Writing is only the first step of the creative process for self-publishing.
When I first started writing – as a 9-year-old – and completed my first sci-fi story; more than anything, I wanted to be a published author. Visions of my books being on the shelves at all the bookstores and in libraries danced in my head.
A little context is necessary here, however. I was 9 years old in 1981.
Suffice it to say – the landscape of publishing has vastly, drastically changed in the intervening 40+ years.
In the 1980s and 1990s, you really only had traditional publishing as your option. Often, to get in the door you needed a literary agent to represent you.
For a couple of years in the late 1990s, I had an agent. But my fantasy work was not his usual genre.
During the early 2000s – after paying for my first professional edit – I made numerous inquiries to get more appropriate representation.
Getting a literary agent, FYI, is just as hard as getting in the door with a traditional publishing house.
In the mid-2010s, I became aware of the increased options for self-publishing and print-on-demand (POD). What many had used for vanity purposes was fast becoming a new means to an end.
I started with a nonfiction book in 2013. Though it didn’t do great, it was still a good enough proof of concept for me. In 2014, I published Seeker – the first book in my Source Chronicles epic YA fantasy series.
Slowly, I put a few more books out. Then, in 2020, I hit the ground running, adding 3 more books that year and 6 in 2021.
At present, I have 12 fantasy, sci-fi, and steampunk novels available.
But writing is only the first step of the creative process for self-publishing.
Self-publishing makes you a business
For a long time, I considered various ways I might be able to be an entrepreneur. It runs in the family – my grandfather was an entrepreneur, and my dad also created and ran his own business.
What would I do? Again and again, I came back to the notion of a coffee shop. Maybe combined with an internet café or game space or something? But I never managed to get beyond a vague idea.
Plus, to be honest with you and myself, I didn’t have the necessary drive to do that.
Truth is, as a start-up, your life is your business for the first 2-5 years. And that’s pretty much your everything.
The funny thing is – when I decided to start self-publishing, I found I had to do more than write. I needed to build a website, have a social media presence, do email and other marketing, and more. Like it or not, if I am going to self-publish seriously – I must become a business.
Traditional publishers handle some of the elements of marketing that go into selling your books. When you self-publish, however, you handle it all yourself.
That means I needed to put a lot of important things in place – and tweak them along the way – to that end. Those are the tools of self-publishing. Among them are a website, social media presence, email, and other marketing tools.
The tools of self-publishing
There are a lot of available tools of self-publishing to this end. But I’m going to share my experience with the three best-known and arguably most important.
For what it’s worth, there is no One True Way™, no right or wrong, and no absolutes with anything I’m sharing here. All of this is based on my experience with it. Your mileage may vary. Also – I’m learning new things all the time because the landscape is not static.
Websites
You are either reading this via my author website or on Medium. I write a weekly blog (every Tuesday) as part of my work to keep my website current.
I offer links to my books where they can be purchased for Kindle, Audible, and paperback. At present, nearly everything is exclusive to Amazon. Come September, that will change – when I offer the Forgotten Fodder series for wider distribution.
Still, I highlight a book every month on my home page and strive to update the website so that it’s fresh and current. Though I’m not a professional website designer, I have enough skill that I believe my page doesn’t suck.
There is more I can do with this. For example, I’m revamping my mailing list and newsletter – and the signup for that is on my webpage (more about that coming up). Some authors have a webstore on their website to sell their books. That’s something I might consider down the line.
I believe that having a website is as imperative as having a phone number and an address. It’s a virtual home both for you as the author – and for your books.
Social media and similar tools of self-publishing
Once upon a time, I loved social media. Over the years, as it’s evolved (devolved, really) that love has dwindled.
I had a personal Facebook page and a few other now-defunct presences. But then I learned from various sources that having a Twitter and Instagram account might be a good idea.
So I did. I also created an author page on Facebook. But – the more I go down the social media rabbit hole, the more my fandom of social media wanes.
For example – since just after the pandemic, I discovered lessening my time on social media helped my mental and emotional health. I don’t feel I ever quite got Instagram – but I set myself up there. And though I’m still not 100% into it, I’m on TikTok, too.
Thanks to my job since the end of 2021, my presence on LinkedIn has increased considerably.
I dumped Twitter, however, following Elon Musk taking it over. When he allowed a certain Orange Shitgibbon to return, that was the last straw. I was done supporting the platform.
The verdict is out on Threads – though as an expansion of Meta, I’m leery of it. But for work, I need to research it, so – 2 birds, one stone.
Despite all of this – social media is a good way to spread your message and do marketing. However – it’s a pit of vipers. Between nonsensical algorithms, massive toxicity, and other ugliness – getting your message out and seen isn’t easy.
But that doesn’t mean it should be disregarded. Marketing is a vast and complicated psychological and social science.
Email, arguably, is where it all began. Instantly you can transmit a message of any length around the globe. You can connect with people directly anywhere, any time.
For some, email is incredibly clunky and already old-fashioned. But the truth is that it’s not to be neglected. Mailing lists and newsletters are still – based on everything I’ve read and keep reading – hugely important to marketing your work.
Yet I have been ignoring this tool for years. Instead, I looked to social media and word of mouth. Other than paying lip service to the email world, I disregarded it.
But that’s about to change.
At the end of August, I’m revamping my mailing list and starting a monthly newsletter. Additionally, rather than offer a random fantasy short story, I’m going to offer new subscribers a prequel story in my Forgotten Fodder series. And likely to go with that – new quarterly Forgotten Fodder prequel short stories as a thank-you for being on my list.
This will tie into the forthcoming wide distribution of the series.
Once I complete publishing the last Void Incursion novel, exclusive prequel short stories might be shared with my list there, too.
Hence, I’m taking a new stab at a tried and true marketing tool I’ve barely scratched the surface of.
These are not, of course, the only tools of self-publishing.
Other tools of self-publishing
There are other tools of self-publishing to consider. Paid advertising, providing advance reader copies (ARCs) for more reviews, seeking podcasts to guest on, and creating an author-specific podcast (something I’ve pondered a time or two).
Additionally, in part thanks to my job, I’m also looking into new Web3 and Metaverse marketing options. I floated an idea for ebooks in Web3 that hasn’t taken root yet – but I’ve only just begun.
Self-publishing is a decision to take your writing from the (relatively) easy part – the writing – to a business. And like any business, there are unexpected challenges and a lot of different hats to wear.
But here’s what, to me, matters most: Make the best product that you can. Don’t half-ass your work just to publish. Believe me, there is an abundance of half-assed self-published work available. Do your edits, hire an editor, get a good cover made, and compare your blurb to others in your genre that entice you to buy.
The other challenge of self-publishing is being outstanding and standing out – vs – sticking out like a sore thumb. There are lots of half-assed book covers, unedited works, and outright garbage competing for views with the good stuff. You have the power within you to be the creator of good stuff.
Use the tools of self-publishing I’ve shared here, and any others you encounter to sell your work. There are lots of resources available to help you on this perilous journey.
And please do your best to create from a place of love. Isn’t that why we make the art we do in the first place?
As I share my creative journey with you, I conclude with this – how are you inspired to be your own creator – whatever form that takes?
Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
Feel free to explore the rest of the website. Also, check out my weekly podcasts.
Enjoying the website and my endeavors? I’d be grateful if you would consider becoming a patron through my Patreon.
You can subscribe to my newsletter. Fill in the info and click the submit button to the right and receive your free eBook.
Follow me here!
You must be logged in to post a comment.