I went through the posts on this site today to delete references to a certain self-publishing forum that at one point was an incredibly valuable source of information for me but that is now under new ownership that has shown itself more than willing to run the forum into the ground.

And it was interesting to do so, because it gave me little glimpses of the journey that brought me to this point. Five years into self-publishing, seven years into writing. It’s crazy how we forget how we change over the years. I’ve always kept journals so I can always go back and see for myself, but this blog did that for me, too.

I suspect if I sat down and started reading from the beginning I’d laugh uncontrollably more than once at what I once thought mattered or didn’t in this whole crazy business. And I’d probably find insights I’ve lost. Little nuggets of wisdom that I took in at some point and forgot about but that still live somewhere mashed together with everything else I’ve experienced and learned.

I’m a little nervous knowing that location for self-publishing information is going to fade away. (Some would argue it won’t. I think it hit critical mass in terms of users who were upset enough to leave. I know I won’t go back.)

As I said on my newer blog, I think this is a pivot point for the industry where we start to mature and people don’t openly instruct their competition on how to compete with them anymore which will make it harder for those already publishing as well as those who are new to it.

I could be wrong. Time will tell.