Self-Publishing your First Book: Expectation vs Reality

You've put in all the hard work are you're already to send your book off to the presses. Fans are going to line up at your local book store demanding your autograph, wearing t-shirts with your characters on them, and Hollywood is on the phone ready to offer you a movie deal with your celebrity crush all ready to tale the leading role. You'll be rolling in money in no time.

Knock…knock. Sorry to wake you up from that dream there, but you were getting a bit carried away. 

Self-Publishing your first book is an amazing accomplishment and you should be going out to celebrate your hard work, but maybe don't ask the waiter for the most expensive bottle of champaign that they have quite yet. 

Here are a few expectations writers have when they self-publish their first book and unfortunately then there's the reality. 

Expectation: You're going to be able to quit your day job.

So you've finished your first book and it's off to the printing presses. It's time for you to sit back and wait for the money to start rolling in, maybe you should build an inground pool so you can swim in all of it. But first things first you have to call your boss and tell him that you won't be coming in tomorrow. 

Reality: Many authors still need a full-time or part-time job to support themselves after their first book.

Your first book is basically your handshake to the world of publishing, your first impression. After this, you'll start to make a name for yourself and your fan base will grow with your readership. 

It's never a one-and-done deal and even if your first book hits the shelves hot and fresh out of the oven sales will naturally dwindle over time as the hype dies out.

I won't say it's impossible, but hold off on quitting your job until the income proves steady for at least six months to a year. If you can move down to part-time to make sure you have time to focus on your writing, you'll have a guaranteed income at the end of the day.

Expectation: Your first book will be a best-seller.

Picture it, your name on the New York Times bestseller list, those fans are to lining up at your local book store demanding your autograph again. Agents and book deals are flying at you left and right,

Reality: It's possible, but not really probable.

The minimum to get on most best sellers list is to sell 5000 copies in a single week. It's hard (not impossible) for most self-published authors to hit these numbers unless they put in a lot of time and effort into marketing and press before they release. Your best chance at seeing your book hit a best seller list is by creating a large hype and demand for your book prior to release.

Self-publishing a book of high quality is sometimes a huge financial risk. All expenses, editors, beta readers, book covers, and marketing, are coming out of your pocket. Since it's your first book you're probably not spending top their money for these services and it's going to show in the finished product and it's perfectly ok. 

Look up all of your favorite authors and see if the very first book they wrote was a best seller. Most likely not, it happens, but not as often as you might think.

Expectation: Your friends and family will buy your book.

Every single one of your friends and family member will be flocking to your website to support you, asking for autographs and pictures. Glowing with pride that they are friends or related to such a brilliant author.

Reality: You'd be surprised how many of them want a free copy. 

Yes, some of your friends and family will undoubtedly support you, but their sales aren't going to be enough to gain the traction that you need as a self-published author. 

My mother supports me, but she'll never read anything I write as it's too dark for her.

Even if you haven't finished writing your book the number one thing you need to be doing right now as a writer is preparing for the day you'll become an author. 

Make an Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok account and build a website where the main thing you're going to focus on is growing your audience. This audience is the one you need to have in your corner when you're ready to hit publish on your novel. This audience will be your dedicated readers. 

---

Writing and publishing your book is one of the most rewarding feelings you'll ever experience and no matter what level of success you reach after is all a bonus.

Writers don't write for the money and the fame, we do it because there is a story trapped inside of us that only we can tell.

No matter what keep writing.

Don't stop for anything or anyone.

With love, 

B.K. xo

___

If you've liked what you read you can show your support by subscribing, pledging your support, or leaving me a tip that directly supports and aids me as a writer.

By joining Vocal+ you can earn more per read on every story you publish on Vocal.

Click my link to start your 7-day free trial today and start earning more for your stories.

_____________________________________________

This story was originally posted on Medium.

If you would like to experience Medium yourself, consider supporting me and thousands of other writers by signing up for a membership. It only costs $5 per month, it supports us writers, greatly, and you have the chance to make money with your own writing as well. By signing up with this link, you'll support me directly with a portion of your fee, it won't cost you more. If you do so, thank you a million times!

If you love what you've read you can also show your support by buying me a cup of coffee to fuel my writing. 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/barbaraking