Alliance of Independent Authors member testimonials
Below find 200+ Alliance of Independent Authors' member testimonials.
On ALLi’s membership website, there is a long list of member benefits and reasons to join our organization. But each member has a different story about what they’ve gained from membership.
Members: We'd love to hear what you most appreciate about your membership and what we could do better. Could you leave a comment about your experience below?
Non-members: Scroll down (below the sign-up box) to read unedited comments from our members.
I independently published my debut book just 3 weeks ago. I could not have done it without ALLi. This group provides a wealth of information on every step of self-publishing, from setting goals to marketing. Was my first launch perfect? Of course not, but ALLi’s resources will show me how to improve book sales. Thank you, ALLi!
There is so much to learn when becoming an author-publisher, and vast amounts of poor advice and information are available, ranging from the merely inadequate to the downright fraudulent. ALLi is a beacon to guide you safely through this morass, and will go on to support your career as it develops.
In gratitude, my self-publishing tip is to get involved on the Alli Member Advice Forum. I don’t have as much to offer as I’ve gained from the forum. Every time I can’t figure something out on my own, I post a question on the forum, and shortly I have accurate direction on how to solve my problem. The Forum Feed has helped me immensely in my journey as a self-publisher.
ALLi is encouraging me to be a more deliberate independent author. I’ve reached out and already there are those who are willing to help me with my individual problems. There is a unity here that one rarely sees anywhere else. I feel more optimistic about the future with ALLi, and I’m very proud to be a part of this great endeavor.
This is one of the few annual subscriptions that I pay with real enthusiasm. On the day early in 2020 that I decided to self-publish, I took the advice of several successful indie author friends and signed up to the Alliance. I have never looked back. It held my hand in the starting months, and it’s helped me to make a real success of my indie business over the years. The members of the Alliance are the nicest group of people – everyone helps everyone else. This is the sort of support every writer needs, no matter how they’re published. Thank you, ALLi!
I’ve been a member quite a few years. I’m more of a tortoise than a hare and it’s only this past year I’ve been more active in the community. Is it worth it? Yes! It’s the peace of mind that in this huge industry I have an unwavering ALLi. Of course, there are free books and discounts that make the membership fee more than viable, but having an ALLi that’s got your back when you need it is priceless. The Mighty app has made taking part so enjoyable, it outweighs any fears about being a tortoise or new to the business. No one is turned away. ALLi conferences are awesome and so jammed packed with great insights, it’s exhausting. Being a member means I have longer to work through the workshops without upsetting my writing schedule. My point is … the benefits are endless. I’m looking forward to all the publishing I can achieve with my old ALLi rooting us authors on.
Joining the Alliance of Independent Authors was a game changer for me as a publisher and self-publishing service provider. The community is incredibly supportive, and the resources available are top-notch. From expert advice on marketing and copyright issues to invaluable insights on book distribution, ALLi has been instrumental in my journey. Their webinars and online forums are not only informative but also a great place to connect with other indie authors. Being part of ALLi has provided knowledge and tools to navigate the complex world of self-publishing successfully. I can’t recommend it enough!
I love ALLI! As a beginning indie author I wondered if it would be worth joining already. I am so glad I finally did a few months ago, after listening to one of Joanna Penn’s podcasts. And it’s totally been worth it. I love connecting with other authors on Mighty and listening to the ALLI-podcast. The recommended services is another great resource. If there’s one thing you should do when starting out, it is join ALLI. Simple.
I am very grateful for the wonderful team at the Alliance. I joined while having a crisis with Amazon KDP. Despite 10 years of good standing with KDP, my account was terminated due to an AI glitch. At a time when I was receiving nothing but automated emails from KDP, the Alliance offered human support and intervention. Sarah, Kayleigh and the team made me feel that I wasn’t alone and gave me hope during this dark and difficult time. Not only was the Alliance thorough in investigating the issue, but also patient and kind. In a world where independent authors often work without protection or representation, the Alliance is a beacon of light. I recommend that all indie authors join and support this very important association.
This is so comforting to hear, Suzanne. I joined today for exactly the same reason and am hopeful that I will be as fortunate as you. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience. It is keeping me encouraged.
I joined the Alliance about a year ago, when my wife told me I could simply not afford to hire a publishing company to self-publish my first book of fiction. I am a 67 year old retired government physician from the USA, limited therefore in finances. The Alliance taught me what I needed to know to self-publish the book at a greatly reduced expense. I now have my author web-sight and a professional contract with IngramSpark.
Composing the book was easy for me: it was publishing that was the obstacle. After getting guidance from IngramSpark, I bought Indesign and formatted my first book-which will be launched August 1. I bought an distribution advertisement on IgramSpark and will purchase a professional review from Booklife very soon. I have 60 pages completed on the second book currently.
When I took the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in college I was shocked to find that my English scores were exceedingly high. I was a science major with no education in English. Neither of my parents attended college, but there were many books in our small home. I think I got some degree of writing ability through genetics.
ALLi saved my debut novel effort. After many months of writing and market research, I structured a publishing plan for my debut novel that focused on KDP at the outset and specifically, using Kindle Vella to build a readership for a serial that would lead to the novel when complete. I launched my Vella series in January 2022 and brought a few readers to the platform to support the launch. A week later, the Amazon AI (in its infinite wisdom) suspended my account. There is no human being at Amazon that an author can contact who can override the AI.
I spent two months trying everything I could imagine to get help (including emotional support from friends and family), and hit roadblocks at every turn at Amazon. Not only could I not continue my Vella series nor explain to its readers that I hadn’t abandoned them, I could publish nothing with Amazon. I was lost, depressed, demotivated. Ugh.
I had heard ALLi was successful at interceding in similar cases, so asked for their help. They acted quickly on my behalf, though Amazon continued at its leisurely pace, and a month later my account is restored. My first new episodes since launch published yesterday and my prospect of publishing the forthcoming novel is restored. Thanks ALLi.
Although I commented a few years ago, I felt it appropriate to update this. ALLi has been a part of my author journey since the beginning. The members and the organisation have supported me throughout. The day I was eligible for Authorpreneur Membership was one of the proudest moments of my career as an author. I consider it a privilege to be a member.
My ALLi membership affords me a professional space where I am able to glean information from other independent authors. It has proved invaluable to me. I attribute a great deal of my professional growth over the last couple of years, certainly since publishing my first collection of poetry, to the generous advice of other members.
Among other things, I write the Sir Robert Carey series of Elizabethan crime novels (under a pen name: P F Chisholm). It’s currently at nine volumes with the tenth finally on its way to being published.
I was trad publishing quite happily with Poisoned Pen Press, not earning huge amounts but chugging along with my books still in print.
Then, in 2017, PPP sold up to Sourcebooks and became one of their imprints.
At first all was sweetness and light. Sourcebooks would republish all the previous novels over 2021, culminating in the tenth book A TASTE OF WITCHCRAFT for September 2021.
Time went by. Two things eventually happened. Firstly, one of their minions said that instead of republishing the entire series, Sourcebooks would republish the first book (A FAMINE OF HORSES) and the last one and see how it went.
I was horrified. The Carey books have turned into an Elizabethan soap opera, and basically that would have been a sentence of death on the books.
Then I saw the proposed cover for A FAMINE OF HORSES. Clearly designed by someone who hadn’t even read the blurb, it was very pretty with prancing horses and flowers. It looked like the cover for a YA girls’ riding-horses series. Perfectly nice, but not for the Carey novels which are quite dark, involving bloody raids and “hair-raising politics” (Diana Gabaldon) with some pretty black humour.
I protested. I contacted my agent and the previous owner of Poisoned Pen Press. They supported me at first but then withdrew once they realised I was not going to knuckle under.
I started sending emails about the situation to Todd Stocke, CEO of Sourcebooks. Clearly, the emails got spammed because there was no answer. I sent actual physical letters. They must have got spammed as well. I felt, rightly or wrongly, that Sourcebooks were ignoring me so there would be no way of negotiating about the contract (a “life of copyright” contract which I shouldn’t have signed, but did.)
Finally, in despair, I got in touch with the Alliance of Independent Authors and asked if they could at least convince Mr Stocke to answer my emails.
I don’t know what happened next but suspect that it probably involved a lot of diplomacy and patience.
The upshot of the matter was that Orna Ross, Director of Alli, got everything I wanted from Sourcebooks, which was release from the contract and the copyright on all nine of my books reverted to me.
I am a very happy writer. I’m making plans to publish the Carey books in 2022, first in ebook, then in print edition. I’m writing Terrible Daily Poems for Substack, a sci-fi fantasy for NaNoWriMo and I have another book about my favourite character, James Enys, nearly ready to publish. I wrote other books in various lockdowns which need rewriting (and in one case, finding.)
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so creative.
I have been trying to publish my first memoir, and signed up to a publishing house before finding this website. Had I been here, I would have read that the publishing house was on ALLi’s watchdog. I had no end of problems with the publishing house who refused to publish my memoir unless I used a pen name. I was not prepared to do that and spoke to Alli. Since then Alli have helped me get a full refund, which I am very grateful for, as I can now use one of their approved publishers and feel reassured that the same mistake will never happen again. I throughly recommend using Alli before going ahead with a publishing deal if this is your first time publishing.
If any author is seeking out a professional writing organization to join, I would definitely recommend The Alliance of Independent Authors. They are the only non-profit professional writing organization representing independent and self-published authors globally. It doesn’t matter what genre you write or where you are in your career, ALLi welcomes any and all authors who are seeking a career in writing.
They offer tons of awesome resources free to the public (like the ALLi podcast), as well as to its members (like discounts and legal and contract advice, IP rights information, etc.). They are constantly doing education outreach programs in the literary community. I’ve never heard any drama with this organization. It’s all about authors helping authors. They even offer a watchdog service to help keep authors informed about shady publishers, contracts, etc.
I’ve been a member since 2018, and it’s been a great investment. If you have a question or concern about anything, they will answer it. The ALLi team has a diverse set of leaders from various countries, and each of them have a unique set of skills (one of them is a literary agent, for example).
Their weekly podcast free to the public, and they inform you on the goings on around the industry, as well as do some live Q&A sessions.
There are a lot of amazing, well known and six-figure+ authors who are apart of this organization.
This was definitely one of the best decisions I made when I parted ways with a previous writing organization in 2017 and joined this one. My goal is to make it to the next level, which is Authorpreneur status (50k book sales in the last two years).
And if you are wondering about the diversity in the organization, as I mentioned, this is a global organization, so there are people from all countries, religions, cultures, etc. in here (including those on the main ALLi leadership team), so you really can’t get any more diverse than that! 🙂
[…] Why I’m A Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi): The Professional Association f… […]
To be honest, I joined ALLi for the discounts for IngramSpark printing.
It started strictly as an economical decision.
That was about 2 months ago. And man, I’m loving it. The private FB group is super helpful. Plus all the loads of content / advice / and other discounts they send your way.
Definitely, definitely worth it.
Oh, and then there’s the network. That’s been huge, too.
I highly recommend this to every indie author.
Whenever I have a problem, a useful thought or a question to ask, I go to ALLi. Plus, I like hanging out with all the cool dudes on the Facebook site.
I’ve been an Alliance member for several years now and find it’s the most reliable source when I have questions about anything related to my Indie publishing business. The website is loaded with information, they host an online conference, and the FB group is super valuable. I highly recommend joining if you’re diving into this world.
