8 Lessons I Learned from Self-Publishing

Summary

The author reflects on the valuable lessons learned over a decade of self-publishing, emphasizing personal growth, responsibility, and the economic value of their work.

Abstract

Over ten years as a self-published author, beginning in March 2013, the individual has navigated the challenges of independent publishing, producing five books and gaining insight into the publishing industry. They advocate for self-reliance, proactive marketing, consistent production of content, fair remuneration for their work, and the importance of not being swayed by external judgments or prejudices. The journey has also required the development of new skills and resilience in the face of envy and criticism. Despite the hurdles, the author remains content with their choice to self-publish and encourages others to recognize the worth of their literary endeavors.

Opinions

The author values the sense of responsibility and ownership that comes with self-publishing, recognizing the importance of taking charge of every aspect of book production and promotion.
Initiative is seen as crucial for success, with the understanding that authors must actively market their books in a highly competitive environment.
Discipline is highlighted as essential for staying relevant and remembered in the literary world, with regular output being necessary to maintain visibility.
There is a strong belief that authors should not undervalue their work, advocating for fair compensation and cautioning against frequent deep discounting or giving away books.
The author emphasizes the economic value of their work, asserting that writing and publishing efforts should be fairly remunerated, not just acknowledged through readership.
The importance of maintaining inner balance and not being overly influenced by reader reviews or opinions is underscored, suggesting a measured approach to feedback.
The author advises independence from the judgments and prejudices that can arise from self-publishing, including envy and negative stereotypes from those skeptical of the self-publishing route.
A willingness to learn and adapt is seen as vital for self-published authors, who must often acquire new skills to navigate various aspects of the publishing process effectively.

My decade as an independent author

It’s been ten years since my first novel was published as an independent author. It was March 2013, and I had just come out of a difficult experience with a publisher and was full of doubts and fears. I can’t say that it was an easy road, but in these years, I have had several opportunities to express my satisfaction for having made this choice, and today I can only reaffirm that I would not opt for a publisher again unless in truly exceptional cases.

This experience has not only been positive in terms of publication (currently, I have five books published as an independent author), but it has also taught me a lot on a personal level. And that’s what I want to talk to you about today.

1. Sense of Responsibility

When you take on the production of your own book, you learn that the entire process of creation is in your hands, and therefore you assume responsibility for every single decision. Not having the concrete support of a publishing house makes you realize the importance of relying on yourself for every phase of book production, as well as to make it known afterwards.

2. Initiative

If you do nothing, you get nothing. It may seem like a triviality, but too often authors do not realize that publishing a book does not automatically mean making it known to the whole world. If you want your creation to have a chance and succeed in the face of fierce competition, you need to take initiatives and act concretely. Resting on your laurels is not part of the path of a self-publisher.

3. Discipline

No publisher would dream of producing a book every once in a blue moon. An author who self-produces understands at some point that if they want to stay afloat, they must set a pace, continue writing. An independent author must produce stories if they want to have even a minimal chance of being noticed. In practice, you have to remind people that you exist as an author.

5. Our Work Has Economic Value

A corollary of the previous point. Many writers say they write for the pleasure of doing so. This is right and essential for all of us, but it does not mean that the work and effort of writing and publishing should not be remunerated. Self-publishing teaches you that you can earn something with your books. In fact, you must! Don’t settle for a meager slice (or just being read) but demand to be paid for your work as a writer because it is only fair.

6. Not depending on the judgment of others

Readers have very diverse opinions on the same books. Comments and reviews depend on personal taste, mood of the moment, previous readings, and so on. For writers (not just independent authors), it is essential not to be influenced by these judgments and to seek inner balance. This does not mean that one should not take into account the opinion of readers (on the contrary), nor that one should not rejoice for a positive review and be sad for a negative one. But it means that one should not be too conditioned, neither to the point of getting carried away by five-star reviews, nor of falling into depression over a one-star review.

7. Envy and prejudices should not affect us

Self-publishing exposes you not only to people’s judgment, but unfortunately also to common prejudice. Many still struggle to understand why being an independent author is a good choice, criticize your decision, or even try to convince you to publish with their publishers! I often find myself biting my tongue not to say what I really think of some publishers (not all, mind you), but I try to be diplomatic. Similarly, you are often the subject of envy and all kinds of nastiness (many can confirm this, unfortunately). In the face of all this, it is necessary to armor oneself and move forward, because there is not much else to do.

8. Don’t be afraid to acquire new skills

Last but not least is this point: if you want to be an independent author, you need to take on many aspects of publishing that would not concern you as a writer. It’s true that you can and should rely on the collaboration of experts and every external advice, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t need to study along the way to acquire skills that you didn’t have before. Otherwise, you might as well go directly to a publisher. At a minimum, you’ll need to know how to navigate various fields to avoid mistakes and be able to discern even between valid suggestions and bad advice.

I think there is still a lot to learn, also because it is certainly not an easy path. But in my small way, I am happy to have chosen it and grateful for this opportunity.

Have you had similar experiences as independent authors?