Publishing Deadlines & the Indie Life

Wednesday, July 10, 2013



It’s time for another Indie Life post, where writers on the indie road share thoughts and insights on their publication journey.See the list of Indie Lifers here.

As some of you know, I’ve been in slow-motion mode for a while. Life was busy with graduation and helping my son transition into a new school. Of course, that means less time for everything on the writing front.


However, some good has come of that. I’ve slowed down the feverish pace at which I usually move. I’m in the middle of editing a YA book for the kazillionth time and I’m enjoying that. Sure, I had anticipated the book being out by the end of July, but I don’t believe that’s going to happen.

But you know what? It’s okay if the book isn’t published by that time.

As an indie, there is always leeway to push things back. It also helps to know that the world isn’t going to end if I don’t make my deadline. I always made deadlines—sometimes by going without sleep—for my publishers, no matter what and at least twice, the books were not published until months later.

 It’s kind of cool knowing that I have to stay within a certain time range, but that I don’t have to work myself to a frazzle to produce a book dead on time. I’m not going to make missing the goalpost a habit, but I also won’t risk my health to be dead on time.

That’s definitely one of the benefits of the indie life. What are you enjoying and taking advantage of on your journey?

33 comments:

  1. I appreciate this side of indie life too. I do set deadlines for myself, but they're usually generous, and open to change if something comes up, or my family needs me, taking your time can produce a better book too, than one which is rushed,

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    1. I'm the opposite of you. I tend to make my deadlines too restrictive and then I get stressed when I can't make them. I agree that a better book comes from taking time over it. I don't want to ever get in a rush to finish. The usual thing that happens is typos that pass into print that could have been avoided with a bigger time frame. Thanks for stopping in.

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  2. I'm not an indie, but a big indie supporter precisely because you guys are such a self-motivated bunch :). Cool post, Joy.

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    1. Thanks, Damyanti,
      Motivation is a huge factor when you decide to pursue the indie life.
      Thanks for stopping in.

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  3. I enjoy being an indie writer and of course I support all writers. I read everything from J.L. Campbell to Neil Gaiman. :) All I need is more time.

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    1. Well said, Mike. Like you, I need more time to read, not to mention return favours owed to people like you.

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  4. While I have goals for how many works I want to publish this year, I don't have them tied to specific deadlines. I also don't announce publication dates in advance. That makes deadlines much easier to handle.

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    1. Hey, Sandra, good idea not to announce dates, but there are some of us (yours truly included) who won't move on anything unless we've made a public commitment to do so. That keeps the pressure on to meet deadlines.

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  5. My own timeline is one of the things I find so appealing about going indie. :) I would be like you in that I'd really try to stick to my goals, but life happens. :)

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    1. Yup, I'm learning to go with the flow. Thanks for visiting!

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  6. You're on your own time schedule. You can set the pace to whatever is comfortable.

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  7. I'm not a fan of deadlines, so that must be really nice to go at your own pace :)

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  8. My book got accepted by an ebook publisher and wasn't released until almost two years later.

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    1. Not cool and it's not uncommon for publishers to run way behind.

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  9. Sometimes I finish earlier and sometimes I have to allow more time. It's better to put out the best product you can! Great thoughts.

    Thanks for participating!

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    1. I'd like to get to the place where I'm running ahead of schedule. :)

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  10. I love having goals and time frames to work, but don't like when they dictate my life and become a stress point. Sounds like you have reached a very good balance with it.

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    1. Trying to make it work for me, Julie. I don't want writing to feel like work, even if it is one day.

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  11. Yep, it's definitely good to have that freedom. It also means you'll put out work that's the best you can do since you won't be in a rush.

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  12. Indie gives many authors a lot of freedom. And taking time to ensure things are done properly is always the best move. My main advantage is meeting other writers, indie or otherwise.

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    1. True that, Sheena. I've met a ton of great people on the way.

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  13. This is something I really enjoy about the indie life - setting my own deadlines, and having the ability to shift them if I REALLY need to. It puts the necessary pressure on me that I need, but not as much pressure as I'd feel if I was working with a publisher.

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    1. Knowing when the move deadlines is smart, so too is knowing when to push through and get the job done in a timely manner.

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  14. I admit that I struggled so hard to get my first book out on my own set deadline that I caused myself needless pain and frustration. This time, I haven't set an absolute deadline yet. I have a rough idea, but I'm giving myself the freedom to work and get things done without stress.

    Indie life is definitely full of freedom.

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    1. Doing in with as little stress as possible is a great move, Tyrean. I'm trying hard at that.

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  15. I hear you on pushing deadlines. I rushed to fulfil a self imposed deadline last year with my first indie release and regretted it. I'll take my blessed time with the second. It saves a lot of 'mending' later :) X

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  16. I really hear you on this one! Taking care of ourselves and our family needs to come first.

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  17. ... and this is why I'm leaning more toward the self-pub route! I've always been a self-motivated person.
    Writer In Transit

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    1. Good on you, Michelle. Not everybody has the discipline to work on a self-imposed schedule.

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Don't be shy, I'd love to hear what you think.