Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
Recently, I finished writing my first self-published eBook. Right now, it’s available on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing. Although I thought the writing and editing part was going to be a pain, it pales in comparison to promoting the work.
Don’t get me wrong, the entire process of getting my book up on Amazon has been an incredible experience. It’s a lot of work, but now I can call myself a “published author.”
What is My eBook About?
I’ve been asked by quite a few viewers on YouTube about how I started as a freelance writer. In A Freelancer’s Tale, I break down how I began with content mills while facing one of the worst depressions of my life.
It’s meant as a way to show how even though things look dark, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel as long as you don’t give up the journey.
I try to add as much information about what made me such a success over the years and how others can follow in my footsteps. Though, I still think I probably could have fleshed out a few things here and there. Many viewers and followers say that I should just write a sequel.
It’s a possibility. In fact, I have several ideas about how I can expand on A Freelancer’s Tale.
In any case, the book depicts how I became one of the go-to writers for Textbroker and how I advanced over the years to get to where I am today. It’s not an overly long book, and I tried not to make it a boring read.
What Has the Self-Published Experience Been Like So Far for the eBook?
I wasn’t sure what to expect when writing the book. Initially, I wanted to try something new and help out one of my viewers. He asked if I’ve ever used the Kindle Direct Publishing platform for selling eBooks on Amazon.
Since I don’t write about things I’ve never used, I decided to give it a shot and see what happens.
So far, it’s been a fun experience. It’s given me a few ideas for blog posts and videos, and I’m looking forward to getting as much as I can done on those in the coming weeks.
In any case, it’s been a fun and eye-opening experience in many ways.
Does It Cost Anything to Self-Publish an eBook?
When you’re self-published through KDP, it won’t cost you anything to upload your eBook. The only time you’re charged is when someone buys your eBook. And even then, it’s a percentage Amazon takes from the sale.
For example, I have my book set to 70% royalties in KDP. This means Amazon is taking a 30% cut. Though, I could drop my share to 35% and have access to all kinds of promotional perks.
Keep in mind, this is for the eBook only. When setting up paperbacks and hardcovers, you’ll also have to cover printing costs.
Do You Need an Agent for a Self-Published eBook?
To publish a book yourself on something like Amazon or Barnes and Noble, you do not need an agent. You also own all of the rights to those books and can do with them as you please.
Having an agent probably isn’t a bad idea in the long term. But for the first few books, you really don’t need to worry about paying an agent for assistance. Platforms like KDP make the process quite easy.
Is Publishing an eBook Worth It?
Deciding whether a self-published eBook is worth your time is completely up to the author. Some have made a bit of money from the process while others will use the eBook as a way to market themselves as a professional.
No matter how you slice it, being published is a pretty good perk for any resume.
If you’re looking to replace a full-time income, though, expect to spend a lot of time marketing your eBook. Since you’re self-publishing, all of the promotional tasks are on your shoulders.
People can’t buy what they don’t know exists.
How Easy Is it to Self-Publish an eBook?
The process of self-publishing is not all that difficult, in the beginning. Writing the book, editing, and designing the cover are all things that can take time. But it’s not an overly difficult process.
The hardest part is marketing the self-published eBook to generate interest and sales.
Aside from marketing, though, I’d say the most difficult part is editing the eBook. Especially since I didn’t have the money to pay for a professional editor.
Will I Write More Self-Published eBooks?
I was asked recently if this new book was just a one-off for self-publishing. My answer was, “Absolutely not!”
Setting aside how easy it is to publish an eBook, there are a few benefits that I want to take advantage of before I’m done.
For example, I’m focusing on:
Becoming an Expert at Self-Publishing
What gives me the most traffic for the blog and the YouTube channel is the content I create centering around Textbroker. Well, I don’t write for Textbroker as much today as I’ve outgrown the system.
Now, I need to become an expert in something new if I want to keep growing, especially when it comes to the YouTube channel.
I’ve decided to put in the same amount of effort into self-publishing as I did when first learning Textbroker. Well, with one major difference.
I’m not letting self-doubt and impostor syndrome slow me down.
To become an expert, I’m going to keep cranking out as many eBooks as I can while diving into every facet of the process.
Making Myself More Valuable
Being a published author is quite the feather in your cap. Not only does it help promote yourself as being an expert, but it also shows you have dedication and determination to see the process all the way through.
Tenacity, ambition, and drive are three qualities most employers and clients want to see. Having a self-published eBook on Amazon can go a long way to demonstrate those key elements.
Although a large portion of my future books is probably going to center more around fictional tales, I do plan on putting out more autobiographies and industry-related content.
Achieving Dreams of Being Published
I’ve always wanted to look back at my bookshelf and see something with my name on the spine. As soon as I finish setting up the paperback version of my book, that’s exactly what I’ll have.
The best part is that I’ve done all of this without spending any kind of money. Everything I’ve done up to marketing has all been free. Though, I do expect to spend a few bucks getting my book out there in front of people to buy.
At any rate, it’s an amazing feeling to know that I’ve accomplished something I’ve wanted since I was a kid.
Making Money from the Self-Published eBook
Originally, I wasn’t thinking of using the first eBook to make money. I simply wanted something up so I could write some blog posts or make some videos. Now, I want to see if writing my own books can be a lucrative venture.
If I could spend all day writing books and earning a living, I would.
Still, it was never my intention to work on a get-rich-quick scheme. I don’t succumb to flights of fancy from “experts” who say you can earn a living writing eBooks.
I have a good job that pays the bills.
But, there’s nothing wrong with seeing how much I can draw from my works. And if I can buy a brand new Corvette for my birthday next year, so be it.
What’s Next for This Self-Published eBook?
Now that the book is up on Amazon, I have a lot of work to do to get it out there. As I said before, no one can buy it if they don’t know it exists.
There are a few promotional things I plan on setting up, and I plan on sharing everything I’ve tried and what has worked the best. So, expect quite a few blog posts on the topic for the foreseeable future.
This week, though, I am working on setting up the paperback version. Remember, I want to have a copy of my book on the shelf behind me. Not to mention that I plan on giving away personalized, autographed copies to my Buy Me a Coffee Monthly Members.
Having a successful book doesn’t mean you can just publish it and forget about it. There’s a lot of work involved if you want people to buy or read your book.
The stress has yet to begin.
Self-Publishing Takes a Lot of Work
Doing something like Amazon’s KDP self-publishing is a quick way to get your book up and ready to sell. But, the entire process will take an awful lot of work, especially if you’re doing it all on your own.
I can easily see why people pay professionals when publishing.
Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing what I can accomplish and am excited about the future. Let’s see what I can do with a self-published eBook.
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