Being An Independent Author

It is becoming harder and harder for the independent author to get their books out there.  Even if you do the chances of you being able to sell the damn thing is nearly impossible.
Let’s start out with Createspace, unless you are planning on doing an audio CD or a DVD it has become useless.  Paperbacks have been moved to Amazon and that means the ones you already might have had on Createspace.  I found this out when I went to upload a new book and also found out that for the next ‘8’ weeks the books I did have on Createspace will not be available through anyone but Amazon.  In my opinion that is just short of steeling my rights to my work since I opted for full distribution to every distributor.  So if someone wanted to go to Barnes & Noble or any other outlet to get my books that option has been closed to them and me.
Let’s talk Lulu.  If you don’t have an ISBN number they become the listed publisher of your work and they have the rights to control all bibliographic data regarding your work.  Now I don’t know about you but for me one of the things that drew me to being independent, and yes the fact it is easier to get published, was the fact is that I had full control of my work.  Of course I found out that’s not the actual case with any self-publishing company.
I have researched nearly every self-publishing company listed, especially the supposedly top ten, and to say that none of them seem to do a really great job is an understatement.  From shoddy products to questionable issues with sales and payments the complaints run the list of bad things a company can do when it comes to your work.  I’ve about come to the conclusion that if you truly want to be an independent author then you had better go out and buy all the equipment to print ad bind your books yourself and then set up your own store and sell your books there.
We all know that the best return for your work is an eBook but unless you have a million friends willing to buy the damn things then you’re not very likely to go very far with that either.  Smashwords I have to say does the best it can but it also is a money based company and they are going to promote the books that have managed to have the number of buyers that makes it profitable for them.  That’s not something they do to be asses, it’s just business.  I do think they try to be as fair as they can to everyone who publishes with them but like I said unless you can get a whole lot of people to buy your books then you flapping in the wind.
Yes there is social media and I’ve used it, boy have I used it.  I haven’t seen a lot of reward in that however.  Yes there is the possibility that I’m just a lousy writer but to be honest, and I am being honest here, everyone who has read my books have said they were great.  Yes more people have read them other than friends and family.  Hey, I have one family member who doesn’t like my work and has made that abundantly clear.  He told me I was no Steven King.  Have you looked at me big brother?  Do I look like Steven King, wait don’t answer that.  If you were to tell me I did then I would be upset, really upset.  I’m not saying that Steven King is unattractive it’s just that I’m female and as a female looking like Steven King is not something I would consider a good thing.  Don’t think my husband would think so either.  If by some chance Steven King ever does read this, hey man please don’t take offense to this because I think your adorable but as a man.  A woman looking like you would be a horror story for her I promise.
As for my writing…I’m not trying to be the man.  Who could be?  Steven King is in a class all by himself and no one can compete with him and honestly I don’t want to even try.  I write in my own style with my own ideas that come out of my own twisted mind.  Yes it is twisted.
Anyway back to the real issues.  I’m not saying give up, I’m certainly not.  I am thinking about taking a little different route but I’m not quite ready to say what that is yet but if I do, and I will, I’ll let anyone who is interested know how that turns out.