Summary

An aspiring author shares the unexpected challenges faced in the journey of writing and publishing a book, emphasizing the need for a good editor, obtaining book reviews, and mastering marketing strategies.

Abstract

The author's dream is to craft stories that resonate emotionally and shift readers' worldviews. Initially, the process seemed straightforward: have an idea, write the story, and sell it. However, the author encountered significant hurdles beyond the writing phase. Firstly, securing a skilled editor is crucial for identifying and correcting plot holes that inevitably arise during the writing process. Secondly, garnering positive reviews is essential for book sales, which can be facilitated by distributing free copies and engaging with a community of readers and followers. Lastly, the author acknowledges a critical oversight in marketing, recognizing its pivotal role in driving sales and the necessity of a robust marketing strategy, ideally implemented months prior to the book's release. Despite these challenges, the author remains open to advice and is actively seeking ways to improve these aspects of publishing.

Opinions

The author believes that a "bloody good editor" is indispensable for refining the story and ensuring narrative coherence.
Reviews are seen as a key component for a book's success, with the author suggesting the use of Goodreads and building a social network to accumulate them.
Marketing is highlighted as the author's biggest challenge and a non-negotiable skill for self-published authors, stressing the importance of early and effective marketing efforts.
The author expresses a naivety in underestimating the complexity of the publishing process, particularly in the realms of editing, review solicitation, and marketing.
There is an open appeal for advice and shared experiences from others who have navigated similar challenges in the publishing industry.

My Hurdles as An Author

I hope you do better than I did with these obstacles

My dream is to write and sell books. I want to tell such incredible stories that stir people’s emotions and change their perspective on the world. I want to be able to influence people like puppets, making them feel happiness and hope with a flick of my pen.

The way I saw it in my head was;

Step one: Have an idea

Step two: Write the story

Step three: Sell the story

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Well not really.

I managed to complete step one and a large chunk of step two but there were a few hurdles I did not foresee and I wanted to give others the heads up so you are better prepared than myself.

So here we go.

1. Find a bloody good editor

I was very lucky that my mum read through it but if you can find a proper, experienced editor that would be even better. Whomever you find, you definitely need someone who will correct your errors and tell you if your story has any holes in it. While you writing, you’ll be amazed at how much the story changes and this can lead to plot holes making their way in. A fresh pair of eyes will help you with these issues.

It seems very naïve looking back, but an editor will be crucial.

2. You will need to find people to review it.

Again, not something I thought about, but for the book to sell you need to have some good reviews. You can get these by handing out free copies, using sites like Goodreads or even building up a social network and asking some dedicated followers to help you out by reading your work.

I read before I started that you would need some reviews and this seemed bonkers to me but unfortunately, it is true.

3. Marketing is vital!

This is where I majorly fell down. Like I might as well have gone tumbling down the Grand Canyon. I have never learned a single thing about marketing nor was I ever interested in doing so. Why would I need to?

Well now, it is causing me issues.

If you become an indie publisher, you need to have a marketing strategy to promote your work and it needs to be top-notch! It also needs to start months before you plan on releasing the book. You need to make sure that you build momentum so that on release day you get some sales. I know it seems obvious, but it certainly was not obvious to me.

I have been watching YouTube Videos and reading to try and create one for the future but it’s proving to be the biggest hurdle of my career.

I am still trying to perfect my methods regarding these aspects, so I am happy for any advice anyone might have. Did you have these problems and if so, how did you solve them?