So I finally self-published my first work under the imprint ToyShelf
Publishing. It wasn't my dream to have an imprint. I would rather be
traditionally published with a team behind me to edit, promote and
market my books. However, what I have found is the peace in being your
own boss is irreplaceable.
Yes, it is extremely hard work being self-published. You are your own
book production team. You are responsible for every aspect of the
creation of your own book from writing the first word to creating the
first promotional ad. Self-publishing is not for the faint of heart.
You have to be in the know about the publishing industry and be ready
to spend money on your vision.
Sales may be slow, so you have to crank out some creative ways to
promote and market your book. You will need to learn how to turn
social media followers into buyers. Also, before the final product is
ready for sale, you will need to hire editors to turn your masterpiece
into a readable entity.
There are so many steps involved in being self-published. The good
thing about them all is it all depends on you and what you want out of
life as an author. No longer is there a stigmatization attached to
being self-published. So if you think you have the work ethic to do
it, then do it.
