If you are searching for a blueprint on how to be successful with self-publishing, this blog post is not the answer. It’s more about my journey as I try to navigate the twists and turns as an Indy Author.
Ever since I can remember, it’s been a dream of mine to be an author.
I have early memories of snuggling under the blankets, well past bedtime, with a flashlight and a worn copy of Little House in the Big Woods. I would look at the author’s name on the cover of the book and wonder if I could ever achieve that dream. Well….certainly not to the standard of Lauran Ingalls Wilder, but just my name on my own book.
Fast forward to adulthood, and I decided that if I want to achieve a dream, then I need to do something about it. It makes sense logically, but sometimes chasing dreams is not logical.
I broke out Brian’s old laptop and started Chapter One of Life at Loon Lake.
It was terrifying.
I made it through that first manuscript, and even took the plunge to ask a respected friend to edit the mess for me.
Pushing ‘send’ on that first email to Matt was probably one of the most stressful things I’ve ever done. It at least ranks in the Top 10.
Fast forward a few more years, well, truthfully a decade, and I took that first completed manuscript and uploaded it onto Amazon using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).
A year or two went by, and I had my second children’s book written and submitted online as well.
Things were progressing a tad quicker now.
Learning How to Navigate a Tech World
I was determined to learn all about KDP and how to format my manuscript correctly.
On top of that, I needed to understand how to use Canva to help with putting everything together and creating book covers.
It was exhausting and there were times I had to just step away from the computer, but I continued on and fumbled through it.
Some people may enjoy this part of writing. Not me. I want to sit in my cabin, drink my Diet Coke or Hot Cocoa, and write to my heart’s content.
I wasn’t prepared for all of the other aspects of attempting to self-publish my stories.
Writing in the Cabin – My Favorite Past Time
My Writing Cabin is my sanctuary. I love writing out there.
It was so exhilarating to work in the cabin this past summer. I split my time between talking to the hummingbirds and squirrels, napping on the bed in the back, and, of course, writing at my desk. It was absolutely perfect.
There’s something special about having your own space.
I still venture out to the cabin, even in the colder weather, but it’s not quite the same. I have an electric heater out there, but the piece that is different is the expectation of going to work Monday morning. It feels like I’m losing a piece of me when I’m unable to spend hours upon hours sitting at my desk, working.
Summer will be here before I know it and I’ll have 3 more months of uninterrupted joy. I’m looking forward to it.
Excitement of Seeing My Books Online
I can not find adequate words to describe how I feel when I see my book online.
There’s this sense of accomplishment in the first steps of achieving a dream. I realize that I’m not quite there yet. (My books are not exactly flying off any shelves as of yet.) It’s more about the fact that the book is real. The characters are real. Kids can curl up in a chair and follow the adventures of Sam, Frankie, and Logan.
It doesn’t get too much better than that.
Along the way in this journey, I learned about the website, Fiverr.com.
I realized that I can pay someone to post my books on their websites.
The following link is an example of a service I found for marketing:
https://www.boogerpicksthebooks.com/authors-spotlight
Sometimes, I search for my book on Amazon just to see it listed. It makes my heart warm.
I read the reviews and smile. I have some that were entered from friends and family members, but there are also some reviews coming in from strangers.
It makes me feel like I’m part of something that is ‘lasting.’
Preserving Mom’s memory since she has passed away is something I take very seriously. It’s the same when it comes to my life. I want part of me to be accessible to future grandkids and great-grandkids.
Writing helps me achieve this.
Not a Seller…
I’m horrible at marketing. Even thinking about pitching my book to a literary agent creates tense knots inside my stomach.
When I was a cook at Budd’s Restaurant in my teenage years, I always gave too much food. I feel bad charging people for things.
I’m definitely not a salesman.
While my number one goal with writing a book was just to set out and complete the task in a successful way, the second goal should be to get my books into the hands of kids.
Who am I kidding? It would be nice to actually sell some.
I do have sales each month from Amazon, but they are a handful here, a handful there.
Is it bad to want to be a successful author? If I’m being honest, making money from the books is part of the dream.
Learning As I Go
This whole endeavor is such an extensive process.
I’m working on changing my mindset from, ‘I can’t’ to ‘I’ve got this.’
It’s not the actual writing of the manuscripts that stumps me. I know that I can absolutely continue to get better as a writer, but I’m happy overall with the end products of Life at Loon Lake and Motor Mania.
It’s the other stuff.
I’m going to continue to work on the marketing. I’ll strive to do better with generating Pinterest Pins to drive traffic to my website. I’ll keep plugging away.
I have to believe that sales will take off at some point.
Finding An Agent (More Like ‘Putting It Off’)
I’m scared of that next step.
Attempting to find a literary agent opens me up to failure.
It also means sharing a vital piece of me with someone I don’t know. It’s not an easy thing to do.
This past September, I placed a sticky note on my teacher desk at school that read, ‘Find an Agent.’
I spent maybe a couple of lunch periods looking at possibilities and researching the process. That was it. I didn’t do anything beyond printing out an example of a query letter and writing down some emails.
It’s time to change that.
Today is January 1st, 2024. It’s time for New Year’s Resolutions and looking towards the future.
If I don’t look to change my trajectory now, then when?
I’m not as scared of the ‘no’s, as I am of any acceptance answers I may receive.
Things would become real at that point.
I wish Mom was here. I would give anything to be able to call her up and talk about books, life, etc… Heck, I would love to talk with her about the weather.
I miss her presence so much, especially in times like these where I work on chasing those dreams.
Goals for Today:
- Watch Michigan Trample Alabama in the Rose Bowl
- Bake More Bread – The Dog Ate Half a Loaf Yesterday (He’s okay)
- Begin Writing My Query Letter