Self-Publisher Interview with Lindsey Goddard
1. What can you tell me about your experience as a writer?
Writing is in my bones. I've been sending out stories and getting them published since I was fifteen years old. I currently have four short story collections of my own, one collection co-written with a friend, two poetry books, and a novel. I have edited six anthologies, one of which is getting a sequel very soon. I'm pretty excited about that!
2. What made you decide to write a book?
Ever since I was a small child, I would get jealous when I finished a really good book. I would say, “Man, I wish I'd written that.” So ... I started trying to write that.
3. What circumstances brought you to the decision to self-publish your book?
The first book I ever self-published back in 2009 was because it was a “Best Of” anthology, featuring my favorite short stories from the e-zine I'd been publishing at the time: The Monsters Next Door. I figured, since I was Editor-in-Chief of the e-zine, I'd take the reins on the print book as well. To this day, I still think that anthology turned out pretty good.
But as an author of primarily short stories, it's my desire to collect these stories into a book together that drives me to self-publish. I love the feeling of placing a story with a magazine, anthology, or e-zine, so I try to place every new one with a publisher at first. But down the line, I eventually collect these previously-published stories into my own collections, so that my readers can have an entire book of my shorts. Most presses require a short story collection to have at least 40% unpublished material for them to consider publishing it. So, I just publish them myself!
4. What has your experience as a self-publisher been like?
My experience with self-publishing has led to curating and editing six anthologies so far, featuring the work of fellow authors, and that's an experience I wouldn't trade for anything! I meet so many interesting people who bring their own unique vibes to the table, and it helps me grow in my own creative work.
5. How do you respond to the negative stigma attached to self-publishing and self-published books?
I just laugh, because aside from a few Big Name presses, we're ALL self-publishing. Some of us are just better at hiding it.
6. What is one very important lesson you have learned as a self-publisher so far?
I just recently learned to ASK FOR HELP. I have built a network of creatives around me, and I'm trying to teach myself to utilize it. I have a bad habit of deciding to do everything myself, and then I get stressed out by the workload. Collaboration is hard for me. It is a double-edged sword. It can be mentally exhausting for me to work with others, but at the end of the day, feeling utterly alone on a project is much worse. I'm getting some help with editing and formatting on this next anthology, for sure. I was feeling very burned-out last time around, and all alone when I ran into formatting issues, etc. But not next time. Repeat after me: IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP.
7. What do you know now about self-publishing that you wish you knew at the beginning?
Even though my answer to the last question was all about working with others, there are limits to that for me. Where money is involved, I work alone. I was mixed up in a publishing disaster years ago where I decided that the business-end of any self-published anthology I put out will be handled 100% by myself. Paying the authors, purchasing and shipping the at-cost or contributor copies, splitting the royalties, all of it. When it comes to finances, I say it's best to captain that ship yourself, lest you suddenly find yourself aboard a sinking ship!
8. A lot of authors of self-published books have reservations about promoting and marketing their book. Some even feel that it is a form of vanity or self-importance. What is your opinion about this?
Just make it fun. Don't spam people. For me, writing is my livelihood and my life's work, so if someone is annoyed by it, they should unfollow or unfriend me! But I don't post the same thing over and over, asking for sales. I try to engage people in new and interesting ways.
9. How do you promote your books and what form of book promotion has worked the best for you?
I try to stay active on all my social media accounts and keep my posts fresh and engaging. That way, since I keep piles of my books on hand, sometimes if I'm in a pinch and need money, my followers will buy some books from me, which really helps get me through sometimes!
10. What are some other important things you have learned as a self-publisher?
The stigma around self-publishing has been slowly fading away. Small presses and indie authors who self-publish have garnered a lot of respect in recent years. But we must continue to fight against AI book covers and content, or we will lose that respect much more quickly than we earned it.
11. Do you feel that self-publishing is a viable choice for other authors?
Absolutely. The books are as good or as bad as you make them.
12. How do you feel that self-publishing their books has helped many unknown authors finally get the recognition their books deserve?
2026 is a digital world, and as long as authors put out quality content, it's easy to get that content into the hands of readers and reviewers, without a trip to the book store. It's an amazing advantage we have these days, but that also means there can be over-saturation as well. That's why I said “quality content”. Keep the material good, and your readers will come back for more. No need to spend half your life waiting on a big press.
ABOUT LINDSEY:
Lindsey Beth Goddard is a tortured poet and dark fiction author, living in Missouri, whose short stories have been published in e-zines such as Gamut Magazine and Carnage House, as well as in anthologies such as Error Code and The Asylum of Terror (1 and 2). Her work has been performed on popular podcasts like Creepy Podcast and Chilling Tales for Dark Nights. She is the author of four short story collections, two poetry books, and a novel. For more information, visit her website.