In early 2011, I released a book called “Carry Me Home”. It was a first attempt at novel writing, and I tried it on for size like a new dress in a department store. I liked it. 

For those of you who have tried – you passioned writers, you! – you understand that the heart-wrenching, gutt-wrenching, crying, body-wracking sobs and wine-induced prose are the easy part. That’s the fulfilling part. The words on parchment, the brush strokes of the pen, or the typed lines on an iPad are the parts that make you feel good! If it didn’t we wouldn’t be authors, n’est pas? 

You have exsanguinated yourself over a manuscript. Now, the hard part is trying to prove to people that your blood, your soul on text, is worth reading. Of course, I’m assuming you don’t do this for the money… because if you think you’ll get rich, you need to put the bong of big dreams down.

Perusing through Brazen Careerist – a social network for Gen-Y career persons, a place that I got drawn into by the handsome start up Guru, Ryan Paugh – I stumbled on Jenn Pedde who pointed me at Eat Your Serial. 

The concept was rather simple: A serialized release, one chapter a week, of a novel from starting writers who normally wouldn’t get the attention of traditional publishers. 

And it comes out in a format that most of us readers are completely familiar with – a blog format, online release. It gets eyes on the work, with the backing of a staff that isn’t available if we go the self-publishing route. You get an editor (thank God! I need one of those) and it gives first time writers a shot. It might even get eyes on their work.

I think they were talking about people like me… 

I like start-ups. I like how shaky their foundation. I like the ripe potential, the volatility, and the hope that comes from them. It’s like Afghanistan – all about great potential, and bright aspirations for the future. I like the fact that in their defiance of convention, their challenge to the system, they uphold an American dream of rewarding innovation, hard work and entrepreneurship. As an Indie, how can I not love them? 

There’s an entire online community that’s committed to helping each other succeed. They are small-time people helping each other get on our feet. And it’s a beautiful revolution. 

It’s a Millennial movement that rejects the notion that in order to make it big, you need a big guy’s approval. It’s all about taking chances on each other, throwing spaghetti on a wall and seeing what sticks. It’s wildly experimental, and in that, it’s a work of hope too. It’s a lovely e-Millennial world out there, once you get past our stupid hair cuts, love of strange hats and Wayfarer glasses, and stripy sweaters. 

Doing something on your own, starting something new, making something different seems to be the rallying cry of my generation – and I love it! 

Innovation! Novelty! Creativity!

And yes, there’s a healthy espousal of the value to taking chances. 

We all have labors of love that would be rejected, sometimes with good reason, sometimes off hand, in this big bad world if it wasn’t for other people taking chances on it. How many great novels will never see the light of day because some secretary at a legacy publisher took a look at the title, didn’t like it, and tossed it into the trash? How many great artists were too innovative that some small minded art collector wrote it off or some critic was in a bad mood and decided to bash it to his audience?

So great musicals never get on broadway, what could have been a great American classic dies in someone’s waste basket, and entrepreneurial ventures never make a dime because the ‘right people’ never saw it. 

That’s why so many of us have rolled into the role of Indie-entrepreneur. That’s why so many of us beat feet and find other places to make our dreams come true. It’s why big companies are starting to cater to small-time dreamers because that’s where the money is. 

Etsy, Creative Space, and yes, even ventures like Eat Your Serial are servicing the need… a need of giving people chances. 

I, for one, love this revolution. 

That’s my American dream.