I joined ALLi on the recommendation of a friend when I was considering pulling together the material on my blog into short books. ALLi provided a lot of useful information that enabled me to do that. The member discount at Ingram Spark is also really beneficial. I’m now about the publish the 4th volume in my Short Guides series and feel like I have a good sense of the production process. I’m not making money on them (yet?) but that was not my primary purpose and the time and effort I’ve put into marketing is consistent with the money. There is a lot of advice from ALLi that I haven’t even looked at properly yet. I do recommend it to other people.
I haven’t even been a member a whole year but so far it’s one of the best organizations I have been with. I’m impressed with how close knit ALLi is. You actally fell like a community. I used to be in trade publishing and was a member of the Authors Guild but after going indie they no longer fit my goals. I’d heard good things about ALLi for years and glad I joined. I’ve been a fan of the Self-Publishing Advice blog for years and I always read the blogs of prominent ALLi members. I trust ALLi because they are actually for indies and so they know the tools and help we need for our careers. I always tell authors to join an organization for some protection and ALLi is one I highly recommend! Love the FB group!
I’m new to ALLI but not to indie publishing. I joined looking to find an indie-business focused organization and more professional environment than what I’d found elsewhere. I appreciate that this organization is business focused and has in-depth posts and podcasts addressing important indie-publishing issues and processes.
I am a partner member of ALLi and have been for several years. I am passionate about authors’ rights to write and be published, and being a partner member means I can support author members on their journey. I love the help and support given to writers by the alliance as a whole, and the energy with which Orna and her team coordinate that is second to none. I have worked with several author members and hope to work with more in future.
Re-posting what I wrote in 2012 because I’m still a happy ALLi member. My writing career has had highs and lows since I joined and my ALLi friends have seen me through it all and cheered me on. I’m now published by Amazon & Piatkus but I self-publish most of my novels. In 2012 as one of the first members of ALLi this is what I wrote…
The benefits of membership, particularly the Facebook group, have been immense. I’ve learned so much from other authors & the sense of solidarity has given me more confidence. I’ve also had the opportunity to share my own experience and tips. There’s a lot of give & take, so if you’re new to indy publishing, you don’t have to re-invent the wheel. The Alliance is a friendly and supportive group and whatever you need to know, someone in the group will be able to advise.
I’ve recommended joining ALLi to every author I’ve come across who’s serious about self-publishing. To begin with I thought membership would be a luxury. I now think it’s a necessity.
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Deciding to go indie, and then publishing my first book in 2015, was only possible with access to the amazing resources available to self-published authors. The Alliance of Independent Authors has been and will continue to be a go-to resource for me. They analyze and tackle new and evolving issues and concerns in this space…and it’s ever-changing! This is an active, forward-leaning alliance, offering invaluable knowledge for independent authors in a fair and ethical manner.
I joined ALLi around the time I published my novel eighteen months ago. It has been an amazing resource providing reliable information on a wide range of aspects of publishing. The Facebook group is a place where you can ask any question and get informed answers without feeling like an idiot. ALLi has certainly helped me through the ongoing ups and downs of publishing.
Becoming a member of ALLI is one of the best investments I have made as an independent author. I have met so many wonderful people who seem to have answers to almost any question. I am hoping to attend my first London Book Fair in 2020 and I can’t wait to meet them all.
ALLi has helped me in myriad ways: discounts on services, vetting publishing industry providers, charting a path to my most recent book’s sales success—but more than anything, it’s a community of friendly, knowledgeable, helpful people who are always willing to answer a question or offer guidance. If you’ve chosen to be an independent author, you need to join ALLi. I recommend it to aspiring writers all the time!
I found and joined ALli at a crucial moment – the same time frame I got away from a vanity press and opted to strike out as truly self-published. And I just don’t think all the pieces would have fit together like they did if not for ALLi. From the articles and blogs, to helpful, encouraging people, to lists of recommend service providers (and those to stay away from), ALLi truly does have the indie publisher’s best interests in mind.
As an Indie Author, I understand how dependent I am on fellow Indies and their successes. ALLi provides us a virtual meeting place where we can come together to learn, to sharpen our skills as writers and entrepreneurs. When we present ourselves as professionals, we can stand alongside authors who have publishing teams behind them. ALLi is our team. The Alliance brings together authors from around the world who have a variety of backgrounds and experiences. The wealth of information and expertise alone is worth the membership. Beyond that, ALLi serves as a watchdog against the many scam services who prey on entrepreneurs and as a champion for us, fighting for opportunities we wouldn’t otherwise have. ALLi is built on the hard work, dedication and determination of many authors who have gone before, who cut a path for us. I’m excited and thankful to benefit from them and to continue their hard work.
I enjoy being a member of ALLi and found it particularly helpful when navigating IngramSpark for my paperback. I read many of your blogs before deciding to become a member. I appreciate the fact that the Facebook group is a great help and answers to questions are never patronising. I think the group is well moderated and interesting.
I am now Indie Published, and seriously, I couldn’t have done it without this membership. I’d be lost and have wasted time and an awful lot of money, not to mention the lost opportunities being a member brought to my attention. So much info I’d never have found floundering around on my own. I am eternally grateful to ALLi and all the helpful members.
I really value my membership of the Alliance of Independent Authors. I’ve found it a great support in all my writing and publishing activities – especially the Facebook group which continues to be a place of inspiration and support by the very caring people representing the organisation. I also get a lot of referrals from being a partner with the Alliance due to a 5 star rating for my services, and the Ingram Spark waver on file upload fees saves me a lot of money, so I will always keep up my membership.
Joining ALLi was probably the best decision I’ve made as a beginner indie author. The Facebook group is amazing – friendly, patient, helpful (and Gods know I’ve been asking *many* questions recently). There are great discounts and offers available as well, my membership cost paid for itself at least five times over by now. But you can’t put a price on all the help I’ve received. I’m not the kind of person that writes testimonials, really – this is an exceptional case. If you’re still trying to decide – just do it! See you soon 🙂
I’ve been a member since ALLI began. It’s a wonderful, informative and supportive organisation and as an indie author-publisher I couldn’t do without it. Worth every penny.
I’ve been a member for several years and have self published two novels ( with Matador), supported and encouraged by Alli. They are always there for us, in the background,always answering our queries and sharing information. I’ll be continuing with my membership indefinitely and can’t recommend them highly enough( as I do to all my would be writer colleagues) thankyou
Just reading articles on this site this has enlightened me so much as to ideas for promotion. I shall be reading this regularly now. Thank you.
Newly joined. Best response for my novels has been from reviews by accredited magazines or journals. There’s an enormous amount of blather out there, about what to do next, after or before you become a published novelist. Appreciate membership of a group that understands how you need to be proactive about promotion for your book, novel, anthology. A need to explore all avenues, where positivity is key. Online sites start by an offer of free promotion, but ultimately seek the funds of long term subscription. These sites are visited by authors promoting their books and might not target your actual reader. Increasingly, however, your potential reader will source from or through online activity. It has been said that this is both the best and worst time for authors. Appreciate this opportunity to be a member of a group which understands how difficult it can be to both publish and promote a novel alongside main stream bulk print and distribution with their access to full on media advertising and funding.
I joined ALLi for several reasons:
* to feel like a Real writer
* as part of my commitment to myself, to not just write, but PUBLISH
* to be part of a professional writing organisation
* because ALLi specialise in independent publishing and know all I need to learn
* to be part of a community of like-minded people – indie writers
* because there is strength in numbers!
I’m still feeling my way, even after a year and a half and have lots to explore and learn. However, I know I’m in the right place and no longer feel completely on my own in this (beautiful) writing game. I trust ALLi and it feels good to know I have on hand the right people to assist me and all the indie info I could ever need, when I need it. Thank you!
Being an ALLi member has been beneficial for me in numerous different ways. First of all, the networking opportunities and support are second to none. If I have a question or need advice, there is always and ALLi member to step in and help out. They re the friendliest and most supportive group of authors I have come across. The free books which come with membership more than covers the cost of my first year’s membership. I have also used the discounts offered to ALLi members with printing, distribution and marketing companies and this has saved me a fortune. As these companies are vetted, I know that the service they provide will be outstanding.
I was always a Union member as a journalist. Being a part of an Alliance feels just as supportive for an Indie. Always someone with helpful advice, whatever the problem is. Being an Indie is great. Just occasionally it’s nice to have ‘grown-ups’ to ask about things so it doesn’t always feel like ploughing a lone furrow.
As a total beginner at writing, ALLI opened my eyes to a whole new world. An amazing array of resources at the click of a mouse. I would be totally in ignorance without it. The support of other members is superb and has given me the courage to embark on a fulfilling endeavour.
What a difference ALLi makes.
I’ve been asked whether being a member of Alli has helped my writing.
YES,YES, YES
Is the short answer, but let me explain.
Like most independent writers I was grabbing time to write when I could between working, gardening, taking the dogs out, keeping 6 kids and 14 grandkids happy and adjudicating on family arguments and doing the wife’s orders. So I wasn’t too keen on starting to write at the end of a long day but somehow I managed to get 6 books out and was doing OK with sales on Amazon. And that was it. I knew nothing about editing, advertising, promoting and selling. Yes, I got the usual vanity publishers telling me how wonderful I was and sign up with them and the millions would roll in. Safe to say with my family background (see my Amazon author page) I wasn’t fooled. Although an American couple Leah Hart and Erin Kirchner trading as BookMarketing Diva.com did take me for a ride but nothing financially disastrous although when I sussed them out for the con artists they are they replied by giving all my books one star nasty reviews and, although sympathetic, Amazon would not delete them and I had to take the books down, re-title and re-cover them which lost me 65 good reviews and I started again. So I was pretty fed up with it all although writing has always been my job so I took the hit and carried on determined to get back to where I was despite others telling me it was all just a rotten industry and if I hadn’t an agent to get a publisher for me to forget it.
Then, up pops an email telling me about a writers group not a million miles away from me.
I gave it a try thinking I’d be sat in the corner as all these high flying authors that were sure to be there would be in a class well above me. Well, they were, and are, BUT they were amazing, they gave out their advice based on their experiences and pointed me and other ‘newbies’ in the right direction, and that direction seemed to be the ALLi website on many occasions. So I started to use the ALLi site a lot, any question I asked was answered or I was referred to a page on the site which had the answer. The writers at these monthly meetings are a cross-section of authors of many genres, poets, short story writers and some who are just about to start their first foray into our world. Some are ALLi members some are not but the information I was getting from the members on formatting, editing, Amazon advertising, and everything else I knew nothing about was invigorating and renewing my resolve to outsell Clancy and Patterson! ( well, why not set your sights high?;-) ) I was being referred to the ALLi pages so often that it was obvious this was the well of information that every indie author should be supping from, so I did. I joined and I have to say that it was the best thing I have done. My books have gone from rank amateur to looking professional with the help of an editor recommended by another ALLi member. My sales are well up and I get the answer to all my writing problems no matter what it is in a couple of clicks. There are members of ALLI at my writers’ club who have gone the extra mile and helped me beyond the call of duty. They know who they are and would be mortified if I named them so I won’t. But I thank you so much. ALLi has renewed my enthusiasm and output tremendously, so if you are feeling alone in this writer’s world, don’t know what a bleed, structural edit or embedded font is, come on in somebody in ALLI is waiting with the answer for you. I wish I’d known about it years ago.
