The Untold Reality of Becoming a Successful Self-Published Author

The Hidden Difficulties Of Book Writing

It's no secret that writing a book takes time.


It can be a frustrating, and even isolating experience.


And for the self-published author, it can feel like you're running at two different speeds: trying to keep up with your regular life while also meeting deadlines and responding to feedback from readers.


But in the end, it is worth all the effort!


A lot of people are intimidated by the idea of publishing their own books because they don't know where to start or how much work is involved (or how long).


But if you have an idea you believe in enough to put on paper - then why not publish it?


There are many ways for writers without traditional publishing deals to get their work out into the world today.


Over the years, I've learned a lot about the self-publishing industry from the perspective of an author.


Some of it is good; some not so much.


Here are some realizations that gave me insight into why successful indie authors make the decisions they do:

  • Most authors rely almost exclusively on self-publication to get their work out into the world, and it's not as easy as some people might think. In order to self-publish without a publishing deal, you have to invest a lot of time, money and effort into your book before it is complete.


  • It takes a lot of effort to research, write, format and publish your book…and then you have to market it after it's published as well! After all that work, the idea that self-publishing should be free or cheap is absurd. Self-published books cost money to produce just like traditionally published ones do.


  • It is not easy to get your book into brick and mortar stores or distributed to major online retailers like Amazon, Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble, etc. But if you're willing to invest the time and effort it takes to plan your marketing strategy carefully (and I'm talking months of preparation), it is possible to get your self-published book into physical bookstores for sale.


  • Since many self-published books don't look good, you need to spend extra time and money making your book look as professional as possible if you want it to sell well (and by "look professional," I mean more than just a cover design). You can't just slap your book together and expect people to buy it. Your book has to be professionally edited, designed and formatted for print or Ebook. You need marketing strategies in place.


  • To be successful in self-publishing, you need to plan for the long term. The reality is that most authors only sell a small number of books, so they have to find ways to make money outside of book sales if they want their writing career to become their livelihood.


I am currently writing a book about self-publishing and how to use advanced tools to speed up the writing process.


If you want me to send you notices of pre-order and release date announcements for it - then sign up here:
https://davidgwatson.com/the-difficulties-of-book-writing
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