I learned a new term this morning, and I've fallen a tad bit in love with it. It's not a new term, exactly. As it turns out, I'm just slow and need to poke my head out of my hole more often and enjoy a bit of the world around me....Even if the voices in my head shout, "Get back to writing, you slacker!"
The term is "hybrid author" or "hybrid writer." You pick which version, the point is this new beast resides somewhere between traditional and self-published, in many cases juggling both worlds.
Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. I recognize that concept.
At least, it sounds a bit familiar. I've long supported the idea of diversification--in particular in today's publishing universe, and it sounds like I'm in good company. No doubt droves of authors have worked this out long before I did, but still. I caught on eventually, right?
Well, I've never claimed to be overly quick. But what I like about the concept of hybridization (such a cooler concept than just saying I can't pick sides) is that it has lovely implications of strength and durability. Hybrids are a good thing these days. They help the environment. They assist us in adapting to new and better ways of doing and living. They may not go from 0 to 90...or even be able to go 90...but they get us there in the end.
See where I'm going here?
If we are, as we suspect, in a revolution of sorts, then the hybrid author will be the crossover that adjusts the world and its thinking to the new order. At least, that's the idea. Whether it takes off or not remains to be seen. I've heard the Prius jokes. I know. I know.
I'd still rather be a hybrid than an SUV these days. :)
I'll close with the Wikipedia definition of something called "hybrid vigor." If you took a lot of biology, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. In nature, hybrid strong--inbred, bad. (okay that last part works all over.)
hybrid vigorThe increased vigor or general health, resistance to disease, and other superior qualities that are often manifested in hybrid organisms, especially plants and animals. Compare inbreeding depression.
Okay, I almost cut and pasted without that last sentence, but hey, the idea of an "inbred depressed" author makes me chuckle.
Go hybrid, it's good for us all.
~Frances
award-winning animal stories