Indie author members gain informal Club benefit

For the past two years, an informal group of National Press Club members has been gathering monthly to get smarter about the business aspects of independent authorship. If you have published independently or have serious plans to do so in the future, why not join in? Contact Ed Barks for more information.

What is an independent author? They manage their own publishing businesses rather than relying on agents and traditional publishing houses, gaining added control of their content and speed to market. This approach is referred to by some as self-publishing.

How have your fellow Club members benefited from the group?

"The indie authors was the first of the NPC groups that I belong to that began holding Zoom meetings. It has been informative and a great way to stave off isolation," said Heather Forsgren Weaver.

Elizabeth McGowan, senior reporter, Energy News Network, said: "It's a tribute to the organizer and 'good bones' of this group that our attendance is growing in the Zoom era. Still, it was mighty strange to have to dial in to our July meeting, when I was actually at the club that morning taking advantage of its Phase II reopening. Instinct had told me to head to the McClendon Room, our pre-coronavirus ritual."

Richard Stiennon author of Security Yearbook 2020: A History and Directory of the IT Security Industry said:  "I live in Michigan and have used the Press Club as a base of operations for my frequent visits to D.C.  Since the pandemic I have missed those trips and had to suspend plans to launch my latest book at the Club. Participating in the independent authors group over Zoom has given me the first chance to get to know other members with a shared interest of writing books. Surprisingly, I feel more connected to the Press Club than I ever have!"

The authors will be meeting via Zoom for the balance of 2020, with the next session slated for Aug. 13.

Group members are supportive, cordial, and eager to learn about the publishing process. Request an invitation from Barks for the next meeting to see if it's for you. You'll find yourself ahead of the game if there are independent authorship plans in your future.