PLEASE Stop Calling "Self-Publishing!"

Slumdog Millionaire, Silence of the Lambs, Brokeback Mountain and most recently, Everything Everywhere All at Once; what do they have in common? They are on the list of highest-grossing indie movies of all time. You might be very, very surprised to see some of the other titles on that list. I know I was.

But do you think they would have gotten much traction in the public eye if they had been called, “Self-Made Films?”

Along the line somewhere, someone had to think of a term for a movie made off the Hollywood grid- a film written, directed, produced and acted in by a rogue group of artists who, for whatever reason, couldn’t (or didn’t want to) get picked up by the big movie companies. It’s not a recent development; among the oldest movies on the list is the classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest from 1975. But someone, in infinite wisdom, coined the term “independent films.” I am begging the newest crop of writers to use the term “indie-published books” instead of “self-published” for several reasons.

Why Does it Matter?

First and most importantly, it just sounds much more professional and confident. In addition to films, there are indie musicians, independent contractors, independent consultants, independent marketers. Forbes published an article in 2018 about the benefits of being, and also of hiring, independent professionals. Authors, let’s agree to jump on that wagon, ride those coattails, join the proud, entrepreneurial gang of existing indie people who have paved the way.

Most of us go through a painstaking and expensive process of writing, revising, editing, designing, advertising and promoting our books. Just because we can’t (or don’t want to) get picked up by one of the big five, does not mean it’s not quality work. The above mentioned list of films should prove that out.

It is, After All, a Business

The biggest complaint I see online from readers is that indie-published work can be very poorly written; I’ve seen it myself, even in books that I know for a fact have been through professional editing. But I say, and can’t say enough: Let the market decide!

More and more people are willing to give indie authors a shot, and some have “made it” to the bestseller’s lists that we tend to hold up as the holy grail. Book festivals are beginning to open up to indie-authors and so are those elusive awards.

The more we sound like the artists we are, the more doors will open. Trust the audience, and yourself!

I spend a lot of time selling my novels at coffee shops and author talks and book clubs. I love doing it because I get to engage so many people in conversation. Some of them stop to ask if my book is published independently, and more than one has purchased a book not in their favorite genre just to, as they put it, “support independent authors.” What treasures these readers are, to recognize my artistry and support it because it’s not been through the traditional mill and edited or revised to fit a commercial mold. What trust! In fact, I always use the term “indie” published in conversations before the people can say “self” published, because I want to control the narrative (Do you see what I did there?).

So, writers, please, please, please! Change your terminology. Words matter. No one knows that better than wordsmiths, people who make a living (or if not a living, then a life) weaving together words for art and entertainment.

There’s just no reason at all to be self-effacing, self-deprecating, and self-conscious about…indie publishing!