I recently finished a 100-page horror-action novella called “Hotel Erebus”. After completing it, I didn’t prepare my manuscript to send to a series of corporate-backed editors who work for a publishing company in hopes that they’d choose my book. I’m doing things in a different way and so are an increasingly expanding pool of professional creatives.
Hotel Erebus is being offered as an Early Access novella on Kickstarter. Take a look here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stratum/hotel-erebus-an-elijah-crowe-thrill-ride-pulp-novella/
There is another way. Now, there’s absolutely no guarantee of success in the independent publishing market, nor is there a guarantee if you go the traditional publishing route. However, in 2025, there are immense benefits from going at it alone.
Modern technology has allowed people untethered to corporate masters to access millions of potential customers. People like Joe Rogan, Tucker Carlson, Brett Cooper and Asmongold attract millions of viewers and listeners in great frequency and with platforms that are extremely cost-efficient. How much capital expenditure does it cost Asmongold to broadcast to millions of people from his home? The cost is negligible. How much does it cost CNN to broadcast to hundreds of thousands of listless, apathetic viewers from a massive set in an office building in an expensive city with dozens of talking heads in suits and dresses, each of whom commands a serious salary? That cost is considerable and untenable.
If you’re trying to build a business to deliver goods and services, you only need three things: a product or service to sell, a payment processor to receive the monies and customers. Middlemen are a completely optional luxury.
There is a way to make independent publishing work. Keep costs down. Outsource as little labor to third parties as possible. Learn to do as much yourself. Seek out customers personally. For what must be outsourced, use the seemingly endless array of services to accomplish this, from crowdfunding to podcasts to AI audio/video generation, etc. Payment processors are plenty and easily accessible. There’s never been a better time to be a professional, independent creative.
For novels, one way to get to customers requires a specific workflow…
WHAT’S THE WORKFLOW?
The workflow for Stratum Press, starting with my next novella, CLEAVE, will go as follows:
Post chapters on Royal Road 3-4x a week for 2-3 weeks. Then direct readers to…
Kickstarter launch for the book with a platform-exclusive cover and other goods.
Publish on Amazon (include eBooks and audiobooks)
Supplement income by running a Patreon to offer early access to chapters of new books and ancillary rewards like character design images or sell things like stickers or prints. https://www.patreon.com/c/SARJ_Stratum
2026 will be a wild year for creative independence. Do you have a story you want to tell or a creative project you want to do? If so, there are options. Use them.
SARJ OUT