Becoming

 Hello from Michigan!  Today it’s a chilly 9 degrees F.

As some of you may know, I recently self-published my first novel.  In many ways, it has been a dream come true!  I love telling people I’m an author.  Check out my book here!   www.amazon.com/dp/B0BKBV51XN  ;)

That being said, it hasn’t been flawless.  I have learned A LOT.  The more I learn, the more I realize how much I still don’t know.

For instance, how do I classify my book into cookie-cutter categories that aren’t quite right?  I write romance novels so they have some spice 😉 but do I check the “Adult Content” box when publishing? What keywords do I choose?  Why is my book not listed on the first page when I typed in the title?

When I took to the internet to find answers, I ended up with conflicting advice and made some missteps by taking said advice.

Then there is social media.  I am an introvert at heart, and while I like browsing social media, posting on it has never been my strongest side. 

But since I made searches and, gasp, clicked on information about self-publishing, ALL my ads are now related to getting noticed by readers.  Some, for the low price of only $20 for an online PDF file, all the way to a step-by-step guide on advertising for $1000+. 

How do you know what is worth the money and what is a scam?

How is a new indie author supposed to pay to advertise their work, get author copies, and buy tools and resources? 

This is not even factoring in the hours it takes to delve into everything and learn the jargon.  What is SEO?  How do you make appealing social media posts with quotes from your book?  How do you get a social media following?  Which platforms do you choose?

And most recently, how to make a blog and not accidentally delete the entire first post and have to re-do it.

If any of this has ever made you want to bang your head against a wall, you’re not alone.

I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I thought others might be interested in hearing about my journey and avoiding some of the pitfalls I have found.

 

Follow my blog to learn about what I’ve found out!

 

As my first post, I feel I should talk a little about myself, so here is some backstory.  

I am a thirty-something mother of three, ages 2-6.  I have a wonderful husband and a comfortable home in beautiful Northern Michigan.  I also work full-time as an RN at a long-term care facility.

One of the most common questions I get is “How do you have time to write?”

The short answer is that I don’t watch TV.  I usually write on weekdays when I’m not working and the littles are doing naps or quiet time.  Writing is more than a hobby and I make time.  It helps me unwind and de-stress. 

In my spare time, I love to listen to audiobooks.  I can listen on my earbuds while doing chores like dishes, laundry, cooking, driving, and even grocery shopping if the book is worth the effort.  A few of my favorites include Red Rising by Pierce Brown, the Constellation Series by Claudia Gray, the Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, and anything by Judith McNaught or Jane Austen.  I also love Star Wars. 


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