What I’ve learnt so far as a self-published author

I wanted to check in and write a short post of some of the things I have learnt since becoming a self-published author of my debut children’s book. What a journey! Would I do it again? Definitely. Have I grown and learnt as a person? Also, definitely. Have I been way outside my comfort zone? ALL THE TIME!

Some things I’ve learnt so far that I think are important to consider/remember for other self-published authors:

-It is not a get rich quick scheme. In fact, if I sell every author copy I have, I might break even. Though, I paid a lot for illustrations, and how much you can make varies on a lot of factors, eg. how much you paid for your editor, illustrator, formatter, website, paid ads etc.

-It requires a lot of putting yourself out there. The more time that passes, the more I realise you need to put yourself out there in order to make sales, whether through social media, face to face events and readings, or approaching stores about stocking your book. This has been the hardest part for me as a self-pro-claimed introvert.

-Your community is your biggest advocate and support. I am honestly blown away by the support of all of my friends, family and local community. I have sold over 200 books with no marketing through my personal social media, and friends and family members telling everyone they know. Don’t be afraid to ask people to share on their Socials, at their workplaces, put up signage etc, this has really helped me!

-And finally, it’s a long game and reflects the effort you put in. Over the last 2 weeks I have sold almost 50 books because I have dedicated time to the book every single day (I’m not working right now). In January, I didn’t sell a single book as I was just enjoying the summer holidays and wasn’t doing any posting, sharing, emails etc. So, I’m really noticing if you are willing to put in the effort it reflects in your sales for sure!

Best of luck on your own self-publishing journey! I’d love you to support mine if you can:)