Barry – Thank you for taking the time to write your ALLI review. I’m researching and considering an ALLI membership. I’m ‘well-known’ for providing details, so the length of your review actually compelled me to read it. Anyone can say, “I like ALLI,” but I wanted to learn the details of why you like it. If I join, maybe we chat, and I’ll even get the rest of the story. I’m confident you have more success to share. And I’ll take it to heart, put it into practice, and one day, I, too, will be able to write a glowing review of ALLI. Keep up the good work while enjoying the many Grandchildren. I was GIFTED my first fifteen months ago.
ALLi membership has so much to offer the indie author! As a traditionally published writer, my experience has shown me that unless you are a “box-office” draw, publishers don’t do much for you in terms of promotion and marketing. I decided to make the leap to self-publishing after listening to Hugh Howey describe his own journey, and that’s when I discovered ALLi. I’m still six months away from launching my four-book medieval fantasy series, and joining ALLi has proved invaluable—so many resources and helpful members to guide me along the way! A special thanks to Orna Ross for being so accessible and genuinely interested in us as individuals …there is a lovely “human caring” feel to this group, and I hope to be a lifelong member of this supportive community of creatives…Very grateful, ALLi!
When there is so much information online that I get overwhelmed, I come here. I know I can get honest, constructive feedback, and advice. The information provided is always concise and useful. I never feel pressured to purchase additional services or sign up for this or that. Every person I’ve met in this group has been super supportive and friendly.
I like the idea of a voice for Indies. It is still an uphill struggle getting recognition that we are ‘real’ authors too, but ALLi fights our corner.
The information available to members is fantastic, ‘How to’ guides are there to help you find your way through the publishing maze, and the Watchdog service provides valuable information on who to avoid in the publishing world. Just recently, in a local publication here in Bahrain, I saw an ad for a publishing company seeking manuscripts. With offices in London, Paris and Dubai it sounded tempting, but a quick check on the ALLi list saved me from being drawn into what is ultimately a vanity publishing outfit.
The support from other members in the Facebook group is fantastic; you know you are not alone and there is no such thing as a dumb question. We do seem to have a laugh in there too.
When I started out writing, I spent many hours researching various aspects of the writing and publishing business. I could have saved so much time and effort had I known about ALLi.
The discounts available with IngramSpark are the icing on the cake.
I scrolled through the comments to find the original one I left in 2014, and what I said then is doubly true now! I am a member of other groups and participate in other forums, but in my opinion, ALLi continues to be – by a long shot – the independent author’s professional society of record. Along with all the fabulous information shared, ALLi’s closed Facebook forum is by far the most measured, collegial and respectful of any I’ve observed.
More than the FB Forum, though, in just the past few years the benefits have grown enormously. I look forward to Dan Holloway’s weekly news round-ups and I have often directly benefited from John Doppler’s and Jim Giamatteo’s “watchdog” analyses. The introduction of the newsletter is a fabulous development and the regular podcasts provide great information. I feel like this is a group that is focused 24/7 on the self-publishing landscape and things the independent author needs to know.
I joined again because I’ve met so many other Indies through this platform. We gel well, fight the same obsticles and embrace the same values. ♡ Oddly I tried to pull together something similar to this about 20 years ago but it was too soon then as the indie industry needed to grow a little first. I am pleased to be part of ALLi.
Supportive, positive, realistic, experienced, wide-ranging, generous with responses, and generally all round fab for a newbie like me. Why would anyone not want to be a part of it!
As a new but aged Indie author I was struggling to understand the business. I thought you just wrote a book and people bought it. Then my brilliant editor Helen Baggott suggested it might be helpful to be a member of Alli. I am delighted that yet another of her suggestions has helped me, this time, with the support of so many experienced and friendly people, to find my way through the maize of marketing possibilities.
The support, the links and the fabulous people that are members there are so many reasons to be a member and so much to gain from being part of ALLI
Can’t remember why I joined – but I can tell you why I have renewed my membership for the last two years: the (closed) Facebook group.
You won’t find a funnier, more polite or more professional collection of self-publishers on the Internet. Full stop.
Whether it’s a rookie question about uploading or a more convoluted debate about whether to ‘go Wide’ you will find help there.
And there are no cat-pictures. What’s not to love?
ALLi is possibly the most important tool I have when it comes to learning the skills needed to succeed. With ALLi you know you’re never alone.You have people around you who understand the struggles and successes, and guide you towards getting that success if it’s still not in your grasp. Joining was one of the best decisions I made. I have grown as a person on so many levels since joining. I’ll be a lifetime member, and hope that over time I can pass on my own dose of knowledge to a next generation of writers in kind.
Joining ALLi is the best decision I’ve made this year. The newsletters, Facebook Authors’ Forum, podcasts and publications provide a wealth of awareness and much needed advice. I look forward to the conference next month which I know will be a goldmine of information. As a new indie author, the experience of the ALLi membership is helping me grow in this new role. ALLi is supportive, inspirational and committed. Proudly an ALLi member. Thank you.
I’m loving the ALLi’s most informative newsletter and practical advice. As a debut indie writer it’s tough. Writing is the easy part. Then it’s the tweaking, editing, responding to feedback. Even that is part of an enjoyable process. Once the book’s published and after the amazing thrill of seeing it in print/e-print, that’s when reality sets in and the promotion of the book is time-consuming, frustrating and cna be a deflating process. The tips and advice from the ALLi newsletter and indie Author Fringe websinars are fabulous. Thank you Alli!
Hello Marisa Parker,
Please help me make my book become a Night Sitcom Program on T.V.
You are right! It is a thrill to see my first fiction novel in print. Yes, I want more.
It’s good to reach out and find good advice with others in the same boat… and unlike other Indie groups I’ve been in, it hasn’t become a constant barrage of self-promotions and pleas to buy each other’s books! As with others here, the Facebook discussions are always great, and offering great opportunities to members (like pitching for translation rights or group giveaways) make this a special– and true– alliance.Thanks for hearing& reading feedback.
I’m so glad I joined ALLi last year. While I haven’t finished my first children’s pony/fantasy novel yet, I know when I’m ready to indie publish, I’ll find a wealth of information and advise on the ALLi website and Facebook author forum. What wonderful resources and a great sense of community in this ever-changing world of indie publishing.
Being in marketing and PR, the business and marketing side of being a self-published author excites me – I can’t WAIT to be tracking my book sales across the different publishing platforms, and planning my own marketing and publicity campaigns! It’s been great to be able to share a little of my PR knowledge with other authors, because, even tho’ I’m not published yet, I think about this side of things a lot. ALLi is all about sharing our knowledge for our mutual benefit. Truly, a great space for indie authors.
Having just finished a non-fiction book that’s been 15 years in the making, I was feeling really vulnerable when trying to find a suitable editor and post-editing production. When I saw what ALLi was offering, I knew it was exactly what I was looking for – guidance in this area to providers who wouldn’t rip me off. I’ve gotten so much more of course, as all the previous posts have described. I think that knowing there are others writers all around helps me feel less alone in this new adventure. And I was feeling very unmotivated to do any kind of marketing, but now I’m ready to do what I can. All the advice is priceless, and the generosity is inspiring!
Hello Therese Just read your post and am struck by some similarities with my own situation. What drew me ALLi is also a non-fiction book I wrote 20 years ago, and which has actually been
published, republished in a new edition, but sold out 10 years ago and the publisher no longer exists. There still seems to be a small market for my book – biographical and auto-biographical around the work of two pioneers in vocal expression, and how it helped me personally as well as many others, and artistically. I’m just at the beginning of learning about self-publishing, but as I’m
also at work on a WorkBook about my own research and development of what I received back in the 70’s and 80’s it’s tricky managing my time at the moment. Best wishes
I joined ALLi because I really liked the generous support they offer to independent authors and those who want to self-publish. I love their podcasts and the Indie Author Fringe Conferences they hold. There is so much to learn about publishing, IP rights, marketing and social media that my head spins at times but I always refer to ALLi when I need clarification on something and to keep up with the latest news from the world of books and publishing. I recently needed advice about an offer from an audio book publisher and Orna was so helpful, suggesting what I should negotiate regarding the advance and contract. ALLi’s support and encouragement gave me the confidence to ask for a better deal, which I got and I’m very happy with. Another great resource on ALLi is their Watchdog Desk, which keeps a keen eye on the self-publishing industry and issues warnings about predatory companies.
I joined because I read some great publicly-available posts and knew from my other research that you folks knew what was what in independent publishing. I have been very glad for the association ever since, making personal connections and professional ones that have enhanced my debut as a novelist this year. I find the “Watchdog” feature especially helpful in its timeliness, and I follow the Facebook members group every day, posting in it a lot, when I have something to contribute.
I think the support and advice is priceless. I could not have managed without it – even though I haven’t been about much this year.
I recommend Alli to anyone who expresses an interest in writing and is serious about being an author.
I have been SPing for ten years but only this year joined up. So far it seems to be a very useful and friendly places for support and information. Long may it continue.
Absolutely the FB group. I also value the ‘ethical author’ stance, plus the feeling of being part of a trade union – for that is, in a sense, what ALLi is. I’d like to know more about our membership: how many members we have and where they are in the world. I think ALLi could probably move into campaigning fairly soon, if it hasn’t already. I do struggle to keep up with everything, there’s so much information on the FB group, the site, Twitter etc – but I think that’s a good problem to have. I’d like the option to get some of the content by email, e.g. the weekly round-up; I guess that might not be too difficult to set up (and if it’s there already and I’ve missed it, I refer you to my previous sentence!). Thanks to all the ALLi staff for the great work you do.
I’ve been very glad to be a member and feel in tune with other independent writers. The main benefit to me is being able to get well-informed answers, often several, usually quickly, to queries that crop up in the process of writing. I write every day, I check the ALLi FB page first every time I go on to FB. Often there is information from other writers’ queries that I hadn’t even thought about.
Above all, it’s nice to know there is a means to check vital facts and support if something goes wrong.
I more than made up the price of my membership on a member printing discount for a run of several hundred color books. For good reasons, ALLi is tight lipped about the nature of its membership benefits (most notably because I suspect they conflict with the advertising/price points intended by discount partners).
If you’re serious about using a mix of services in producing your book or planning to print a large run through an on-demand printer, you’ll find that the discounts and benefits offered can allow you to recoup your membership fee very quickly.
That isn’t to say that the more noble reasons for joining don’t already justify it.
But the benefits for anyone looking at hiring a mix of editorial/marketing/publicity/rights management or simply a large printing order can INSTANTLY pay off your membership fee if you’re a serious independent or small publisher. As I say, I think specifics are subject to change and that agreements may prohibit ALLi advertising the specific discounts… But a Google search should give you an idea what kinds of discounts we’re looking at.
I saved $150 on a printing order I had already planned the day I signed up. I expect I’ll save another $50 in the next week. It really isn’t difficult to make great use of savings if you have a high volume of activity with ALLi’s partnering organizations.
For me, the members-only FaceBook forum is definitely the most visible and useful feature of ALLi.
However, having been a member since the very beginning, I also value the friendships (real and virtual) I have made though the Alliance, as well as the incredibly useful, and professional, advice on the ALLi blog.
As many have mentioned before, writing can be a very lonely occupation, and being part of such a knowledgeable, and lively, group of authors has been invaluable to me.
I don’t think I could have taken the scary step of finally becoming an author/entrepreneur six months ago, had it not been for the support and encouragement I received and continue to receive from my fellow ALLi members.
