Insecure Writer's Support Group: What's up with Technothrillers?

This is a monthly event organized by the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Click here to find out more about the group and sign up for the next event.

I see this event, organized by the awesome Alex J. Cavanaugh, as an opportunity to share my writing drive. I'm hoping that what inspires me to overcome my fears and insecurities can help other writers as well. Last month I talked about grit. Today I want to discuss a post written by author Matthew Mather in which he shares his experience in the publishing world .

Read the whole post because it's a mind-opener: Mather tells his story, from when he was rejected by publishers, to becoming an acclaimed author (in just two years) and even selling movie rights for his last book, Cyberstorm. He's now sold foreign rights to one of the Big-5 publishers, but he still self-publishes in the US.

My first reaction after reading Mathew's post: What's up with publishers rejecting technothrillers that later go on and become bestsellers? It's become a pattern. People love technothrillers. The genre is indeed very successful, as Matthew Mather's experience is not unique. JA Konrath is another blatant example. I will be the next example. Um, did I just type that out loud?? Heh, sorry, that was wishful thinking that just overtook the keyboard. ;-) Seriously, though: AG Riddle. BV Larson. The list is LONG! All self-published, all in the top 100 Amazon bestselling lists.

Second reaction: What Matthew Mather is saying makes A LOT of sense. These days authors have to push their own promotion even when they publish traditionally. If the big publishers gave us the opportunity to just do the writing while they take of the rest (promotion in particular), then I'd have different thoughts on the matter. But today even traditionally published authors have to spend a good deal of time promoting and advertising. If this is the case, we might as well publish on our own and get a bigger chunk of the pie. After all, indie publishing is just another aspect of a global movement that's aiming at cutting the middle man: self-pubbed authors are providing their products directly to the consumer. The trend is growing and the message is clear: the consumers are loving it. They get good quality products for less than half the price.

Not convinced yet? Then go read this post, from which two points are worth highlighting:

• "Very few authors who debut with major publishers make enough money to earn a living—and modern advances don’t cover the difference."
• "In absolute numbers, more self-published authors are earning a living wage today than Big-5 authors."