Real Talks (Part 1)

3 Things I have learned in my first year of publishing: Part 1

I decided on the title "Real Talks" because I wanted this post to feel like we were having a face to face conversation with each other. To be honest, I am no expert when it comes to self-publishing. I am just dipping my feet into the water. I am a novice! I still have a lot to learn. There is no amount of self-publishing books to prepare me from experiencing the real thing. All the same, I wanted to share the few things I have learned on my journey. Perhaps, it might inspire you to become  one as well (which I highly recommend) or this blog post might simply peak your interest. Whatever this post gives to you, I hope you enjoy our real talks. Feel free to post your thoughts in the comment section below.

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1. Become an Entrepreneur

Influencer - Gary V

It is all in the mind.

You have to visualize success. Whatever you put into the mind will come out in the world. Some people call it law of attraction, but I prefer manifestation. After I first published "The Tragic Tale of Teddy Woven," I began to imagine other novels on my book shelf. Intuitively, I knew that this was not the last book I would publish on Amazon. There were moments when I would close my eyes and imagine future book cover, long before I had ever completed the manuscript. I knew it was important to keep pushing myself! To chase my dreams. Yes, the task of completing a long manuscript like "Awakening" was daunting, but I kept at it. So, the first step to becoming a successful writer is to use the power of manifestation and envision the success that you want to achieve in the future.

But that is just the first step, because once the dream you imagine is put into the world and becomes a physical representation of your goal it is time to buckle down and put on your "entrepreneur hat." Admittedly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew the books would not magically sell themselves, but I was not prepared for the amount of daily work that is necessary to succeed. You have to realize that as a self-published writer you are forced to wear many hats: writer, editor, designer, marketer, social media influencer, blogger, and the list goes on. It is your job to put your work out there, so that means working crazy amount of hours a day. You can sit on your ass and hope for success, or you can chase it. If you are feeling stuck or lack of motivation, I recommend you listen to videos of "Gary Vaynerchuck" on YouTube. He understands the difficulties of entrepreneurship, and gives you tips on how to motivate yourself to take your business to the next level. I also recommend a book by Joel Stafford "The First 100 Days of Your Book." It was the first book I picked up last year that really taught me about the business of self-publishing and the steps you need to take to succeed.

To be an entrepreneur you need to have a lot of skills, but I think the most important thing I have learned is to pursue your passion and enjoy the process. Yes, there are days that are hard, but if you love your "work" it does not feel like work.  I have written stories for free for YEARS online, so no one is pulling my leg to write a full length novel. The entire process of being a self-published author does not feel like work to me, it is more of a hobby where I can make some money on the side. I am living my dream right now! I wake up everyday and I am excited! It feels like I am flying on cloud nine, and I have no desire to settle back down yet. Already, I am mapping out books that will come out in the year 2022 and 2023, and this is just the beginning

I have said this before, but I want to state it one more time: success does not come instantly. I have a five year plan, but that might not mean I will be an ultra successful writer by 2026. Every day will be a grind, but it can still be an enjoyable one. When you are an entrepreneur you have to enjoy the process, otherwise there is no point in it.

On Friday (June 18th) I will share "Real Talks: Part Two"