When I talk to people about why they should join ALLi, it’s always the FB forum I mention first. Having that incredible resource of experience, knowledge and camaraderie at your finger tips 24 hours a day is beyond price. But really, ALLi is so much more than that. Being part of a community, having someone to advocate for indie authors, having someone vet services provided to indie authors, the collective ‘buying power’ that can negotiate deals for us – I could go on and on.
I’m going to echo the many other comments: knowledge and camaraderie. I’ve learned so much from the ALLi members, and from the incredible Indie Author Fringe online conference. And when I get all confused about the nitty-gritty details of self publishing, I can post a question on the FB page and get the answers. The people are so generous. It’s an amazing resource. I also find great encouragement from the “we’re in this adventure together” attitude of the members.
I was very happy to have found ALLi. Self-publishing can be a lonely business, but not so with ALLi. Excellent resources for members on their website, and a wonderful forum on Facebook.(My favorite forum on the net)
Also when I was approached by a traditional publisher and asked if I would write and illustrate a children’s book, using a character I had created (whom they had seen on my website), ALLi helped me understand the contract I was sent. Thankfully so. I had never signed a contract with a traditional publisher and if I had accepted the first version, I would have practically given the rights to my character to them (that is: if for example someone would have wanted to make a film of him – LOL, here’s hoping… – I would have given away my rights). With ALLi’s legal advice the contract was ironed four times before I signed it. Now, for example, I kept the merchandising rights to my character. (And just to make records straight: the published was ready to do all the necessary changes without arguments and understood my viewpoint of the contract.)
I would never have understood the contract without ALLi’s help. This advice alone is worth many times the membership fee. Thank you, ALLi!
I joined ALLi within a few weeks of publishing my first book as an independent author. I did so as I knew I needed help and support. I had heard that ALLi was a professional organisation with many industry experts.
To me being a member of ALLi means friendship, a sense of belonging, support and encouragement. It also means giving support and encouragement to others. I ah e earned so much from ALLi members and I know if I have a question or a problem someone will always help or advise. I also learn a lot from those who are at the top of their filed. I have found that everyone is approachable and friendly. Although I am fairly new in my career everyone has been friendly and supportive. I only hope as I progress and learn more that I can be as supportive and helpful as they have.
I joined because it is the “go to” place for Independent Authors and I haven’t been disappointed. The Facebook Group alone is worth the price of admission.
Its about forging a path into a brand-new type of publishing, one that isn’t dominated by government and big business, but is run by the people, for the people. Alli is probably the most forward thinking, energetic, helpful and inclusive groups I’ve ever encountered with a can-do attitude and I love it!!!
For me it’s both a sense of community and the immense generosity of members in sharing their own experiences, particularly in the Facebook group where I have learnt so much since I joined ALLi. I’m not sure I would have made anything like the progress I have without all this help. For me it’s a no brainer to say, if you are an indie author then join ALLi now!
I began by looking for a support group of people who were focused on becoming professional at indie author practices. I stayed because of the generous spirit of everyone who helps contribute tips, advice, contrary opinions and all the rest.
If I could wish for one thing more, it would be some way of allowing us to use the Facebook forum, or some equivalent, to actually search for discussions. Facebook is very bad at searching. A blog forum, instead of Facebook, to which all members could post and comment, would allow all the same strengths while adding the ability to actually categorize and search older discussion. I know many blogs which have robust comment ecosystems, so I know a group like ALLi could make that transition.
So much useful information goes by, that it’s a shame you can’t find it when you want it.
So who do you go to? I want to self publish my book but it seems everything is a scam or rip off and I am really losing hope. Does anyone have anything good to say about any of the publishers out there?
ALLi has plenty of partner members who can help you self-publish your book, all of whom are tried and trusted and will not rip you off. Recommended reading: our guidebook, Choosing a Self-Publishing Service.
I was worried about ‘going it alone’ after 2 trad published books, but I don’t feel alone at all, thanks to ALLi. The support is amazing, and the FB discussions are so useful.
I joined just before I started using Ingram Spark and pretty much made up my membership fee straight away by using the Alli discounts. Fantastic organisation!
[…] an ongoing post about why other ALLi members joined up – Why I Joined ALLi – feel free to add your reasons if you haven’t already done […]
I wanted to learn more about the self-publishing business, and it seemed like a great opportunity to learn from insiders – which indeed it has proved to be. Also, I liked the ethical code.
I joined ALLi because I wanted to hear from other authors about what they were doing to write and promote. It’s a lonely activity when you’re producing a work. Even though you may be physically alone when you interact with ALLi, you’re with someone. And even better, someone who understands what you’re doing. I’ve received the things I have sought. Great ideas and great company.
I was a member of my professional associations in all my other careers and naturally sought something similar for my new career as an independent author. The purpose of professional organizations is to facilitate networking and collaboration, to define and promulgate standards of production and comportment, and to provide a central contact point for the general public.
ALLi fills those roles for me. On a daily basis, I most value the Facebook page through which I can interact with my peers.
1/ To be part of a like-minded community of independent authors so that I can pick their brains and share what little I know.
2/ Having a supportive group of friends who don’t bitch and whine and moan but genuinely want to help others in the same boat as themselves.
1. Why did you join ALLi? Was looking for an organization with people who have been writing and marketing successfully that I could possibly get more insights from.
2. What are the top benefits you get from being a member? Jury’s still out on this one. I honestly don’t know.
It was for the Ingram Spark discount–you want us to be honest, right? There is also some publicity value for being a member.
Yeah. I saved more on my first order than the entire membership fee and since I use Spark to distribute individual copies internationally rather than pay outrageous international shipping, I expect to continue to see benefits. Come for the discounts, stay for the community.
After a quick perusal, much of the advice I see here would be available for authors within genre communities but you DO get the added benefit of it being in one place here. So I think ALLi is probably also a great investment for someone whose work bridges across genres or the small publisher looking to enter a new genre.
If you’re a romance author, I imagine you can get access to advice in par with what you’d get on ALLi from indie romance novelist communities. The same for sci-fi/YA/fantasy/etc. An advantage to ALLi is that the advice is all in one place, however.
In general, strong advice will tend to come from deep networking in a genre. A breadth of knowledge can be found on the CreateSpace/Kindle forums/etc. but it isn’t terribly deep aside from knowledge of printing and file specs. From what I’ve seen so far, the knowledge in ALLi is deep in terms of both content/practices and printing/specs.
Sharing of best practice is the biggest reason for me. I joined ALLi before I published my first novel and the amount of guidance others were willing to share (much of it through the fantastic private Facebook group) helped me avoid the typical pitfalls. Now, a year later, I consider myself a seasoned indie publisher and have become one of those who offer guidance to others and I’m delighted to be able to return the favour. I also very much enjoy the in-person events that ALLi organises, which makes all the online relationships already built that much better!
The result of all this is that together, ALLi gives indies a big voice in the larger world of publishing.
I had been thinking about self-publishing for a while but was afraid to take the leap. Then I saw Debbie Young speak at the RNA Conference last summer and I knew that ALLi would be a great help to me on the path to publication. So I joined as an Associate member and I have gained so much support and encouragement from the Facebook forum that I am now about to self-publish my debut novel. I could not have done this without the help of so many other friendly people who are members of ALLi. It is a very professional organisation and one I am very proud to belong to.
Having become aware of self-publishing – as opposed to vanity publishing – back in 2005 while researching an article for SHE magazine, I have taken a close interest in the subject ever since. Most of the ‘services’ aimed at the unpublished were thoroughly unpleasant and exploitative – playing on people’s desperation and thoroughly ripping them off with false promises. Wouldn’t touch them and found them frighteningly criminal in intent. My first novel, One Apple Tasted, originally written in the 1990s, was picked up for publication by a small publisher in 2008. They then went non fiction, and I was wooed and won by a very hot literary agent who loved the second novel. She didn’t manage to sell it for all kinds of reasons – one of which was that it ‘had no central romance’ and another that ‘they don’t fall in love with the protagonist’. Having been a magazine and newspaper journalist and commissioning editor for many years, I have found trad publishing’s approach unprofessional, too subjective, and prone to massive worrying failures. Huge advances are a gamble, that is all too often lost. So, I decided to self publish that difficult second novel. I just don’t think I would have got as far as I did, in spite of my background, without the generous help and advice I received on Alli’s Facebook forum and the advice services provided by Alli which seem utterly professional and straightforward. Having published an out of print book for a relation through Lulu, I wish I had known about you earlier and avoided the rather poor quality of the printing back then. Never mind. On we go….
I joined ALLi when I decided to indie publish my debut novel, and after having bought ALLi’s Self-Publishing Guide. I value the wealth of information available through ALLi, but most of all I enjoy being part of this generous community of writers where we encourage, support and share experiences. I find it exciting being part of ALLi because they are at the forefront of changes within the publishing industry – and they are embracing the changes.
I’m an ALLi type. Joining, for me, was more like osmosis than election. I’ve researched many writer’s organizations and ALLi stands out and apart.
The chief benefit to me as an ALLi member is timeliness. It keeps me abreast of developments in publishing. I plan take more and more advantage of ALLi’s programs — the online events, the promotion, the connections, the resources. There’s a great deal here, and most of all, there’s a responsive, proactive, ethical organization with a committed membership.
Unlike so many writers’ forums, ALLi somehow seems to have become populated mostly by people who either know what they’re doing, or are genuinely serious about learning. I’ve no idea how this was achieved but as a result, I find it both a refreshing haven and an invaluable source of professional advice, thought-provoking insights and creative inspiration.
As a Partner member, I should also add that it’s helped enormously in establishing my new venture, Readers in the Know, where many of our best authors first discovered us here.
I joined to interact with authors and self-publishers. I like the features and online resources that are provided, as well the drinking games mentioned above.
I think indies are going to “take back” publishing from the “Big 5” and Amazon. It will be a long and bloody fight, but we shall prevail!
I joined Alli after having a full MS rejected by a leading literary agent after a 4 month wait. I had been in two minds about which path to take but when that rejection came through I decided I wasn’t going to wait for another literary agent to give his seal of approval – I might die in the process of waiting and my book left in a drawer to rot. I commissioned an illustrator for the cover and set about finding how best to go about the rest of the process. Sadly, I found myself going round in circles – there is a minefield of contradictory advice on the net and much of it from people trying to capitalize on the self-publishing boom who don’t really have the appropriate skills or experience. I was spending days reading and researching until I had almost come to a state of complete inertia. However, one day, I stumbled across the Alli website. I recognized Orna Ross’s name from years ago when we she was active on Blogcatalog and took the decision there and then to join Alli in the hope of finding like-minded people and the advice that would help take me from aspiring novelist to published novelist. Subsequently, I have published two books and am working on a third. I would recommend Alli to any writer who is seriously considering self-publishing. Not only will it provide advice and comradeship but it is, in a sense, an unwritten union – one which seeks to put writers back at the centre of publishing and redress the imbalance between publishers and writers. It is a union of choice and that’s why it will survive and flourish.
1. Why did I join ALLi? Frankly, I was tricked. I received an email from ALLi saying my book had been nominated for an award as best indie book of the month or something, but I had to join the club to be eligible. Well, I’ve joined but see no evidence of any book awards to anybody. Shame on ALLi for bait and switch.
2. What are the benefits? This is a great organization. There’s a deep fund of knowledge here. No regrets about joining. But lay off the bait and switch. Okay?
