I’ve always considered myself to be a feminist. It’s a personal term – whether you like it or not, these days feminism means different things to different people, and it annoys me greatly when the term is hijacked by those who insist that only their definition is ‘right’. So, I’m a feminist who is happily and lovingly married; who is a mother who has chosen to not work outside the home while my daughter is growing up; who rarely cooks if she can help it but who does do all of the washing and ironing and most of the housework. I’m a feminist who can change plugs, put up shelves, and tile bathrooms, but who hates to put out the rubbish and will gladly defer all grime-related jobs to my husband. In our household we avoid definitive gender roles, toys, words, clothing, TV programmes, and all other obvious stereotypes.
From this perspective, I approached my self-publishing career with my feminism very much in mind. Living off my husband’s salary, wanting – needing – to spend my time at home caring for my child, the ability to publish my work and begin to earn my own money from writing was a very big deal indeed. Self-publishing speaks to the part of me that doesn’t want to ask permission from anyone; it should speak to the core of all women writers who do not need a gate-keeper to let them into the club. (I’m framing traditional publishing as a patriarchal influence here, but only in an abstract sense, of course. Although, historically, this has often been the case.) Self-publishing offers a clear route to market, a way to bring your work – work which often speaks of women’s lives and joys and emotions and fears – to readers directly. It is freedom, the lack of restraints, the beating down of a great impenetrable door.
For me, it has been a fantastic success. In under three years I’ve reached over 200,000 readers. I’ve earned more than I would have in any part-time job I was qualified to do. I’ve done this from my own home, under my own steam, making my own choices. I’ve written about single mothers and women fighting for justice, about the older generation of women who refuse to be shut up and pinned down; about women trying to find love but only wanting it on their terms. Never mind self-publishing being a feminist issue – for me writing itself is all about my personal beliefs, hopes and concerns. My daughter has seen me carve out a career for myself, working around my commitments cheerfully and successfully. She is only six-years-old, but already she has a strong understanding of the power of making your own choices in life.
If self-publishing is all about independence, then self-publishing for women is about taking control of your words and your world and using the power of the ebook and the POD paperback to have your voice heard. Whether you are writing crime or chick-lit, sci-fi or mysteries, if you are a woman and you are self-publishing then you are in fantastic company. Happy International Women’s Day, and keep those words flowing!
March 8, 2015 at 4:26 pm
Congratulations, you’ve achieved so much in three years! And you make a very valid point – feminism is what we make of it, and there are many different ways to define it, it shouldn’t fit into preconceived and limiting constraints.
March 8, 2015 at 6:32 pm
Thanks Marina – that’s always how I’ve seen it. I’ve had women ball me out for calling myself a feminist, which is frankly ridiculous. Each of us can approach it in our own individual way, and we all do what we can, right? x
March 8, 2015 at 4:31 pm
A brilliant inspirational post, Joanne. Thanks!
March 8, 2015 at 6:31 pm
Ah, thanks Sally. I just had to write it, today of all days 🙂
March 8, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Reblogged this on Rose English UK and commented:
#HappyInternationalWomen’sDay #SelfPublishing is empowering for #wowmen this is a great little blog check it out 🙂
March 8, 2015 at 6:30 pm
Thanks Rose – just left a comment on your blog x
March 8, 2015 at 4:54 pm
I am about to begin self-publishing my first novel; it’s always wonderful to hear success stories from other people who have done it before.
I consider myself a feminist in the same way that you describe yourself; erring more towards gender fairness than gender equality (men and women ARE different, and I think we should be celebrating those differences and using them to support each other, rather than penalising each other for them).
Congratulations on your writing success and thank you so much for sharing!
March 8, 2015 at 6:29 pm
Congratulations for arriving at this brilliant step! I’m so excited for you, sometimes I wish I could go back to that first time I pressed ‘publish’ and do it all again 🙂 x
March 8, 2015 at 5:38 pm
Well said, Jo! I heartily agree with your comments about self-publishing offering women a chance to take control of at least one part of their lives. As a woman who has spent most of my adult life on my own (apart from the children, long flown the nest☺) I’ve had no option but to be both male and female when it comes to everyday life. But when my now grown-up sons are visiting there’s a To-Do list waiting for them and they are both as good cooks as my daughter. Let’s raise a glass (the sun’s definitely over the yard-arm now) to women everywhere on this our special day ☺
March 8, 2015 at 6:28 pm
Thanks Anne 🙂 Well done you for bringing your sons up to cook well – or just to cook at all! My husband does most of the cooking (although I managed somehow, of course, before I met him 😉 ), but I’m still amazed at how many men just refuse to cook at all. The other thing that amazes me is how few dads do the school drop off and pick up – and these aren’t just dads who work hours that prevent it. It’s just seen as the ‘woman’s thing’.
March 9, 2015 at 1:55 am
Lovely post! Hooray for not asking permission, for using our own steam, and for carving out our own successes. Well said, Jo.
March 9, 2015 at 9:02 am
Thanks Pauline 🙂 I think self-publishing gives us the means to do exactly that, and I love it x
March 9, 2015 at 10:40 am
Another great post, Jo! Thank you — you have expressed so well what many of us are trying to do. I have often thought of Virginia Woolf’s ‘A Room of One’s Own’ and lamented the fact that I am neither male, with a wife to facilitate my writing life, nor independently wealthy, to support my writing. Whatever way you look at it self publishing has opened doors that were sealed shut, especially for women. Happy belated International Women’s Day. x Mandy
May 9, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Thanks Mandy. And long may those doors stay open, with a great big ‘Welome’ sign above them 🙂 x
March 9, 2015 at 3:40 pm
Great post Jo and I agree with what you’ve said. I think writing for women is so empowering and self-publishing especially. Thanks for shining a light on what it means for women. 🙂
May 9, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Thanks Elaine 🙂 xxx
March 14, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Excellent post, Jo. It really spoke to me. I will tweet it.
May 9, 2015 at 1:50 pm
I’m really glad, Rosie. And thanks for sharing x