Indie Scribe Magazine May 2014 | Page 33

THE INDIE AUTHOR MANIFESTO

Mark Coker

We indie authors believe all writers are created equal, that all writers are endowed with natural creative potential, and that writers have an unalienable right to exercise, explore and realize their potential through the freedom of publication.

I hold these truths to be self-evident:

1.I am an indie author

2.I have experienced the pleasure and satisfaction that comes

from self-publishing

3.I have a right to publish

4.My creative control is important to me. I decide when, where

and how my writing graduates to become a published book.

5.Indie does not mean “alone.” I choose my partners.

6.I shall not bow beholden or subservient to any publisher. In my

business relationships, I seek partnership, fairness, equity and

mutually aligned interests.

7.We indie author comprise diverse writers unified by a common

purpose to advance, empower and celebrate writers everywhere.

8.I am a professional. I take pride in my work, and I strive to

improve my craft to better serve my readers, myself, my fellow

indie authors and the culture of books

9.My writing is valuable and important. This value and importance

cannot be measured by commercial sales alone.

10.I celebrate the success of my fellow indie authors, for their

success is mine, and mine theirs. Together we are pioneering a

better future for books marked by greater quality, creativity,

diversity, choice, availability, affordability and accessibility.