To Self-Publish or not Self-Publish, You Decide?

Why self-publish you might ask? Why not would be my answer.

Self-publishing is the easiest foray into becoming a published author. There are many free online publishing platforms. However, self-publishing can still be a daunting prospect for many aspiring authors. In this blog post, I discuss the beginning of my self-publishing journey. Hopefully it will inspire you to begin yours!

I started with an idea and a concept for my first self-help book Probate Basics -A Quick Reference Guide on What You Need to Know About the Probate Process. I felt it was out of pure necessity that I share what I had learned about the probate process. It was a daunting process, especially during the early days of the COVID 19 Pandemic. My mother passed away unexpectedly and I had to navigate this process alone and with limited assistance from the Probate Office. Staff and communication was limited and the US Postal Service was slow. It took nearly a year and a half to get appointed as my mother’s personal representative. In that time, I learned a lot about what information was needed to apply for, be appointed as, and the responsibilities that go along with the appointment of a Personal Representative of an estate- All of the information that I learned is in the book!

The takeaway was that I knew that I had to share this information, thus the idea for a basic guide on the probate process is what materialized and later self-published.  While this might not be the rule for every writer who wishes to self-publish their first book, this experience was what helped get my creativity flowing. 

Starting with an idea and/or concept can help you get started on writing your very  first draft, which you can revise or edit as much as you want until you are comfortable and satisfied with your final draft. It is best to take your time at this stage in the writing process to ensure that your book is the best it can be. Spend time with your first draft reading and re-reading it until you feel confident that it is the best version of the story that you've envisioned. When you're absolutely sure that your satisfied with your draft, you're ready to create your final draft that will  ultimately be ready for publishing. The editing and proof-reading process will be discussed in the next post!

"Self-publishing is not just about getting your work out there. It's also about building a platform, establishing a brand, and connecting with readers" - Hugh Howey