The Insane world of the Indie Author

What exactly does it mean to be an indie author these days? While it is true that self-publishing a book is a lot easier now than say fifteen years ago. What is it about it all that compels people to do it?

Fame? Hardly, the market is flooded with work that runs the span from A to Z and hideous to amazing.

Money? Yeah right. I've seen reports that say the average indie author makes less than 10k a year. Most people could make more than that doing any minimum wage job with a whole lot less stress.

So what compels people to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard to write the great American novel?

I can only speak for myself as I reply. I love writing and creating believable characters in world of heir own that entertain people if only for a little while. We all need that escape from reality that only a good book can provide. For me it is the only thing that helps to face the insanity of another day as a reader And as a writer I enjoy being able to provide that escape for others, if even for a little while.

Do I want fame and money? I'd be a liar if I said no (so would anyone else who does this). Seriously who wouldn't want to see their book on the New York Times bestseller list, or on the shelf at the Barnes and Noble or Books-A-Million?

But it isn't the main reason I do this. The story compels me to be told and the people that live in it want to be heard. It is that simple, and that complicated.