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A peek at my fantasy office. No, really! There's a delightful misconception in the literary world, a near-legendary tale that authors are fueled purely by coffee—cup after cup of that intoxicating brew, our muse for every page turned and every tale spun. But here's a little secret from my corner of the fantasy realm: while most authors are downing espressos and lattes, I'm sipping on apple cider. Yes, you read that right. Sparkling apple juice is my potion of choice, the golden elixir that fuels my tales of enchanting worlds and passionate shifters.

Do You Want to Become an Indie Writer?

The Long Path to Becoming a Self-Published Author


A stack of colorfully vibrant thick books in a fantasy land
Self-publishing is a marathon - anon


If you're an aspiring author who wants to self-publish your book, you might be wondering what it takes to succeed in this competitive and rewarding field. Self-publishing is not a quick or easy way to get your book out there, but it can be a fulfilling and profitable one if you're willing to learn and work hard.

Self-publishing is the act of publishing your book without the use of a traditional publishing house or company. You have complete creative control over your book, from writing to editing to designing to marketing. You also get to keep most of the royalties from your book sales, unlike traditional publishing where you have to share them with agents and publishers.

But self-publishing also comes with many challenges and responsibilities. You have to invest your own time and money into producing a high-quality book that readers will love. You have to navigate the complex and ever-changing world of self-publishing platforms, formats, distribution channels, and algorithms. And you have to market your book effectively and consistently, without the help of a professional team.

In this blog post, I'll share some tips and tricks that I learned from my own experience as a self-published author. I'll go over two main topics that every self-publisher should know: how to market your book, and how to create an author's brand.


A thick stack of books stand vertically on a table with an autumn tablecloth
Create your own covers or find a professional 


How to Market Your Book


Marketing is one of the most important aspects of self-publishing. Without marketing, no one will know about your book or buy it. Marketing is also one of the most challenging aspects of self-publishing because it requires a lot of research, planning, creativity, and persistence.

Here are some marketing tips that can help you reach more readers and sell more books:

- Start marketing early. Don't wait until your book is finished or published before you start promoting it. Build anticipation and excitement for your book by sharing snippets, teasers, cover reveals, launch dates, pre-order links, etc. on social media, blogs, newsletters, podcasts, and other platforms.

- Know your target audience. Who are the ideal readers for your book? What are their demographics,
interests, pain points, and preferences? Where do they hang out online and offline? How can you reach them and persuade them to buy your book?

- Create a marketing plan. A marketing plan is a document that outlines your goals, strategies, tactics,
budget, and timeline for promoting your book. A marketing plan can help you stay focused, organized,
and accountable for your marketing efforts.

- Use multiple channels. Don't rely on just one platform or method for marketing your book. Use a combination of online and offline channels such as social media, blogs, podcasts, email newsletters, ads, press releases, book reviews, interviews, events, giveaways, etc.

- Test and measure. Marketing is not a one-size-fits-all approach. What works for one author or genre may not work for another. Experiment with different tactics and platforms to see what generates the most engagement and sales for your book. Track and analyze your results using tools like Google Analytics or Amazon KDP reports.

- Keep marketing after publication. Marketing doesn't stop once your book is published. In fact, it becomes even more important as new books enter the market every day. Keep promoting your book regularly by updating your website or blog, creating new content, engaging with readers, launching new campaigns, cross-promoting with other authors, etc.

A vibrant and colorful logo with a fantasy castle in the center
An example of a fantasy author's logo



How to Create an Author's Brand


An author's brand is how you present yourself as an author to potential readers and customers. It includes elements like:

- Your name: This could be your real name or a pen name that suits your genre or style.

- Your logo: This could be a simple text logo or an image logo that represents you or your books.

- Your tagline: This could be a catchy phrase that summarizes what you write about or what makes you unique as an author.

- Your bio: This could be a short paragraph that introduces yourself as an author and highlights some of your achievements or credentials.

- Your website: This could be a central hub where people can find out more about you and your books.

- Your social media profiles: These could be platforms where you connect with readers and share updates about yourself and/or books. Right now, Tiktok and Instagram Reels are the best.

Your author's brand should reflect who you are as an author and what kind of books you will write that cater to what readers expect in the genre you've chosen. 

Finally, if there's anything you take from this then it's this point: There's a huge difference between a passion project and a commercial book. And that huge difference is that one makes you money each month and the other barely does. 

Happy writing!



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