7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Self-Publishing My First Book
- Tara Summerville
- Oct 24, 2023
- 5 min read
When I published Rubber City Ruins, I was convinced it would be a success. Anyone who knew me since I was 5 knew I would publish a book one day. And the day finally came... and went. In its wake was the realization that getting my book out there demanded so much more than actually publishing it.
There are so many successful authors out there who will tell you everything they did to become a success. But it's not a one-size-fits-all formula. Those authors likely had one of two things: a massive amount of luck, or a trust fund.
Life's all about the journey, not the destination, right? The path to success isn't a straight line, and keeping your head up is important. As you struggle to make your mark, take in the scenery along the way. The view from Mt. Everest won't be as alluring if you drop down from a helicopter!
After self-publishing 4 books, here's everything I wish I had known when I published that very first book.
1. Be a visitor of Disappointment City, not a resident
Finding yourself in Disappointment City is inevitable. And it's ok to feel sad that your book didn't skyrocket to the New York Times best-seller list, or if your friends didn't even read your book. Let those feelings of sadness settle in, but don't get too comfortable. You're allowed to wallow, at least for a little while.
Be kind to yourself during this time. Practice a little self-care. Remember that you are more than an author- it's just a part of your multi-faceted personality. Then, use those feelings of disappointment to propel you forward. It may sound cliche, but you'll only fail if you give up.
2. Tackle self-publishing like playing the lottery
Honestly, it's very similar. I feel like the most successful authors found success with talent and a little luck. Just like the lottery- the more tickets you purchase increases your odds of hitting the jackpot. It's unlikely that your first book will catapult you to fame (although stranger things have happened).
If the first book doesn't hit- write another. And another. Eventually, there will be one book that hits that sweet spot, and readers will eagerly check out your back catalog. And all it takes is the right person to read your book to help it gain traction.
3. Marketing works
With Rubber City Ruins (my first book), I marketed it the best that I could. I probably spent 100 bucks on targeted marketing. And with my other books, I barely marketed them at all. And you know what I learned? Marketing works! Rubber City Ruins has almost 100 reviews on Amazon, and every subsequent book has significantly fewer.
As time went on, I stopped marketing them as much because I didn't see the explosion in popularity I was expecting. Use tools like Instagram, Facebook, and Amazon's ads to get your book in front of the right set of eyes.
4. Network
This doesn't have to mean you have to join a national writer's group or pack up and travel to distant conferences. Simply joining your local author's group is enough to get you started. When I published my first book, I thought my small circle of influence would be enough to cause a bigger ripple. And I was wrong.
My circle of influence doesn't read all that often. The ones that do read didn't really like science fiction. Plus, they just don't understand how important it was to me to publish, because they aren't writers. Surrounding yourself with fellow writers creates a circle of support that's in it 100 percent. They understand what it takes to publish a book, and will support you in the way you need.
5. Don't be afraid to too your own horn
I struggle with this BIG TIME. If you can't be your own hypeman, who will? Right after I published Jiro, I had to go to the Apple Store to get my earbuds fixed. I was sitting at a table with a bunch of friendly strangers, and one man asked what I did for a living. I said I was a freelance writer, and I just published my 4th book.
The table lit up in fascination and started asking questions. I complained that marketing is difficult, and the man across from me said he worked in marketing. I told him to check out my book, and to have a nice day! Then, I went into my car and bashed my head against the steering wheel, lamenting my missed opportunity.
When an opportunity presents itself, it's ok to get a little salesman-y. The worst thing that could happen is the folks at the Apple Store would think about the annoying author as they walked out of the mall. And then forget about me completely once they got to their car.
6. Take advantage of free book promotions
If the goal is to find enough success that you can quit your day job, a free book promotion sounds counterintuitive. But I've had so much success with free promotions! As soon as I'm eligible, I place all my books for free. There was one free promotion I did with Rubber City Ruins that generated 10,000 downloads! While I wish they paid, it felt amazing to think 10,000 people were reading my book. And the influx in reviews meant a bump in sales for a limited time.
I'm still trying to figure out how to recapture that magic. For me, I found that I don't see as many downloads on the weekends, surprisingly. I typically add my book for free on a Tuesday and run it to Saturday. Also, run a free promotion over Christmas! Anyone who got a Kindle as a gift will likely head to the free store because they're low on funds after the holidays. Also, January is a fantastic time to run a promotion.
7. Never give up.
It's ok to shelf your author dreams for a minute. If you're running at full steam and not moving forward, it makes sense that you'll run out of gas. I'm currently battling wanting to give up. It's been a long year, personally. A lot of sadness and stagnation, and the crushing blow of Jiro not being the smashing success I hoped it would be. My brain is screaming to give up, but I know better. Getting knocked off a horse sucks, and everyone needs a minute to tend to their wounds. The important thing is that you get back on.
At the end of the day, you write because you love it. Molding a passion into a lucrative career is a recipe for hating the thing you once loved. The trick is convincing yourself that success comes with time. You can't force it, but you can mold it. Do the marketing, hype yourself up, do all the post-publishing work. Send your book to the library, get to know the owner of your local bookstore, and have free copies to give out to interested strangers. All those little things pile up over time... if you have the patience to wait.
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