Hi Joe, I’m not sure about the email you were sent but no tricks afoot. The launch of our Book of the Month award fell through, because the sponsor pulled out and we don’t have the resources to manage without that. Your book nomination has been noted, along with the others (https://selfpublishingadvice.org/read-an-indie-author-alli-book-of-the-month-awards/ ) and we are disappointed that it didn’t work out. (If pleased that there are now so many book awards opening up to indies.) If you ever have any questions about any of our services, don’t hesitate to ask, by email or in one of our member forums. Glad you find your membership of value.
I joined ALLi back in February for the benefits it offers and to make more contacts among fellow author entrepreneurs. What I didn’t expect was that on top of learning a ton and meeting some amazing people, it would also help me realize that part of what I want to do is share my experiences with others and help others on their own path to self-publishing.
Jessica Bell encouraged me to join, and I have no regrets. My writing career has taken off at great speed this year, and having the support of so many lovely folk is overwhelming.
Knowing I have that support is reassuring, and the professional information I receive has helped me move forward with courage.
1. Why did you join ALLi?
I follow Orna on Twitter. After reading some interesting and encouraging articles she’s written/posted, I had a nosy at the ALLi website – it was the idea of an ‘approved’ services database (esp for editing) that lured me in.
2. What are the top benefits you get from being a member?
I’ve only been a member for a few months so I’m sure I’ll find many more, but I found the actual database a little bit limited at the moment – I struggled to find a choice of UK-based, commerical romantic fiction editors). In contrast, I’ve found the Facebook group amazingly helpful, supportive and fun.
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Ooh, I’m well down the list! I joined because Karen Inglis told me to 🙂 I love being able to ask questions in the Facebook group and seeing the replies to questions other people ask. Plus the sense of belonging to a like-minded community that campaigns to improve the status of Indie authors.
Linda Gillard told me about ALLi two years ago and I decided to join. I am glad that I did – it is a professional group for professional writers who have chosen to be author-publishers. The loop is invaluable and the blog informative – worth every pound of the modest membership fee.
I joined ALLi for three reasons.
I have been published by a traditional publisher, but I self-published my own magazine for six years and learned so much from the experience that I know in my heart that my calling is to be an author-entrepreneur.
With experience on both sides of the tracks, it’s clear to me that traditional publishers are increasingly unable to provide what authors need, whether in fiction or non-fiction; authors must already provide 95% of their own marketing, and contracts are increasingly cutting the returns authors can expect.
I’m aware that self-publishing can feel like ploughing a very lonely furrow through a dangerous minefield, and this is the first reason I joined: ALLi provides a friendly and nurturing support system and forum for authors who have taken the decision to take control of their own destiny.
Secondly, ALLi encouages and promotes the adoption of professional standards in self-publishing. If we expect to be taken seriously as contenders in the global publishing, then we must go the extra mile to show that we care not only about the content we are delivering, but also how that content is delivered, in terms of linguistic and grammatical accuracy, design and delivery direct to our readers.
And thirdly ALLi provides very practical support when it matters, ready to advise on technical, marketing or legal matters — a sort of union or guild for the one of the most diverse and disparate groups of self-employed people on earth. The fact that it was able to even get started is quite an achievement in itself.
And actually, there’s a fourth reason. I’ve learned so much on my own journey so far that I want to share that knowledge and experience with others, and ALLi’s variois forums are the perfect place to do so for the benefit of like-minded and highly creative people.
For me, ALLi is a mine of information, advice, and support, and an excellent forum in which to network and gain professional contacts. Occasionally, I, too, am able to pass on advice and suggestions to others, which I’m delighted about – I want to be able to give back as much as I get out, if that’s possible! Becoming a member of ALLi has been the biggest contributing factor in encouraging me to ‘up my game,’ reach for higher standards, and become a more polished and professional independent author.
I spotted that another writer I know was a member and decided to give it a go (not expecting much!) as I believed it made sense to be part of a professional association. I have been amazed at how unexpectedly terrific it is. I just wish I’d found it sooner.
As several people have pointed out above, writing is a solitary pursuit and it can be easy to get discouraged by the enormity of the task of trying to get your work out there and seen. The ALLi community has turned out to be a warm and wonderful bunch of people who are a fantastic source of knowledge, camaraderie and advice. The Facebook page is superb – although alas another excuse for procrastination! – and people go out of their way to offer help – and quickly.
The materials such as the self-publishing guide are packed with useful information. I have also enjoyed the London meetups – and at the ACX one last month I walked into the room and already felt I knew people – recognising them from the Facebook page.
The website could be improved – but I know that’s in the works.
One thought – wouldn’t it be worthwhile forging some formal relationships with the equivalent associations for independent booksellers? – I’m sure there’s fertile ground there for some collaborative mutually beneficial work to be done. Maybe it’s already happening – but if not is it worth considering?
Thanks so much Clare and yes, website relaunch is pencilled for November 20th. And we are indeed making links with the bookseller’s associations and other authors associations took. Watch this space… and thank you so much for your kind comments.
I joined ALLi on the recommendation of several indie author friends. Their accolades were spot on. Spending time with Orna Ross at Pubsmart last year sealed the deal for me as I witnessed her passion and commitment to the principles of this group. It’s obvious that the members are professional in their approach to publishing and dedicated to their craft. Collegiality, support, information-sharing and good humour live here and I’m proud to be a member!
I joined ALLi for professional support and advice but one of the best benefits is meeting a group of supportive, like minded people. It’s a fantastic organisation and gives lots of value and opportunities to members
I think most sophisticated readers know by now that the traditional New York publishers publish what they think will sell, and sell A LOT! That leaves a lot of folks out in the cold.
As a writer of fiction that includes lesbian characters, I realize that a New York publisher will count that as a disadvantage, despite the fact that there is a very large audience of gay people, relatives and friends of gay people, and folks who are just realizing that we exist and want to learn more about us.
How many other so-called niche audiences have been underserved by traditional publishing?
Now, not only can we publish the books we want to write, we can also find the books we want to read. Twenty years ago every lesbian I knew owned every book and movie that came out with even a mention of us. Now, that would be impossible, unless you live in a library.
I joined ALLi because I believe that independent authors are going to be the ones doing the revolutionary, innovative work that establishment publishing is so afraid of. Now we just have to convince readers of the value they will find in our books.
I like being able to get reactions to potential cover designs and potential titles from people who know what they’re talking about and will say more than “I like/love/hate it.”
Because this is a pay-to-play organization, the members are more serious about their business and craft than participants in most online writers’ groups. Many of those newbies are clueless and/or just want to plug their latest crappy novels — and they ignore or rebuff constructive criticism.
Someone resented my asking how many books she’d have to sell in order to make a profit on her $18,000 payment to a self-publishing company.
During my professional life in HR I benefited enormously from being part of a supportive institute that was dedicated to helping people get the most out of their career, sharing ideas, and expertise. Therefore, as I stand on the threshold of a new career as an author, I was delighted to discover this organisation offering advice and support to help me quickly gain confidence that I was ‘ on the right track’. In the few months I’ve belonged I admit to being like a sponge, not participating much, but soaking up other people’s experience and expertise.
Then there’s the responsiveness. Three hours ago I asked a question via the excellent Facebook group, and benefited from a reply within an hour.
So, from a satisfied newbie, thank you x
Phew – have scrolled a long way down – only saw this Saturday evening – yesterday was writer’s wash-out day – how lovely to find this today.
Yes. I joined ALLi when I was at a Writers’ platform Day in East London last year, and Debbie Young bounced up as I browsed the ALLi stall. She was so cheerful and friendly, perfect ambassador.
ALLi sounded like the society from heaven for lonely indie writers.
I love to be in contact with others in my field. I don’t take to solitariness easily, and having encouragement, advice, help, and social contact keeps me going. Hopefully as I learn more I can give a bit to others as well. The sharing on Facebook is wonderful. I hope when I meet members in the real world it’ll be as good!
Being part of ALLI means I can resist those awful whispers of ‘you aren’t a real author if you ‘self’ publish, and as a group we are able to begin to make an impact, the kind of impact that’s impossible for scattered creatives on their own.
I expect it;s all been said already (above) but those are my heartfelt comments! Thank youto our founders, workers, and everyone at ALLi.
For me, it’s purely selfish. It’s a great opportunity to meet authors who, like me, have struggled to find a voice and then get it heard. Although I’ve been toiling away as a writer and then a self-publisher for many years, it’s fantastic to find folk who are even more experienced, wise and helpful and give their time to creating this wonderful gang of bandits. Live long and prosper, ALLi!
I don’t even remember how I discovered the Alliance of Independent Authors, but I’m not sure what would have become of me if I hadn’t! In addition to what others have said about the amazing amounts of shared learning, the generosity of the members, and the warmth and supportive atmosphere of the Facebook forum, I will add that ALLi truly is and feels like a professional society for writers, with an emphasis on the “professional”. Topics are discussed with maturity and thoughtfulness and often with a great deal of expertise. The people who make it work put enormous effort into advocacy and contributing fresh thoughts for the industry. To me, it feels more than any other like the association of record for self-publishing.
I joined because I’m a believer in the ‘better together’ concept. I took the leap with Triskele Books on precisely the same ethic – going it alone, together.
I’ve learnt so much from ALLi and its members; I’ve made friends, gathered inside advice and grabbed opportunities I’d never have discovered alone. ALLi is a resource, a community, a Go-To advisory team, a force for indies and a place I call home.
I joined after Jill Marsh introduced me to ALLi through Twitter. I kept seeing people I respect in indie publishing were also involved. Joanna Penn, Jane Dixon-Smith, Orna Ross, and Debbie Young, to name the first few. I’m involved with a number of professional organizations, writing and publishing both, and ALLi has the most generous and culturally diverse and savvy and committed community. When I speak on indie publishing, it’s the first resource I recommend, every time.
A) Shameless self-promotion.
B) Get to hang out with people who spell “organization” with an “s.”
C) The drinking games.
D) For every other incredibly helpful virtue enumerated in the comments above!
The help and support from the FB group alone is worth being a member. This is why I recommended two people to join today.
Where do I start? ALLI has quite literally changed my writing life. Joining has brought me a huge bank of resources on self-publishing and all that goes with it, like promoting my work. It has brought the support of other writers who’ve been there before, and who are amazingly willing to share their experience and skills. And it has brought me new friends! I could go on forever, but I’ve got a book to write.
[…] answer. We’re always keen to remove the association between independent and isolated, as our members will testify- which is why we wanted to introduce you to a couple of ways you can get your self-publishing […]
I am honestly not sure yet, as I have not had time to concentrate wholly on setting up my second novel for publication due to working more than full time to keep the pot boiling. However, I am going to become more and more active as publication date in October gets closer. I also wanted a sense of belonging maybe….
For months, I received the ALLi newsletters and enjoyed them immensely. What an invaluable resource. In December 2013, I decided the time had come to join ALLi as a professional member. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made in my effort towards advancing my craft. I have learned so much, and I’m just getting started.
By far the best of all the independent author groups I have encountered. The founders are active and effective hosts, and the community members exhibit a great mix of helpfulness, encouragement, and analysis.
My go-to place for indie author questions. If the group doesn’t have an answer, or at least suggestions, they’ll find out and come back and tell everyone else.
I joined because I want to be as profession as possible in my writing & knew I could benefit from shared experience. After looking at a couple of groups, I was most impressed at the credentials which Alli’s advisors bring to the table, how well-organized and focused the group seems to be, and some of the people who participate.
