Today I’ve decided to do a little something different for a post. Rather than posting writing samples, which is my favorite subject, I’m going to talk a little about what being a self-published author means to me. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I do have hopes my experience might be an inspiration for someone else out there who loves writing as much as I do.
It all starts with the books. Obviously, you can’t publish something that’s not written. Personally, I write my first drafts by hand. The process is certainly slower than typing directly, but I’ve found it helps me stay focused. Forcing my brain to form the words with my hand as I also string them together into something coherent keeps me locked into the moment. The whole experience is more organic. Then when I type that first draft I also do light editing. The first words in the notebooks are free of the editor brain. They convey the basic idea. The words that get transcribed are the first polishing of mechanics and descriptions.
I’m the type who always has several projects in the works. I highly recommend having multiple WIPs even if only one of them comes with the intention to publish. I’ve found this helps with stagnation and also provides time for characters to rest. Yes, I talk about my characters like real people. They’re basically my kids. Often times after putting them through high-stress situations, they need time and space to recover just as I do as the writer. So when certain characters stop talking, I move on to a different story for a while. This method means that at any given point, I have stories in different stages of development. For example, I recently finished massive rewrites on the sequel for “The Murder Meets at Dusk.” Those words are in the hands of a reader and will soon after go off to my wonderful editor. In the meantime, I’ve found my way back to the sequel for “The Nameless,” which has been on hold for some months at roughly 70% finished. Amongst those two major projects, I’ve been writing in a novella series that bounces around different characters’ points of view to create the bigger picture of the world and what’s happening in it.
What comes next? After a completed manuscript goes through the editing process, which entails several read throughs, the really fun part begins. (This is sarcasm.) Formatting has been one of the biggest learning processes for me. I wish I could say it has gone smoothly. Nothing draws the expletives out of me more than formatting. I haven’t reached the level of awesome chapter graphics or art inside the book, but I’ve learned to make my Apple Pages document look like an actual book and upload to Amazon KDP for print. Formatting the ebook is a bit of a different beast, some say easier. I think both formats have their own challenges, and both are rewarding. It’s an achievement I’m proud of, and in three years I’ve formatted four titles. There are, of course, other options for Indies to print by demand, but Amazon is the road I chose to take.
Other than editing, the only other thing I don’t do for myself is the cover. I have an amazing cover artist and friend, and it’s worth every penny to let her do her magic. There’s something to be said about knowing your limits, and mine is that. I think if I had any true advice for aspiring Indies, it’s that you absolutely need an editor, and your cover matters.
Then what? Title and cover reveals are a big part of raising hype for release. At this point, you call on all your resources to share your book on as many platforms as possible. This is the part where readers should be getting excited for your impending release. It’s typically not a long period, a few weeks maybe, but it’s a blitz of self-promotion. No one will ever be more excited than you are as the author when you reach the point when your words are released into the wild. It’s also scary, for me anyway, to know someone else will consume my words and worlds and characters. Likewise, no one else knows how much work goes into releasing a book.
Suddenly, it’s release day! It’s all excitement and guts twisted up into knots, fear, doubt, pride. It’s a lot. But it’s one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had. Release day is the affirmation that all the work and effort paid off. That doesn’t mean sales will be amazing, but that’s a different story. Take your release day and celebrate yourself. You deserve it. Promotion never stops. It’s a job in itself. So take that one day to bask in your own glory. Trust me here.
Once your book is released, it’s out there. As I said, promotion is an ongoing process. It’s hard sometimes. Your friends will help. You might feel like you’re drowning in the never-ending social media grind, finding events to attend, ads and blogs and word of mouth. It’s a constant chase for ratings and reviews, sales, shares, and clicks. Isn’t it worth it, though? Again, no one will care as much as you do. It’s a choice and a commitment but, in the end, being Indie means you have control over your creation. You can choose your content, your aesthetics, all of it.
I’d love to hear from other Indies out there. What’s your process like? What successes have you found? What are you proud of? And to anyone still getting there, don’t quit. The world needs us.
Aj Elmore, Author 