Rising Stars: Meet Lyndsie Clark of Denver Metro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyndsie Clark.

Hi Lyndsie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
“My name is Lyndsie Clark, and I’m a sci-fi/fantasy writer,” has always felt, to me, like I was confessing a bad habit to some rehab group focused on addiction. However, instead of rehab, I was joining a new critique group. And my addiction was storytelling.

Like many writers, I was once a precocious kid full of ideas. My earliest creative efforts were often more enthusiastic than successful (Sorry, Glow Worm. You didn’t deserve to go into the toilet water.), but as I got older, that boundless imagination never really left. What did fade, for a while, was the encouragement to embrace it. As I grew older, the message became clear: creativity was cute when you were young, but adulthood demanded practicality.

So, I got practical. I went to college. I earned a master’s degree in linguistics. I worked corporate jobs. But I couldn’t shake the pull of writing.

During grad school, I realized I hadn’t written anything for myself in years. Years of suppressing the part of me that had once believed a fantasy novel written at fifteen might change the world. That moment of recognition pushed me back into writing during National Novel Writing Month. Messy, imperfect, liberating writing. It was exhausting. It was glorious. And it reminded me that I felt most alive when I was telling stories.
Even then, I kept it quiet. In my corporate life, I worked jobs where creativity was always encouraged but rarely acknowledged. I wrote in the margins of my life, snatches of text late at night, or scribbled into a notebook during my lunch hour. My stories were only for me. In 2018, all of that changed.

A small publishing company was having an “open-door submission event” where writers without agent representation could send them a manuscript. Suddenly, I yearned to share my stories, to have readers, to tell the world what I had to say. I submitted a manuscript to the press and promptly got rejected, but that wasn’t the end.

I realized that writing wasn’t just a side hobby. It was an essential part of what made me, me. I committed then to improving that novel—not just for fun, not just for myself, but for readers—and writing the series I’d always dreamed of.

That commitment became the inspiration for In Memoriam, my debut dystopian science fiction novel. Now, I’d like to say that I worked hard, improved my writing skills, and the next year an agency picked up my manuscript. But, that wasn’t exactly the case. I worked hard, for sure, engaging the help of two book coaches, one editing certification program, and many books and online videos. After querying my manuscript for two years, I finally decided that self-publishing In Memoriam was the right path for me.

I chose to run a Kickstarter campaign to fund its publication and to my surprise (and slight terror), it worked. Readers responded. Supporters backed me. And I followed through—editing, formatting, revising, marketing, and ultimately publishing the book under a small independent publishing collective, Machines of the Infinite Press. Some may say that I took the “easy” way out, but I can assure you—there is nothing easy about self-publishing. It is just a different kind of hard!

But the beauty is that self-publishing allows me to have a level of control over my work that traditional publishing could not provide. It’s hard work, for sure, but every little success I celebrate feels immensely bigger because I know I did it.

And, what’s even better, is that I’m still early in this journey. In Memoriam isn’t on bookstore shelves across the country (yet), and a big-name publisher hasn’t snapped it up (yet). But holding the finished book in my hands and seeing it in those of readers feels like enough. For now.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Self-publishing In Memoriam has been rewarding—but it was also one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. The author journey isn’t just about writing a book. It’s about learning how to design a cover, format a manuscript, market a product, and navigate a world of search algorithms, ISBNs, and distribution platforms that seem designed to make you give up.

On top of learning to become a “jack-of-all-trades,” there were moments of deep self-doubt where I thought that nothing I did would be good enough. I spent hours second-guessing every decision—from the font size to the back cover blurb. There was no publishing house to put their stamp of quality control on it or catch me if I did something wrong. And trust me, I definitely did things wrong! Every choice felt personal, because it was personal.

Then there’s the marketing. Writing is one thing; it’s solitary, relatively subjective, and quiet. But selling my product is another beast all together. Now, I have to act as my own publicist, social media manager, and email marketer—often while juggling contract jobs, family, home maintenance, and my own personal health.
This is currently the biggest thorn in my side. Marketing is not a cut-and-dry industry. There’s no one to tell you if you’re doing it “right,” and often, no immediate reward to prove that you are. It’s easy to feel like you’re shouting into the void.

And yet, despite the stress, the imposter syndrome, and the sheer amount of work, I wouldn’t trade it for my old corporate jobs. I’ve managed to connect with some really awesome people who’ve been willing to collaborate and share skills (such as book art and social media marketing), or teach me how to do things myself. There are also a lot of free or low-cost tools out there that helped me save money on services I needed. The amount of work will probably never go away, but at least now I know a little bit more about what to expect.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When I’m not working on Anamnesis, the sequel to my debut novel In Memoriam, I focus on freelance writing and editing. I hold a certification in copyediting and proofreading from the University of California at Berkeley and have spent countless hours honing my craft through both personal writing and client work.
I specialize in helping fellow creatives—authors, artists, and musicians—refine their written materials to sound polished and professional. I’ve worked on everything from artist bios and press releases to editing manuscripts and proofreading scripts for online courses.

As part of Machines of the Infinite Press, I also hope to expand into book coaching for newer authors, specifically in the sci-fi/fantasy genres. Having been both skeptical of coaching and later benefitting from it myself, I understand the resistance many writers feel, especially when they’re stuck or unsure of their next step. I’ve been there. I know the traps and roadblocks that can derail a project, and I’m passionate about helping others avoid them. That blend of practical editorial skills and personal insight into the writing journey sets me apart from editors who focus on nonfiction and coaches who aren’t writers.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I believe self-publishing, indie presses, and publishing cooperatives are not only going to grow in popularity over the next 5-10 years, but they’re also going to consistently deliver higher-quality content.

Traditional publishing has become increasingly difficult to break into. Many aspiring authors don’t realize that to traditionally publish a novel, you typically need to secure an agent first, which is already a competitive process. Then, your agent must sell your manuscript to a publisher, which doesn’t always happen. To me, that felt like playing the lottery twice and hoping to win both times.

Even if you do win, the payout per book is often small—divided among the many hands your manuscript passes through. On top of that, authors have limited creative control over their final product, so you may have to make begrudging concessions just to get your book to readers.

With smaller presses or self-publishing, authors retain more control and receive a larger share of the royalties, though usually in exchange for narrower distribution. That’s where I see publishing collectives like Machines of the Infinite Press becoming increasingly valuable. These models allow authors to pool resources, cross-promote each other’s work, and publish under a cohesive brand—while still maintaining their independence. It’s a hybrid that offers the best of both worlds: community support and creative freedom. And in a world like today, where we are dominated by big brands and corporate sponsorships, these two assets are particularly important!

Pricing:

• In Memoriam (paperback): $18
• Proofreading: $30/hour
• Copyediting Work (Light, Medium, Heavy): $30-50/hour
• Developmental Editing & Editorial Letter: $500 for 50-100k words
• Book Coaching Services: $55+/hour

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lyndsieclark.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndsie.clark.author
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lyndsieclarkauthor
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndsie-clark-ab83308
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS7lBXjTBsn4w1GQ6i0iSMQ
• Other: https://linktr.ee/lyndsie.clark.author

Image Credits
Photos by Lyndsie Clark