Since joining, I have found all that to be true. It’s still up to the individual author to create a quality product and deal with the deadly marketing, but Alli offers great tools and input. I find its links to documented data and info one of its most useful things. Another is helpful comments from writers who are succeeding in the competitive indie world and are willing to help others.
Thank you!
1. Why did you join ALLi? I joined because I noticed two writers that I admire showed the logo on their websites, so I clicked in to have a look, then decided it was probably time I grew up and joined the Indie world properly.
2. What are the top benefits you get from being a member? I’d have to say the FB page, it raises issues I hadn’t even realized were issues, and I’ve not asked for help yet without getting quality responses.
The only thing I would want to see more interactive is the website itself, once I had signed in I went to look up more about the authors in question – maybe they chose to hide their profiles, but it wasn’t the directory of authors I had expected, only one! profile came up, I was horrified. I haven’t tried since, maybe I looked too quickly and didn’t yet have access. As writers I think we are intensely curious about each other and it was a disappointment. My membership has already paid for itself, though, on the FB page.
Hi Elizabeth, I think if you check again you’ll find that member profile issue was an error (or perhaps a browser issue). Hundreds of our members have chosen to make their profiles public. Thanks so much for your comments and glad you find our closed Facebook forum so useful.
I, along with my co-authors, joined ALLi because I was looking for a network of support that wasn’t a) obsessively promotional or b) promoting low-quality works. ALLi stood out to me as a group of writers who are truly pursuing writing as a craft and a profession, and desire more than just ‘instant fame and fortune’ as so many authors do.
As to the benefits, I’ve mostly found that whenever I have a question, or a problem, I have a network of people to whom I can turn for support and advice. Also, ALLi has helped me keep up with the news and trends in the publishing world, and to better my own business plan and writing strategy as a result.
I like your comment about writers on ALLi appearing to be ‘pursuing writing as a craft and a profession’ – in other words, taking their work seriously 🙂
I joined because I believe Indi authors must strive to rise above the elements of self publishing that cause us all such grief, poor standards, no editing, poor covers – vanity in other words.
We need to set high standards and rise above the pool of flotsam that floods the market.
ALLi seemed to me to represent that ethos and is working to break the boundaries that limit us and educate the industry about what Indi publishing can achieve when the highest standards are applied.
As a new member I’ve not seen the benefits I hope see in future – but for the vital education and inspiration that is a continuing benefit on membership
I joined ALLi after attending the Writers’ Fair run by The Writing Platform in London on 4 Nov this year. Why? Well, a lot of it because Debbie Young bounced up almost immediately I began browsing the ALLi stall, with a big friendly grin on her face, and was so positive & pleasant!! I came home and looked up the website, got a good idea that ALLi was what I’d been looking for, and went for it. So far am not disappointed, and enjoy reading & commenting on the blogs, have learned useful things and hope to continue. I feel ALLi authors are people who think positively and face the ‘changes in publishing’ with confidence and ideas. Lots of good links, too.
It’s the only club that doesn’t chase me out with an axe.
Peace, Seeley
Not yet, Seeley, not yet! 🙂
I joined to connect with other independent career novelists. The private Facebook group is an excellent forum with great information shared daily.
I immensely enjoy being a Partner Member in ALLi. It is a forward-thinking and fast-moving organization that supports its members in forging ahead in new territory. I get to rub shoulders virtually with heaps of creative people and I have the opportunity to be part of discussions that enable me to understand authors’ issues, and then I can devise ways to tailor the editorial services I offer to best help writers achieve their goals and be successful…all the while introducing new insights and important information to the world! Keep up the great work, ALLi, and let’s together find new ways to communicate the written word to the wider world.
Now on my third book. I have spent hours following blogs and tweets about everything to do with self publishing. I have deleted most others as ALLi is without doubt the best source of up to date advice, and for useful contacts such as proofreaders and cover designers. It is the biz!
I am here for support and advice.
I joined because I wanted to learn all I can from a group that has been there. I’m publishing my first novel and I am sure that this community will be very beneficial to me.
I joined because I needed a central place that was reliable where I could go for advice I could count on. I wanted to be sure I wouldn’t be led astray or into scams. I’d been following the blogs of a couple of the “advisors” for a year or so anyway, so I knew I’d be in good hands.
Benefits: Amazing mentors with well-established reputations, a blog chock-full on information, and access to resources like a translation rights agent and PubMatch.
I was one of the first American authors to join ALLi. I was disappointed that in-person meetups were held in the UK, Ireland, etc., but I quickly found that these brilliant ALLi members are, after all, writers, and online communication alone has been well worth the membership. As with any group, ALLi is what I make of it. I benefit more if I contribute, get involved, support other members, and make the effort to get to know members personally. ALLi has attracted like-minded people with the shared goal of finding innovative (and effective) ways to market books. Game-play and posturing has no place here. ALLi is business, heart, and even quirk. ALLi is the only paid membership I belong to; it’s all I need in one place. I appreciate this efficiency as my priority is writing more books. This mindset is shared by the ALLi members, which is why this is the right organization for me.
I’ve commented on the positive aspects I draw from ALLi in an earlier comment, and I especially appreciate the knowledge that is shared in the FB group and on the blog, but I’d like to make a plea here for more face-to-face meet-ups. Remembering the experience of LBF2013, it really felt like Christmas to be able to socialise and network in an informal way with so many other indie authors (especially with Amazon footing the bill)!
Since I spend far too many hours in front of screens every day, I would really welcome the chance to connect with other ALLi members over a glass of wine or a coffee, maybe once every month or two? In that vein I’m looking forward to the Stratford-on-Avon get-together on the 14th. Who knows, we might even be able to get Amazon or Kobo to pick up the slush-fund tab on a regular basis?
I’ve read most to the earlier replies and all of the things that I wanted to say has already been said, some even better. So I guess what I want to say is for ALLI to keep doing what they’re doing. They’re doing a great job, and this is a great FB group. ’nuff said.
I joined the Alliance 8-9 months ago when I first decided to self-publish. I can’t remember where I saw it recommended – I haven’t really looked at it until I saw the FB group mentioned and I joined the group about 2 months ago. I’ve found the FB group addictive! Everyone is friendly and helpful, and professional and knowledgeable. A very rare combination anywhere, the only group like it that I’ve found for self-publishers.
I joined ALLi to get to know other indie authors and I’ve found the networking and information aspects very valuable, especially the Facebook page. There’s always something new to learn and usually another member out there who has the answer, or has been down that particular road already!
I LOVE the Facebook group. It’s my first go-to when I’m in need of publishing advice big or small. The community is fantastic. Caring, helpful, encouraging. Although I haven’t needed it yet, it’s nice to know that I have someone to turn to for advice if I want to seek an agent for translation rights, or attend a writing event abroad. Because I live in Greece, it would become a big (expensive) decision, and it’s nice to know I’d have someone to tell me which ones are worth the expense.
Publishing has come to constitute many different platforms (all of them moving) and more options than ever before, and every writer’s output and resources and strengths continue to be as different as they ever were. In that context, there is no omniscient guide to be found who will know exactly how a particular project should best be progressed; but my sense is that ALLi comes the closest to being such a guide. I suspect this is because its leadership’s insistence on professionalism hasn’t nudged the organisation into providing dogmatic advice or having an exclusively commercial approach, but instead both steers and reflects a tentative consensus of the best available professionally-oriented information, from and for an appropriately loose flock who are all heading in roughly the same direction. I’m confident it will continue adapting in sensible ways to continued change, and I admire its mission to enrich the culture by helping and shaping new voices.
ALLi is a tremendous resource. If you have a question, you can get answers from the group in seconds. You get answers reflecting many different experiences and viewpoints. I’ve had only a few critical questions and found honest answers and help right away.
I couldn’t imagine writing without ALLi.
I have found the advice useful, the members approachable and very helpful, and the resources invaluable.
I would not hesitate to recommend joining Alli to emergent Indie authors.
It takes many, many hours of hard research to begin to establish a useful structure of advice and help, online.
Joining this group sooner than I did will immediately give you a sane, informative reference point from which to begin your adventure!
I joined ALLi because the waters of self-publishing are so murky for a first time author, everyone giving different advice. It’s hard to know which advice to trust. With ALLi, I know that the advice I receive is based on things that have worked for authors treating their career in writing professionally.
Sometimes I do get confused about where information is located. Not much is linked from the main website, so I would like to see more of a database of information linked from that. There is such a wealth of information in ALLi, and yet little of it is available directly from the main website and things can get a bit jumbled on the blog. For example, if there was a ‘topic’ list of elements of self-publishing, and members could submit their blog entries/articles/interviews/etc, so if someone had a question about a certain topic, they could select a number of articles to read from any number of members.
Some great suggestions here, Michele, thank you, and very timely as we revamp our main website and look to new ways to collate the great information we’re amassing, not least our forthcoming publication, “How To Self-Publish & Sell Your Book”. Do also look below to see the category list of blog entries, which may help you to find your way about. Thanks for commenting and for being part of our alliance.
The shared knowledge, without a doubt. If I have a publishing question, I can ask the FB group and I know several people will have the experience to answer – not to mention the generosity of spirit. I’m a member of a lot of FB groups but have to turn the notifications off because I’m already drowning in emails, but I keep the ALLI notifications on because someone is always starting a valuable discussion.
As well as FB, I enjoyed the first members-only podcast with Orna and Joanna. And I’m very impressed with the special deals Orna is negotiating. Heaven knows how you get the time or energy to, Orna, but it’s very much appreciated.
I recommend ALLI to anyone who’ll listen!
I have loved being a part of ALLI. Everyone is incredibly supportive and the community is very strong. I have learned so much from the members around me and have found that the wealth of information and the onslaught of support every time I ask a question has been incredibly gratifying. I look forward to continuing to be a part of ALLI.
ALLi is a friendly and informative place where indie authors have a voice. I’ve already benefited hugely from being a member through their help over a legal issue with a foreign publisher. With the groundswell over self-publishing growing more positive by the day, ALLi gives authors one of the best and most powerful vehicles to ride the wave.
Hi Geraldine
I just wanted to say, as an avid ALLi reader who has published books under both methods, that I think ALLi is the best the thing that’s ever happened to self-publishers. It has shaken self-publishing free of the insulting ‘vanity’ label that prevailed for so long and makes self-publishers true contenders.
Jim
Easy: shared experiences with honest and open advice without any hidden agenda.
[…] if you haven't already. The association is now recognised by the media and, more importantly, by its own members, as the premier nonprofit  for self-publishing […]
I joined primarily to keep abreast of the latest information of relevance to Indies. I most often access information through the FB page and it has been invaluable. I’ve also made some great contacts on the site. Joining has been very beneficial and also fun!
To get good advice from others who’ve gone before, and also to meet up sometimes. In my other life I don’t meet many writers. Have to say I’m really impressed by your resources- thank you.
