A Diary of a Self-Published Author (Pt. 1)

Welcome to the first installment of my mini blog series! In celebration of Indie April— a designated time to support independent (or indie) authors and book sellers—I thought I’d share part of my authoring journey with you!

Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to become an author? Well, here’s just a glimpse into the world of self-publishing!

What is Self-Publishing?

First things first: Self-publishing is when writers publish their work independently and at their own cost. This allows for more creative control, faster publication timeframes, and a higher percentage of royalty payments. However, it also means that the writer manages every aspect of the publishing process, such as networking and marketing.

For many writers, self-publishing provides an accessible way to become an author. You don’t have to worry about querying for an agent or getting your manuscript approved by a publishing company. It is much less hassle (and more affordable) to publish independently. Because of this flexibility, no self-published author is the same. Each uses their own discretion to decide how to write, edit, and market their books. Some indie authors keep it simple, while others invest additional effort to create a more professional product. Regardless of an author’s publishing method, every story is worth sharing, and just because some aren’t traditionally published doesn’t mean they’re not credible authors. Self-publishing makes it possible for regular writers to reach their dreams and tell their stories.

A Diary of a Self-Published Author

“Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start…” (*Fun fact: In the very first draft of my memoir, I opened the preface with this refrain from The Sound of Music.)

The majority of what I learned about being an author came at the beginning and end of writing my book. It took time to go through the writing process and create a final manuscript worthy of publishing, but it was the before-and-after transitions that taught me the most about this profession. Being an author—especially a self-published one—takes a lot more time and expertise than one might think!

Before Publishing

The prep work leading to publishing is a long process, and it often overlaps while you’re busy creating your manuscript.

These are the top six lessons I discovered while preparing to publish:

Read Books in Your Genre

This is actually what first inspired me to write a memoir! It gave me the intrigue and courage to share my own story. Reading books from your particular genre can spark new ideas, give you insight into that particular style of writing, and lead you to connect with fellow authors and their stories.

Know Your Message

This is essential while writing and marketing your book. To create a story, one must have an overall message to tell. Whatever the message is, its theme needs to be consistently weaved throughout the story. Its theme will also help you identify your target audience and hook interested readers.

Make Quality Work

Readers will notice grammar and spelling mistakes, structural inconsistencies, and design flaws, so it's important to publish a quality manuscript. This can be difficult as an indie author with limited resources (and budgets), but there are ways to make sure you're publishing a quality product and a beautiful story.

Utilize Beta Readers: Beta readers read through early drafts of a manuscript. They can be friends or family, anyone willing to read your story and offer practical advice to enhance your story and improve the final product.
Have Multiple Eyes on Your Manuscript: Utilize beta readers at different stages of your editing process. This will help you pinpoint important revisions and necessary edits early to create a polished final draft. Although the objective is to create a well-written story, you also want readers to enjoy reading it. Beta readers and thoughtful editing will make a difference!
Hire an Editor: This saved my manuscript! I cannot say enough how my editor helped elevate and transform my memoir into something more than I ever imagined. I grew as a writer, and her advice set my story apart from anything I could’ve created without her help.
Be Patient: Writing takes time! Don’t rush through it just so you can publish sooner. Make time to read (and reread) your drafts, make edits, and reflect on your story.
Reedsy: This website was a game changer for me! Reedsy offers free webinars and informative articles and also connects authors with professionals like editors, designers, marketers, and other specialists to help you on your publishing journey.

Build an Online Presence

Creating a social media following is crucial for indie authors. Because you’re not working with a publishing company, building an online community of supporters and interested readers is how you will get your book out into the world. Accumulating followers in your genre niche can be tricky, so you need to have strategies to help. One of my strategies was to follow similar authors/readers/writers and then comment and engage with their content. Another strategy was utilizing "bookstagram" to connect with a community of readers and share about my book. Establishing a presence on social media before your book releases is also important. This will help readers find you and cultivate interest and excitement about your book before it is officially published. Start by posting content related to your genre and some "get-to-know-me" posts. Connecting with others and developing relationships is a key tactic to build an online community!

Be Careful of Scammers:

This is an inevitable part of our online, social media world. Especially since self-publishing authors may need additional resources, they must be aware of possible scammers who offer editing or promotional services, book reviews, and even small indie publishing companies. Remember: not everyone online is there to help you! Use the same discretion as you do when making a purchase or following people whom you don’t know in person. Do research for credible resources when you need them. If it seems too good to be true, it most likely is. (This is another reason why Reedsy is so beneficial to indie authors!).

