I’ve thought a lot about this issue: the attitudes about indie musicians vs. indie authors, and I think a big part of it is that a lot of the first indie music was punk and other forms of “rock,” which is by nature, defiant. Punk and rock/alternative musicians tend to be “defiant” as well. This defiance makes it socially acceptable within their group of other musicians to break away and do their own thing. Being anti-establishment is very trendy.

But in writing, it’s different. Most writers just aren’t that defiant. They’re grateful to have the attention of a publisher or agent. They NEED to be validated desperately by someone who “knows” and can tell them they are good. Writers seem by nature somewhat more masochistic than musicians in that there seems to be some value in the suffering itself, whether it produces anything wonderful or not.

It will take the defiant writers among us to change things so that somewhat less defiant writers can find the courage to break away from the status quo if it becomes necessary for them later.