At Planet Comicon Kansas City, I had the privilege of attending an incredibly enlightening panel titled “Indie Author Co-Ops: Building Success Through Collaboration.” As someone who aspires to be an author, this session felt like a roadmap for navigating the often-intimidating world of self-publishing.
Meet the Collective: Machine of the Infinite Press
The panel was presented by Machine of the Infinite Press, a co-op consisting of authors Lyndsie Clark, Jon Gray Lang, and Robb Wetmore. These three writers joined forces to support one another as independent creators, sharing everything from plot ideas to marketing strategies.
By grouping together, they’ve turned the “solitary writer” stereotype on its head. Marketing as a collective provides a massive advantage, offering readers a curated “one-stop-shop” to discover new books while allowing the authors to share the burden of promotion.
Finding Your Tribe
The group’s primary advice for aspiring writers? Find a group of like-minded creators. However, they stressed that for a co-op to be effective, genre matters. A sci-fi writer and a romance novelist might get along great, but their audiences rarely overlap enough to make cross-promotion effective.
The panelists shared their own trials and tribulations with big-name publishers, leading Lyndsie Clark to a powerful conclusion that stuck with me:
“The future of publishing is indie or small press.”
Debunking the Myths
The panel took time to address two major misconceptions about the indie world:
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Myth 1: Independent means Amateur. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Many high-level professionals choose the independent route for creative control and better margins.
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Myth 2: Indie authors are always in competition. In reality, a co-op allows authors to support each other. If a reader finishes one book in the co-op, they are much more likely to pick up another from a trusted partner.
The Reality of the Co-op Life
While the benefits—consistent quality and “Easter egg” thematic overlaps—are great for readers, the authors were honest about the challenges. Running a co-op is a second job. Coordinating schedules among busy people, dividing labor so one person doesn’t do all the work, and staying consistent with marketing can be a struggle.
Pro-Tips for Starting Your Own Co-Op:
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Keep Finances Separate: Pay for your own editing, cover art, and table fees to avoid messy financial entanglements.
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Contract Everything: A lack of clear, written agreements is the fastest way to sink a partnership.
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Outline Decision Making: Decide early on if you need a total consensus or a majority vote for group moves.
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Consistency is Key: Keep your branding professional and shared passwords accessible to all members.
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Have a Finished Product: Before you join or start a co-op, make sure you have a completed story ready to sell!
A huge thank you to Machine of the Infinite Press for sharing their wisdom at Planet Comicon. This panel was a shot of inspiration for anyone looking to take their writing career into their own hands.
Stay Geeky!