Hi, my name is Gabrielle, and I’m new here. I’m very happy to have found your group, thanks to Joanna Penn:)
I’ve just finished writing my first book, and had sent the manuscript to Balboa Press to be published when I happened to discover bad reviews about them, warnings to run, run, run, and that they are a vanity press. This happened three days ago. I was shocked by what I read, but very glad that I made this discovery. I’m serious about writing, and don’t want to be associated with a company that has a dodgy reputation. Yesterday, I terminated my contract with Balboa Press and am going to self publish myself. This feels both exciting and freeing!! I have lots to learn, now, but I’m a very willing learner, and very happy to have found this group. I look forward to participating. Thank you:)
In 2004 I wrote a book but it needed more so I did not seek publication then and moreover I was hoping for an opportunity to have more control over what I wrote than to give my control to others. In order to do so I needed a resource to tap into that knowledge and expierence. Recently I have written a letter to the editor (3 pp) that was published in May 2013 issue in a national magazine. I am cold at publishing, so in truth I am only starting now so I need to learn all I can and Alli is a reservior of knowledge and exerience to draw on. Also I feel that any publicity for my book that I had the opportunity to generate on my own sholud be reflected in the percentage I profit from rather than treat me as if I started out cold. Moreover Alli is a place I can share and receive help from others in a win-win situation. That’d be an ideal situation for me.
It is just like the picture at the top, a warm hug. And supported by the monthly meetings where the people are real not virtual. My first one is out there and now I have a new list of questions, but without being told, ‘Just do it,’ I might still be dithering.
The feeling that it was at the cutting edge of the indie movement.
The prospect of interesting friendshipswith other authors as yet unknown to me.
Knowledge that a few authors I knew, respected and admired had already joined.
Opportunities to exchange best practice.
Awareness that the group had done a lot in the space of a few months (I joined last autumn) – felt like I’d miss out if I didn’t jump aboard quick!
I’m now completely addicted to the Facebook group – always stimulating, lively and compelling – which in itself is worth the membership fee.
And…. if it doesn’t sound shallow… the lure of being entitled to put its beautiful badge on my website! 🙂
I’m a substantive and developmental editor, and I joined as a Partner Member. I first joined ALLi to learn about self-publishing in response to so many questions about it from the authors I work with – I needed to know, at the very least, people, places and companies to whom I could direct them, sure that they weren’t going to get ripped off. Now, ALLi is the first thing I recommend. The wealth of the resources, the great discussions, the willingness of members to help each other, are so inspiring. Thanks so much for all you do!
I don’t visit here often enough, but when I do there’s always something interesting to read and mountains of useful advice. Thank you.
I joined the Alliance as a Partner member. I’m a freelance editor, proofreader and book indexer. I’d second Janey Burton’s comments about helping authors find us ‘partners’ on the website – we seem to be well buried. I have had one enquiry as a result of being a partner member, but that was someone Orna pointed in my direction (rather than them choosing me from the directory).
Luckily enough, having access to the Facebook group makes the membership fee worthwhile for me.
Could I also suggest that the site offer links to the member directories of all the main editorial professional bodies: SfEP (UK), AFEPI (Ireland), etc.?
Thank you Averill. We are now in the throes of putting together a new partner program that will draw author and partner members closer together. And the suggestion of links to the associations is an excellent one — now going into the resource pack. Many thanks
I really appreciate the FB group where we share questions, knowledge, experience and real results. I’ve joined author groups and even ‘book lover’ groups, but this is the first time I’ve found a business minded author group. It’s not just marketing, though, and how to beat the system, but just how to do things better, what works, and also encouragement for our writing and career. I’ve also enjoyed sharing what I’ve learned to help others and get a different perspective on it. The group is just great for my needs – I’m a full time author, which means I work at home. Since I live in the country, I go online to connect with other people and writers.
I’m not sure if there’s anything to ‘do better.’ I have thought of suggesting a critique trade service of some kind, where we can trade first chapters with others to get feedback. I thought of that after Joanna Penn posted a blog post about what makes readers stop reading a preview. Maybe members could be those first readers. Just an idea – I think the Alliance is wonderful as it is.
Having just published my debut novel, I felt I needed to be part of an active writing community. I joined the Alliance for that reason and when I found the FB site, I was pleasantly surprised. The wealth and volume of information is staggering and I have foregone posting to my own profile in favour of posting something/replying to a comment on the aLLi FB page. I’m sure the balance will right itself, but the members area is a tad addictive!
The authors/editors/industry experts there are so generous with their time you can’t help but share your own experiences with them. If you have a question about something, just pop it in a post and members will let you know if they can help. Plus aLLi are always there to help you promote your work.
I joined because I hope to join the ranks of published authors. I’ve just finished the first draft of my first novel and am about to start revising. I started without knowing about the various authors’ groups and without any instruction. Therefore, the book was written without any plan in place, just a general idea of what I wanted to write. Now I find that a couple of my characters took over in the middle of the book, my characters have grown (as have I) and my writing skills have also improved. New scenes popped up their heads during the writing. Now I have to revise the earlier chapters in order to foreshadow things that happen later in the book, and update characters so they match physical descriptions, characteristics, etc. that appear at the end of the book. It’s kind of bad when your character starts out with blue eyes, and ends up with gray ones. Also it meant doing my research as I went along.
Also, a member of my local writing group signed with xlibris for a book that was to come out Christmas of 2011 and is still not published. I almost signed with iUniverse and you have saved me. Even thought I’ve told them I decided not to go that route, they still email and phone me occasionally, trying to push me into going with them. Of course, since I don’t know how to market I would need their most expensive package.
Now to find the FB page everyone is talking about. Maybe I can learn what I’m doing. Is it possible to get help regarding my WordPress blog page through this group? It doesn’t seem as thought I know how to find it at the WordPress site. Or perhaps I just don’t recognize what I want when I see it.
Hi Judith, we don’t have the resources to give one-to-one advice on blogging or technical issues on your own author website — but you will find many helpful comrades at the closed, member-only Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ALLIA.Writer.Members/, who should be able to point you in the right direction. And we can certainly recommend good partners who will support your self-publishing efforts, including blogging, who are good value-for-money and who deliver what they promise. Thank you for joining and look forward to working with you..
I joined Alli as a Partner member (I’m a Publishing Consultant, offering Editorial, Marketing and Contracts advice) on the advice of a publishing ‘gun for hire’ called Chris McVeigh, who I met on Twitter and later in person after a Bookmachine event. When I explained that I had just turned self-employed and needed to find authors to be my clients, including indie authors, he introduced me to Orna on Twitter and, impressed by the idea of the Alliance and the people running it, I joined up so as to get my Partner badge on my website. It’s really important to me that my badge shows I’ve been vetted, I’m trustworthy and I’m committed to helping Indie authors make their books the best they can be.
So far, I’ve not been approached by any authors from this source (though I hope that will change in time) and my only feedback would be that when I set up my profile I found the choices of services I could show a bit limiting, which makes me wonder whether an Author can find me when they need me! Could a filter for Marketing be added (as distinct from Press and Publicity, as I’m not a PR), and I’d love a new one for Contracts – as I’m sure Indie authors will still need to understand and where possible negotiate agreements they enter into.
Good suggestions Janey, we’ll pass them on for our next round of website improvements. Thank you for being a partner member and do know that you can reach out to the authors through the Facebook and Google and LInkedIn closed groups for members.
Thanks for the suggestions, Janey. We are currently reviewing the Partner Programme and ways to better link and we will be introducing the new filters you suggest (and two others) soon.
Joining a professional organization that provides tools for growth and educational material on how to succeed is important. I wanted to find a group where there was a supportive environment and encouragement to succeed. Your professional staff and advisers are an impressive group of individuals.
After just releasing my sixth publication, the challenges are always the same – writing a good book, releasing quality work, and marketing for sales. It’s an endless cycle of doing it all on our own, of course, because we are indies. However, it’s well worth it.
I know this sounds a bit odd, but I like the title too. “Alliance”….feels like we’re part of a big force out to change the publishing landscape.
Hi there
I joined because I am feeling a bit lost and lonely out here in writer world! Becoming an author is something dear to my heart but terrifying at the same time and it is such a relief to hear of others who feel the same way. It is also daunting how fast the self-publishing world is changing. Am also concerned that these are shark infested waters I am swimming in!
I have been burned by so-called experts tapping into my insecurities and offering the “solution” to my various woes!
Now i am resolved to do my best to only connect with honest and like minded people and the Alliance seems like the right place to be.
sarah
I’ve just joined as I’m about to embark on SP in some way. Have two manuscripts in the drawer, one of them ready to go.Been to a couple of conferences. Getting the idea. But don’t know which route to choose. Need to learn about all the social networking stuff and marketing as well. I shall come to the London meeting to learn and meanwhile find out how to get on the facebook page which all above recommend.
Look forward to meeting you
HI Sarah, you will have received an email on joining that will have given you the addresses of our closed groups. It’s also on all our newsletters. Make sure your email settings are not sending us to spam. The FB member only group is: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ALLIA.Writer.Members/. Let us know if you need anything else and thank you for being a member of ALLi.
While I value a number of things, especially information sharing that I feel I can trust (e.g. it is not affiliate-driven or has another agenda), I think above all it’s the credibility from being a member. There are not that many quality yardsticks for readers of indie authors yet and if readers can begin to see that by being an ALLi member, this writer must be of a certain standard, then I think that will be of great benefit to me. This is something that publishing houses claim you get from them and not from indie writers: an expectation of quality standards. ALLi can show that this is not true.
There are quite a few indie writing networks, alliances, member groups etc out there. What sets ALLI apart from them is the professional image it projects, which I think comes from the quality look of the website as well as the membership requirements (which maybe can be built on? e.g. members are expected to have a professional approach, such as through use prof editors and cover designers). These things demonstrate that ALLi is about professionalism and credibility, and will be of particular advantage to an indie author if they can be associated with their book when marketing to readers. This is why I am also interested in ALLi associated marketing opportunities such as the Goodreads giveaway. I would love there to be more opportunities such as this.
The Alliance has put me in touch with agent Jennifer Custer to manage Foreign/translation rights for my novel, and I eagerly await to hear news of a possible similar arrangement for us re: film/TV rights. On a day to day basis, it provides advice with regards to publishing, marketing, and social media management, and it a great source for links regarding information on all aspects of writing, and the changing face of publishing.
There is a comradeship found here that inspires confidence and determination to keep on writing. Getting an Alliance membership was the best thing that I could have done to help my writing career.
I guess I always root for the Underdog, having been one for so many years…tired of the stigma and the supposition that being ‘Self-Published’ is somehow akin to being a leper. All of us need to stick together and support this new industry where thoughts, ideas and stories can be read and considered for their own merit, not because they are necessarily a ‘marketable’ commodity.
I enjoy the interaction between other authors, having spent 20 years as a hermit writer myself. I also have learned a lot about how to and how not to market, how to manage expectations, etc. I have been pleasantly surprised to also see that the Alliance recognizes problems in the burgeoning industry and is ready to speak about them openly rather than simply glazing over the elephants in the room.
I joined the Alliance for the support and companionship of fellow writers who are self-publishing. One of the most important benefits for me is the information resource I have available. If I have a question about self-publishing I can post it and there’s likely someone (or many of you!) who will have useful advice and information for me. That’s a very important benefit of belonging to the Alliance. I would love to take part in the local chapter meetings as it would be great to meet with others. But my local chapter is too far from where I live for me to get there on a weeknight. But I can meet with my fellow writers online so I’m not on my own.
I’m a bit of a cheat here, as I’ve never yet self-published, but having been an established children’s author throughout the 90s and into the 2000s, many of my highly regarded books went out of print.
To fight back, I’m in the process of re-publishing these books as ebooks, and the publicity aspect isn’t easy. I also have a lot of work that was rejected by mainstream publishers, including a couple of adult novels, which eventually I want to self-publish.
