On 2–8 July 2026, Indonesian independent publishing representative Syarafina Vidyadhana travelled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a head full of questions.
How do independent publishers remain financially sustainable without sacrificing their autonomy? How do books reach readers when distribution channels are fragile? And crucially, how can they support overlooked writers while protecting their own capacity to keep going?
Alongside nine other publishers from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the UK, Syarafina explored shared concerns, exchanged perspectives, and reflected on what truly matters for the publishing industry.
The essence of indie publishing
Syarafina came as the co-founder of Cahyati Press, a small, artist-led publishing practice based in Bali. Starting with a modest desire to make books slowly, support underrepresented voices, and cultivate local literary discourse, the scope expanded to include workshops, screenings, exhibitions, and community conversations.
For her, independent publishing is an active piece of a wider cultural infrastructure, far more than just a miniature version of corporate publishing. At its best, independent publishing offers true editorial freedom—the liberty to publish a book simply because it deserves to exist.
Publisher freedom can manifest in different ways, including hybrid writing, experimental essays, artist books, and translations. It also makes room for first-time authors and fresh voices that dominant commercial structures do not yet know how to recognise.
One principle Syarafina found shared among her cohort in the Publishing Futures programme: publishers have a responsibility to release work that matters, even when its commercial prospects are uncertain.
Different context, similar concerns
As liberating as it is, freedom is not equal to ease.
The ten Publishing Futures participants understood that every single editorial choice is fundamentally tethered to questions of labour, funding, physical access, and basic economic survival. Regardless of differing scales, structures, audiences, and publishing contexts, they shared similar concerns, such as rising printing costs, censorship, precarious distribution, limited resources, and the challenge of reaching readers beyond conventional literary spaces.
The Publishing Futures programme created a rare, safe space for these publishing professionals to share vulnerabilities regarding lingering uncertainty, structural mistakes, financial fears, or unresolved questions. Participants could speak candidly about what wasn't working, acknowledge gaps in their knowledge, and most importantly, admit where they needed backup.
Independent publishers are traditionally conditioned to work with whatever resources are immediately available, solving logistical crises quietly and stretching budgets to their absolute limits. While that adaptability remains a superpower, it often prevents them from asking for the help they genuinely need. Thus, one of the biggest takeaways from the programme was the absolute importance of advocating for adequate support.
