“Click: Publish” — And So It Begun
Gain insights from my experiences in writing, publishing, and marketing my book.
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I never imagined the rollercoaster ride that awaited me as a first-time published author. When I typed “The End” on my manuscript, I thought the hardest part was over. Little did I know, it was just the beginning.
Scarlet Ibis James — that’s the name I chose for my pen identity, an homage to my birthplace’s national bird and my family name. As I embarked on this independent publishing journey, I felt like that vibrant, determined bird, ready to take flight.
The learning curve was steep. I spent countless nights researching the intricacies of self-publishing, from formatting to cover design. My dining table transformed into a makeshift office, littered with sticky notes and coffee-stained notebooks. The glow of my laptop screen and countless YouTube tutorials became my constant companions.
Each step forward felt like a small victory. When I finally held the proof copy of my book, my hands trembled with excitement and fear. The weight of the book in my hands was both exhilarating and terrifying. This was my creation; my words and heart were poured onto these pages.
Launch day arrived with a flurry of emotions. I watched anxiously as my book went live on various platforms. The first sale notification made my heart skip a beat. A stranger had chosen to spend their hard-earned money on my story. It was a humbling realization.
But the highs were often followed by lows. Days passed without a single sale, and self-doubt crept in. Was my writing good enough? Had I made a mistake in pursuing this dream? I found myself constantly refreshing sales reports, each click a mix of hope and dread.
Marketing became my new full-time job…
I created social media accounts, fumbling through hashtags and crafting the perfect author bio. I reached out to book bloggers, my heart racing each time I hit send on an email. The rejections stung, but each “yes” felt like a triumph.
The first review came in unexpectedly — a ping on my phone that made my stomach lurch. I held my breath as I opened the notification, afraid to look but unable to resist. Five stars. A stranger had not only read my book but enjoyed it enough to leave a positive review. I read their words over and over, tears welling up in my eyes. They got it. They understood the story I was trying to tell.
That review and the others that followed became my anchor on difficult days. When sales were slow, or another rejection email landed in my inbox, I’d return to those words, reminding myself why I started this journey in the first place.
I never knew reviews were so important to book sales. I feel bad for all the books I’ve purchased and read and for not posting a review (especially for the good ones). I will always do this in the future and ask that you leave an honest review if you bless me by reading my book.
As I continue on this self-publishing journey, I am constantly reminded of the immense power and potential of the independent publishing industry. Gone are the days when authors had to rely solely on traditional publishing houses to share their stories with the world.
With self-publishing, we have the freedom to write what we want, when we want, and how we want. We can reach a broader audience and have more control over our creative processes. While it may be daunting to take on all aspects of publishing ourselves, the sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with seeing our book in print makes it all worth it.
To any writers considering self-publishing, go for it. Don’t let fear or self-doubt hold you back. The road may be filled with ups and downs, but it is also filled with endless possibilities and opportunities.
And to those who have already taken this leap, I encourage you to keep going.
🎧☕️🕯️📖 ɴᴇxᴛ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ 🎧☕️🕯️📖
Continue to hone your craft, explore new marketing strategies, and support other indie authors along the way.
Remember, our stories are valuable and deserve to be shared with the world.
© Scarlet Ibis James 2024, All Rights Reserved.
Do you have questions about self-publishing?
I’m new to the world but have learned much since I started. If I can, I’ll answer.
Order: Just The Paperback | Scarlet Yearnings
I’m practicing what I preach and working on my next two books now. To get advance reader copies, subscribe to the Scarlet Yearnings Collective at https://www.scarletibisjames.com.
(¯`*•.¸,¤°´✿.。.:* 𝒮𝒸𝒶𝓇𝓁ℯ𝓉 𝐼𝒷𝒾𝓈 𝒥𝒶𝓂ℯ𝓈 *.:。.✿`°¤,¸.•*´¯)