I had two motivies, as an indie author.
I think that professionalism is critical. My first book SAILING DOWN THE MOONBEAM had professional artwork, editing and printing, but I like the idea of being associated with a group that has strong professional credentials.
My second reason is that marketing is the most difficult part of the book business for me, and I need all the help I can get in marketing my novel A FITTING PLACE when it’s finished early next year.
At a time when the publishing landscape is changing so rapidly, The Alliance of Independent Authors is a place where the bridgings of the gaps between the new publishing methods and the established publishing methods are taking place and this is fantastic to see and to be a part of. The ear of an established international rights agent and the help of legal advice on contracts if needed are two reasons alone why every independent author should seriously consider joining.
Membership of the Alliance has allowed me to network more freely with my fellow self-publishers and keep abreast of the latest industry developments. And of course benefit from the collective wisdom and marketing prowess of my peers!
Self-published authors have been getting a lot of flack and it’s bad for morale, so belonging to a professional organisation that’s willing to fight for you and give you support just when you need it, is essential. The best things about membership are – the feeling of being part of a professional group – an authors’ union if you like – and the shared knowledge. I’ve been recommended websites I’d never have found on my own, and been warned of pitfalls I might have fallen into without the advice. And you know, whatever the glitch, or the problem, there will always be someone who knows the answer!
I couldn’t have said it better! The other reason I joined was Joanne Penn.
I joined Alli because I am not a skilled marketer. After getting some clear, concise lessons from Joanna Penn, I’m in the process of preparing my novel for a re-release…and plan to do a better job of getting the word out. I’ve been so impressed with the quality of people here and the level of information that’s shared. It’s a great community!
Reading the comments above, particularly about the Facebook page, makes me realise that I have probably failed to fully appreciate how interactive this group is, or take advantage of it. So many writing groups are a constant stream of buy this, my latest book, you need this service or this course, that I have tended to hunker down and simply read a select number of Alli blogs of those that engage or inform. And to follow and comment on those.
But what I have noticed is the absence of the self interest and the spirit of real mutual generosity, which is so in contrast to the world of commerce it continues to amaze and revitalise. Writing is both so lonely and so individual that a diverse group ameliorates any fear. That I think is its greatest virtue.
Reply to Philippa Rees: yes! I so agree! So many writers on my twitter list are advertising … here we have a broader, less self-regarding, group which interacts – and is useful and helpful and also encouraging.
Membership of ALLi has personally signified a great leap in the quality of my marketing strategies as a self-published author. The shared information, the knowledge of a shared journey with other self-published or soon-to-be-published authors is invaluable. In the current sea of publishing-sector chaos, in which many “traditional†publishers are foundering under the deluge of new publishing paradigms that the Internet revolution has created, ALLi constitutes a firm beacon of professional quality, fresh ideas and dynamic new directions for authors.
Self-publishing no longer means poor publishing or the delusions of a vanity press, but offers a pragmatic way forward for capable writers with something intelligent to say who wish to reach new readers worldwide. In the brief couple of months during which I have been an ALLi member, I have thoroughly revised my approach to writing, publishing and marketing to adopt a more professional outlook, which can be directly translated into sales and personal success as an author.
ALLi seems to be growing in significance day-by-day. It’s managers are tireless and supportive. Real people answer your personal questions about publishing, helping the writer to confront a business that’s suffered a desperate decades-long state of flux. As you so well put it, “…In the current sea of publishing-sector chaos, in which many traditional publishers are foundering under the deluge of new publishing paradigms that the Internet revolution has created, ALLi constitutes a firm beacon of professional quality, fresh ideas and dynamic new directions for authors.” There’s nothing quite like ALLi. It’s my publisher, my agent, my confidant, my roundtable.
I joined on Linda’s recommendation and am glad that I did. The f/b loop is invaluable for information and support and the website and newsletter are always interesting. Indie authors now have a professional association to represent them.
I joined the moment I saw the group involved in this alliance. The professionalism and experience of the members is a huge blessing and benefit. I look forward to learning so much from everyone in this group. Thanks for starting this and putting so much out for authors!
I joined recently because ALLi offers so much information and expertise on publishing. I wasn’t expecting the excellent discussions and links in the Facebook group, or the chance to connect with writers from all over the world. It’s a quality group.
I also enjoy the facebook conversations, and I really appreciated the development of a relationship with Jennifer Custer, the translation rights agent, and hope that a similar relationship with an agent that specializes in other media will be forthcoming.
I believe that one of the best things about Alli is the emphasis on the idea that what makes an Indie author is someone who is in control of their career, whether they follow traditiona, DIY, or hybridl routes to publication or not. I do think that authors’ careers are going to follow a good many different patterns in the foreseeable future, and an organization like this that doesn’t say there is only one way to do this is going to be flexible to keep up with the changes that keep coming.
I belong to several groups that serve the indie-publishing community and this one is by far the best. It’s a great mix of people just starting on their publishing journey and those that are more experienced in self-publishing and traditional publishing. In the private Facebook group people are respectful and helpful and I really appreciate that.
Like many here, I found the self-publishing journey a lonely one when I started out – and even though there was fantastic help via a variety of blog and Twitter posts – as well as the CreateSpace community – I still felt pretty much isolated due to absence of ‘ongoing conversation’ as much as anything. It was great to be able to attend the launch of ALLI at the London Book Fair – and to meet people in the same boat who were all keen to join with others on this journey. What ALLI has done is to make us all feel part of a team (with some great folk at the helm) and the Facebook page in particular is fantastic for practical, no-nonsense support from and between members.
I enjoy reading the blogs, and I constantly learn new things that improve my understanding of what it means to be an indie author–and how to be a better author. Whenever I get frustrated while trying to get my books noticed, it helps to know that Alli is there. It makes me feel very proud to be a member of an organization that is holding independent authors to a higher standard.
I joined because Joanna Penn mentioned it in one of posts. All her advice has been golden so I joined. The community is a tremendous resource for indie authors. You can post any question that’s on your mind and get great feedback and ideas from others. This is an active and engaged community of authors.
Thank you to our founders!
Peace, Seeley
ALLI came along at just the right time – for making me feel like I belong to a peer group of like minded people, many of whom have been traditionally published, but who choose to indie publish. There’s so much goodwill here and a willingness to share knowledge. I particularly like the Facebook page.
I’m right at the beginning of my indy journey. I’m extremely grateful for ALLI’s resource recommendations and for the generous sharing of knowledge by more experienced members. ALLI’s a wonderful consortium of authenticity in a fast-changing field.
The benefits of membership, particularly the Facebook group, have been immense. I’ve learned so much from other authors & the sense of solidarity has given me more confidence. I’ve also had the opportunity to share my own experience and tips. There’s a lot of give & take, so if you’re new to indy publishing, you don’t have to re-invent the wheel. The Alliance is a friendly and supportive group and whatever you need to know, someone in the group will be able to advise.
I’ve recommended joining ALLi to every author I’ve come across who’s serious about self-publishing. To begin with I thought membership would be a luxury. I now think it’s a necessity.
Being a member of ALLIA has had the unforeseen benefit this year of getting me out and about in public, speaking about my work. In April, I was invited to be on the author panel at London Book Fair for the launch of ALLIA, to talk about “How I Went Indie and Why”. Then again, in September, I was invited to speak about epublishing and do a reading from my novel, at this ALLIA event in Scotland:
http://authorselectric.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/newspapers-and-public-readings-by-john.html
So, for me, ALLIA has added quite a dose of SPICE and excitement to my first year of epublishing!
(Not to mention, I got to meet Dan Holloway, Linda Gillard, Joni Rodgers, and Orna Ross!)
Access to valuable information from industry experts and fellow indie-pubbers who have developed unique insights into this rapidly rising indie revolution.
The Alliance represents sharing. Sharing of experiences. Of victories and successes. Of failures. Of news—good and bad. Sharing of knowledge and advice. Suggestions and strategies. To me, the Alliance represents sharing in all its many forms and faces. It’s a good place to be.
All true – at the moment, at least.
I published my first Kindle book earlier this autumn and have been overwhelmed by the support of ALLi.
Firstly The Englishman was picked as one of the October reads, and secondly the support from the ALLi Facebook group has been fantastic. The self-publishing learning curve is steep, so for me it’s been great to have access to a group of like-minded writers and their advice. Also while sitting alone at home in front of a blank screen, it’s been a life-saver to read how others have got on, share problems and good news. Reading latests posts on the ALLi FB group page has become my procrastination task of choice.
As a new fiction author, I’m finding the sharing of information on the FB page very helpful. It’s also encouraging for me to discuss issues with people who are further along than I am. What has worked, what is changing.
I like the friendly atmosphere and willingness to share.
It’s good to reach out and find good advice with others in the same boat… and unlike other Indie groups I’ve been in, it hasn’t become a constant barrage of self-promotions and pleas to buy each other’s books! As with others here, the Facebook discussions are always great, and offering great opportunities to members (like pitching for translation rights or group giveaways) make this a special– and true– alliance.
I think it’s fair to say that as self-publishers, we’re collectively up against the establishment from the first moment we had that strange compulsion to go it alone.
Knowing that the route forward might be a much trodden path is one thing, finding it another. Even better is the chance of finding those people who walked before you, and ALLi offers that golden opportunity, and more besides.
As an author with an manuscript still in development, I debated as to whether joining would pay dividends.
I’m so glad I did!
Not only have I found my editor through the ALLi, but I’m also constantly tagging articles to make use of once I’m ready to dive into those choppy self-pubbing waters.
Thanks, everyone!
There’s a bewildering, often entirely out of date and irrelevant, array of misinformation online for authors considering adding self-publishing to their toolkit. ALLI keeps you up to date with relevant experience and information in a rapidly changing environment. It’s the good stuff, all on one place.
That’s it! GET MORE. write more. TALK MORE. Then it’s not so lonely.
The Alliance makes me feel like an important part in a flood of success rather than a a rain drop hoping to be noticed.
For me it’s more about being in touch with people who are experiencing all the same ups and downs as you are and being able to share experiences. So, that picture at the top (of a warm hug) is very close to how I feel about ALLi. There is, of course, the added benefit of access to a lot of useful information.
By its nature, writing can be a lonely business. At the same time, the publishing industry has never seen so much change in such a short time.
Both of these factors could easily cause overwhelm and make authors never come out of their shell.
ALLi is a safe haven where no question is too dumb to ask and everyone supports everyone else. There is not an ounce of competition between authors, just comradeship, warmth and support.
I advise all authors, whether self-publishing or working with a traditional publisher, to join, connect and share.
Great comment, Tom.
For me, the Facebook group discussions have been the most interesting, and I’ve gained lots of helpful advice and information. The atmosphere is very friendly and easy-going, everybody keen to help others.
It’s the shared knowledge, and the shared goal of independence in publishing, which are the main benefits for me. Technical details about formatting digital books and promoting them effectively, and financial reminders like making sure USA income is not taxed before it’s sent to us. Ask a question and you’re pretty sure to find a sensible answer among members because they understand where you’re coming from.
The Alliance is about standing together in a space that can be divisive and critical. It’s about celebrating and supporting each other in the indie author’s journey, which is so brand new, it still changes every day. I particularly enjoy the Facebook group at the moment as there are always people willing to share experiences and help others. An incredible resource of experience, knowledge and support 24 hours a day. This is just the beginning – we will see the Alliance do great things!