage, indies are still not wholly accepted, but we're gaining ground every day, and the better quality of our work enhances our product (it is a product, free or not), also ourselves.  As indie authors, we need to put the best face on our novels just as we strive to offer fantastic stories, amazing tales.  What I have committed myself to, in publishing my first indie novel last July; I put that book out there, and kept right on going.  Writing, editing, formatting, all the necessary ingredients but not in a haphazard, slipshod manner, yet to the best of my ability.

Why it pains me to see poorly written synopses, incomplete author pages.  Simple covers aren't a huge drawback; you can't judge a book by its cover, but I can judge a writer by bad grammar and weak descriptions.  And I do judge because I know I'm being scrutinized as well, and in a wider sense; every time an indie author presents their work in a careless manner, it reflects farther than that one writer.  Indies are in this together; we need to support each other's creative endeavors, which I try to do whenever possible.  But there is a demarcation between writers honesty attempting to make their stand, and a barrage which doesn't just include all the porn Smashwords publishes.  My one peeve with Smashwords is how flagrantly the no nudity on covers rule is broken.  Otherwise I have few complaints with what emerges on the home page (and no grumbles at all if the adult filter is on).  It's a free service, which suits me fine, so I overlook that which isn't my cup of tea, focusing on what might be intriguing reading.  And there is a lot available.  Plenty to wake through as well, adult filter or no.  I can spot a serious writer just from one glance; name is properly capitalized, synopsis is clear, doesn't end in the middle of a sentence.  The author's page sports a photograph, a bio, sites where the author can be followed; blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, etc.  That's not much, but you would be surprised at how many authors leave those blank or very thinly noted.

Now, this might come off sounding somewhat self-righteous, especially considering the issues of which I blog, from sport and TV rants to family and hummingbirds to writing guidance.  A blog is one's personal habitat, like various social networking sites.  As such, everyone has their own reasons for self-publishing, and I am all for freedom of the press.  But... if a writer wants the respect of other authors, and far more importantly, of READERS, we must show some reverence to our audience!  It behooves no one if all that waits for readers is a load of hoo-haa.  No matter how pretty it is, a lemon is still tart.  Add some sugar, and there you go.  Time spent polishing prose is necessary, and a few minutes allocated to spiffing up other elements is just as important.  At least if it matters to the writer.  It matters to me about my writing.  And in reading; I just don't have time for a novel or short story if the author can't bother to present it properly.

My not so small advice for today.  The next post; kudos to indie writers who take their craft (and my time as a reader) seriously!