Celebrate with a Launch Team:

A launch team is an encouraging, supportive, and exciting way to celebrate your book release! It involves recruiting several early readers who agree to leave a review of your book and post about it on social media. As a self-published author, it is beneficial to have a launch team to help spread the news about your book, boost your confidence, and alleviate the angst of releasing your book into the world. Your launch team members are your first cheerleaders!

After Publishing

The book is out in the world! Now what? Well, actually, quite a lot. It’s essential to hit the ground running the moment your book launches. This is your time to hook your readers and accumulate sales!

These are the top six lessons I learned after publishing:

Amazon

Many self-published authors utilize Amazon and/or Kindle Unlimited to print and sell their books because it is a free and easily accessible platform. Here are a few things you should know:

It’s important to understand their royalty allotment before pricing your book (authors don’t make the sticker price of a book, only a small percentage).
The more books you sell on Amazon, the higher the book ranks within its genre categories! So, if you decide to do a pre-order before your book releases, consider doing this through Amazon if you want to reach an Amazon bestseller list.
Any Amazon customer with an active account can leave a review for an item, so encourage readers to share reviews on your product page (even if they purchased it somewhere else!).

Reviews

I wish readers understood how valuable reviews are to independent authors! Reviews are the testaments of how worthwhile a book is to read. It’s important to ask your readers to leave an honest review—whether that’s on your website, Goodreads, or your publishing platform. Reviews are essential to boost sales and find future readers! Especially when it’s a genuine comment, reviews also encourage the author and validate their reasons for sharing their story. It’s an impactful way readers can support the author and the book’s success. Reviews don't have to be lengthy, they just need to be written and shared!

Paid Promotions

Allot a portion of your budget for paid promotions. Paying for advertisements on your publishing platform (like Amazon ads) and social media (Meta) is a huge way to accumulate new readers and have people outside of your community find out about your book. My marketing manager (aka my husband) tries to put out 1-2 ads each season while also boosting 2-4 social media posts each month. Unfortunately, it takes money to get your book out into the world. But it does positively influence sales!

4. One Book Statistics

It’s highly unlikely for any author to become successful or popular by only publishing one book. If you want to pursue authoring as a profession, plan on writing several quality stories with a dedicated marketing strategy. Self-publishing is a viable career; it just takes purposeful planning to achieve. Don’t let the struggle of sales or popularity deter you from sharing your story! It’s okay to publish one book and then do something else. Writers are meant to tell their stories, no matter what their level of success looks like. Sharing your story matters, regardless of the size of the audience.

Frustrations with the Algorithm

I wish it was possible to be a self-published author without using social media—well, it is, but how would anyone find your book? You’d have no community without it! There are thousands of tips and tricks out there to help you optimize your reach online. As a type-A rule follower, I’ve tried to implement various algorithm strategies, and let me tell you: it doesn’t work. You cannot control the outcome of a successful post, no matter how many "rules" you follow. However, the goal with social media is consistency! Keep an open mind, try new strategies, and find routines that work for you, adapting everything as you learn and grow. Your focus should always be on connection, not just accumulating views, likes, and followers. The algorithm is a complicated beast! Don't let it discourage your efforts or overtake your time and energy. Stay connected and share your story—that’s what matters!

Growing Relies on Community

This can be frustrating. No matter how often you’re posting or trying to follow the algorithm “rules,” if you’re not steadily growing, book sales will become stagnant. This is where paid promotional ads can be helpful. Engaging your community, especially people you're close to, is also important! Reach out to your family and friends and personally ask them to buy your book, leave a review, post about it on their profiles, and share it with others. As an indie author, you'll need to continuously lean into your closest people for support. We can't do this alone, so find your people and be ready to include them on the journey!

Supporting Self-Published Authors

Indie authors pour their heart, soul, and finances into sharing their stories with the world. This Indie April, find a way to support self-published authors. It won't go unnoticed!

Here are some suggestions:

Buy their book - for you or a friend!
Write a review - posting on multiple sites is a bonus!
Post about their book - don't forget to tag them!
Ask a library or bookstore to carry their book
Donate their book or share it with a friend
Recommend their book to other readers
Send an encouraging note to an author

Whatever way you can, tell others about indie authors and show your support of their work. Community is a crucial piece of the self-publishing puzzle, and these simple suggestions make a HUGE difference for independent authors!