My Journey as a Self-Publishing Author

Becoming an author was not something that I had ever truly envisioned for myself. It never seemed to be within the realm of possibility for me. I had always doubted my ability to write despite being able to write very well-put-together essays and papers for my college-level courses in high school and the college courses I took once I was finally in college. Writing is something that has always seemed to come naturally to me, so why do I constantly find myself wondering if I am a good enough writer? Come with me as I let you in on my writer’s journey.

When Did I Start Writing?

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While I have always written very well-put-together essays and papers for school, I never just really wrote for fun. That was until just one day, I got my father’s dinosaur of a laptop out, opened up Microsoft Word, and started writing. That was in 2007, and I was probably 15 years old then. Yes, I started writing the same year that the Twilight Series was going bonkers all over the world.

Did I have the same concept from Twilight? Well, to anyone who knew me back then, I had never read the Twilight Series, so there was no way for me to know that writing about vampires and werewolves was going to be such a popular idea. My first book took years, not just to write it, but to even consider publishing it. I knew that with the basic concept that surrounded my first book, there was bound to be some controversy just because any of my “friends” had said it sounded like I was trying to copy Twilight.

So, I stopped writing for a long period. I blamed it on writer’s block when, truly, it was because I was already receiving no support from those who I thought would like to support the idea of my writing. The instant rejection hit me like a tidal wave. It would be a few years before I would start writing my first book again. Even then, I would truly get writer’s block or try to give up altogether if it weren’t for my father. My father is probably the biggest reason why I would continue to write.

What Types of Obstacles Got in the Way?

There were so many different types of obstacles and roadblocks that got in my way. The biggest one of all was myself. I got in my head so many times and continued to question whether or not I had the ability to be a good enough writer. Whether or not I should give up this silly little dream that was forming and go about finding a new dream, something more reachable or realistic. But time and time again, I would come back to my book.

Writer’s block is another big obstacle that hit me. And oh boy, did it hit like a ton of bricks. One moment, I would have a ton of ideas. The next moment, absolutely nothing. That was when I started making outlines, not just of my characters but of the meaty parts of the chapters. I did this for every single chapter in my first book, as well as the main characters and even some of the less significant characters.

This turned out to be a great idea for me. However, writer’s block would continue to rear its ugly head way more often than I would like to admit. I would get stuck on a single chapter for what seemed to be forever, and then a spark would ignite, and boom, I would write out probably three to four chapters. This would be a constant battle that continues to this day. Another obstacle that still stands in my way is rejection. I have never been one to take rejection very well.

From the time I was a young preteen to now as an adult, I have been a pretty sensitive individual and also an empath. So, adding rejection to all of that casts so much doubt and despair. I tend to take a lot of things to heart fairly easily and find it just as difficult to let them go. I’m stubborn in that way. But sometimes, it gives me the fight and the courage that I need to continue with my journey as a self-published author.

How Did I Decide to Become a Self-Published Author?

I decided that it would be easier to become a self-published author because of the rejection factor. I wouldn’t say I like trying to pitch things or ideas to people because I am generally shy—probably the most introverted extrovert you will ever meet. However, having the ability to control my deadlines, the titling, the About the Author section, and everything in between gave me a new sense of confidence.

Confidence that I didn’t have years ago. Still, it felt like I would just be hiding behind a computer screen while trying to let the world see me as an author. That in itself has been something that I have struggled with and continue to struggle with. If it hadn’t been for the support of my father, my best friend, and my husband, I probably would have never decided to publish. I published my first book in 2021. It is not yet finished, which I did on purpose because I love a good cliffhanger.

I still have much more work to do with my first book, as I plan on making some extreme edits to the already published chapters. So, what has already been published will be labeled as the “first edition.” I have so many other ideas that have popped into my head over the years. Yes, they are all written down in some form or fashion. I will get to them eventually, as every good author does.

What Advice Do You Have for Future Self-Published Authors?

The first piece of advice I would give to anyone who wants to go the route of self-publishing is to do it. Don’t doubt yourself for a single minute. You can do this! It will be a long road and a path that is far less traveled compared to traditional publishing methods. But it will be worth it in the end. I never dreamed that I would sell a single copy of my book, let alone over a dozen copies.

Secondly, trust your gut. You know the story you are composing better than anyone. Deliver it to your audience in the hopes of winning a huge victory. Stand tall and be proud of what you have accomplished. Writing and putting together a well-thought-out story is never easy. Second-guessing yourself is much easier. But do not let the fear and self-doubt keep you from pursuing a dream.