Independent authors’ books are often pejoratively referred to as “vanity” projects, an assigntion that, I must admit, does possess some ring of truth. As an independent author, such drastic edits can be avoided and the manuscript remains true to the author’s vision rather than the editor’s.Ĭontrarily, a major drawback faced by an independent author– but one that is rapidly diminishing in significance - is the loss of prestige that accommpanies being signed to a major publishing house. Random’s purpose was completely understandable and honorable: to create the highest quality and marketable finished product possible. For example, when my first novel, So Shelly, was published in the traditional manner with Random House, it became their property and within their rights to ask for numerous edits, including cutting nearly forty pages from the original manuscript, that, as the writer, I wish would have remained in the story. The greatest benefit for the independent artist is the near total control they possess over their project. All of which makes it difficult for the consumer to locate that which is worth their time to read, view, listen to, etc. Some of this content is very good much is not. The good and bad news is that the amount of available artistic content has exploded. This newfound freedom is, however, a double-edged sword for both the artist and the public.

No longer do artists require the representation of a connected agent or manager nor is a golden ticket from an a editor or an A and R man necessary to share one’s work in the public domain. This is not only true for writers but also for musicians, comedians, photographers, painters, film makers, etc. Since I began writing novels over fifteen years ago, much has changed regarding the options available for artists’ to share their work with the world.

So Shelly by Ty Roth