Anyone can write a book. Just type words into sentences and after a couple hundred or even thousands of those things, you got a manuscript. Anyone can have an amazing idea to write. The bigger question is:
Can you see it through?
The big thing that makes most people hesitate, or not even try is that perseverance or self motivation to see it through. There were times when I would doubt the journey I decided, there were times where I took a break. Because most of all, it can feel daunting. Exposing yourself and your capabilities, doing things you’ve never done. You aren’t going to see the progress right away, you never do unless you are a goal guru whose action plan is quite thorough and there is nothing that springs out in your life to set you back. But, most people struggle with goals and writing them down let alone getting an action plan. And, its life. There will always be unintended circumstances that try to throw you astray.
Pushing through that, the uncomfortableness of the “new”, keeping excitement through your project, and finding the drive to complete it is the hardest part.
If your having money problems, you want it bad enough you’ll find other ways. There are always solutions to money. Question is, can you change your lifestyle and go through discomfort and hardship for a short period for that long term goal?
Before I was with selfpublishing, I reached out to a few vanity publishers to see how sellable my book was. And they loved it! The salespeople contacted me shortly after submission gushing about how much they enjoyed it, how my poem collection felt fresh and different. Only problem, I was dirt broke. This was during covid, when I just graduated high school and no one was hiring as everything was shut down. I was distressed. Wondering how to overcome this, I politely told them my situation and pressed on. Finishing illustrations, contemplating how I wanted them sorted, researching how to self-publish.
Just because there was a setback, doesn’t mean I was about to quit. I kept on refining my jewel that I started years ago. But, then I was given an old Ipad from my father, and my illustrations were coming to life. Got a job, started saving up and hired selfpublishing to help see my dreams become a reality.
Now, you can do it yourself. As a novice, an experienced professional author, regardless of where you are in your journey it can be done. It’s a question of how successful do you want it to be. Time and knowledge are the big factors of self publishing. This is why those on a tight budget struggle the most. If you are starting off with a website, social media, newsletter, the actual book and all the facets it takes to release it (Formatting, marketing, designing, editing, ect) ads, and more. It’s a lot even for experienced authors. No one person knows and can do everything unless they can devote time and energy into it 24/7. Not everyone is like that. Do what you can, and enlist help in the areas that need tlc. Sacrifices will always need to be made, it’s your decision what those sacrifices will end up being. Whether for your book, career, or in your life.
Going through this publishing process has been hard, trying, rewarding, and fun. Seeing my book going through all of the steps, edits, illustrations, cover design, formatting, submission on platforms, registering it for the world to see. Its a relief and yet so intimately exposing. Like a rollercoaster! I can’t really give you all the steps you should take besides the obvious, but my advice or, what I have learned from all of this is to take it one step at a time and never lose sight of why you started.