The autumn wind howls through the bare branches, rattling the dead leaves as the phone lines skip rope overhead. A lanky figure emerges from the gloom, its tattered clothes flapping against its mottled green skin. Slobbering and moaning, it lurches toward the warm glow of a nearby house. Inside, a figure hunches over a computer, her back to the window, unaware of her impending doom.

The thing raises its gnarled hand and drags its ragged fingernails down the windowpane. Startled, the woman turns around, her own finger hovering over the Return key. It freezes, stunned by the harsh light of the confirmation window:

“Would you like to publish your book on Amazon now?”

With a bloodcurdling scream, the creature flees back into the darkness.

Okay, so maybe that exact scenario hasn’t happened (yet…). But as the proud author of six self-published titles, take it from me: The world of self-publishing is full of thrills, chills, and things that go bump in the night.

 In honor of All Hallows Eve eve, let’s spend this #5onFri freaking out over…getting self-published!

1) Shooting a Gun, Throwing a Knife, and Wielding a Chainsaw–At the Same Time

So, you’ve finished writing your book. Now what?

You need an editor. Where do you find one? You want to design your own cover. How do you know what you want to make or which software to use? How do you create an ebook? Should you offer a paperback too? What about advertising? Should you do it, and if so, where? Amazon? Facebook? And what the heck are “keywords”?!

Self-publishing requires a lot more knowledge than how to write a good story. You need to become your own mini-publishing house, and that requires research. But don’t panic—the information is no more than a Help section reference or Google search away. Like most things, it all comes down to attitude.

The Bottom Line: If you love learning, self-publishing is a treasure trove of new skills, experiments, and discoverie

And when it comes to honing your craft, places like DIY MFA make that journey convenient and fun!

2) Falling into a Bottomless Money Pit

I’ve heard it at nearly every writing conference I’ve ever been to. “If you want to make a million dollars, don’t be a writer.”

Turning a profit can be tough. For self-published authors, the challenge starts immediately. Editing, book layout, cover artists, printing—all the things that are baked into the traditional model are pay-to-play for selfies, and that’s just to get the book in your hands. 

After that, ads and marketing can eat up as much as you want to spend, and more. The upside: You get a bigger slice of the royalties. The downside: You’ll spend the first chunk of those royalties covering what you’ve already spent—or worse, you’ll never make enough to recoup them at all.

The Bottom Line: Until you’re well-known enough to cover your budget on presales alone, self-publishing will be a cost-deficit production.

3) Being Branded with a Red-Hot “SP”

I hate to tell you this, but…

Even after you spend all that time learning how to be a publisher and a good writer, there will still be those who turn their noses up at you, simply because you’re self-published. Even in a post-50 Shades era where an indie book can do just as well on the charts as a traditional one, the idea persists that, if you’re not traditionally published, you’re not a “legitimate” author.

This is an outdated notion. Yes, there are still titles out there that could use some quality control, but the myth of throwing your book on Amazon one night and waking up to instant success is dying. To make a career as any type of author, you need to produce quality work. Self-published authors understand that as much as anyone else.

The Bottom Line: Self-publishing is not a shameful act, even if some still think it is. Instead of arguing, prove them wrong by continuing to produce the best work you can.

4) Being Alone in the Woods

 It’s lonely out there for a selfie. You have no agent, no publisher, no release team. Anyone you hire will be contract-based and therefore temporary. And once your book goes live, there is no fanfare or balloon release. Just a click of a button, and a follow up email letting you know your book is live. If you want balloons, you have to get them yourself.

The solution? Social media. There are hundreds of online communities dedicated to supporting self-publishers, and they are full of people who will celebrate, commiserate, and help.

The Bottom Line: You’ll have to look around to find the group that suits you best, but you can find one.

5) Discovering You’re a Pod Person

You know what I’m talking about. The feeling that you’re a fake, a hack, or somehow undeserving of any success you have. Yes, it’s the dreaded Imposter Syndrome, and at one point or another we’ve all come down with a case of it. Combined with that wretched SP brand—someone literally telling you “you’re not a real author”—and you end up with Imposter Syndrome Squared.

The Bottom Line: Many have tried to eradicate the dreaded IS, but its prevalence continues. Just keep on holding your head high. Don’t feed the trolls.

And keep this in mind: Constructive criticism is a critical part of being an author. Sure, it’s not fun to hear that someone didn’t like your book. But it also means that some actually read your book. And if people are reading your book, then how can you be an imposter?

Any Last Words?

The path to self-publication is paved with pitfalls and beset by monsters. However, if you know the challenges before you begin, and approach them with enthusiasm, your journey will be much easier and (dare I say?) even a little fun. So, don your armor, grab your flashlight, and strap on a backpack full of garlic and silver bullets. Because as they say, the only thing we truly have to fear is fear itself. 

And maybe zombies.

Recommended Resources

Please note: I am not receiving any compensation for these recommendations. These are simply outlets I have used and found helpful.

Editorial:

Chimera Editing

Amazon Ads:

 5 Day Amazon Ad Profit Challenge Facebook Group (Free Training)

 Kindlepreneur (Free and Paid Tools)

Content/Social Media Marketing:

Community:

#writingcommunity and #writerscafe (Twitter)

Indie Author Coalition Facebook Group

And of course –Word Nerds Unite!

S.G. Tasz specializes in comedy-horror, paranormal fantasy, supernatural realism, and the cross-sections of all three. Her current series, Dead Mall, follows a team of janitors and mall cops who must battle the hordes of hell in a nearly abandoned shopping mall. In addition to writing, she works as a digital content manager and recently founded The Uglycat Press, a resource hub and review outlet for independent authors. She currently lives in Las Vegas. More information about her books and services can be found at www.sgtasz.com.

The post #5onFri: The Five Scariest Things About Being a Self-Published Author appeared first on DIY MFA.

Your parents have been lying to you.

There is a monster under the bed.

And its name is Self-Doubt.

Self-Doubt is sneaky. It starts out like a small, niggling sticky note with a week-old due date: I really should submit to that writing contest. And the longer that sticky note goes untended, the hungrier Self-Doubt gets: I’m not a real writer. A real writer would have done that contest, which, when the results go up, slips into All of these authors are so much better than me! What’s the point of ever writing anything again?

I’ve decided to tackle this sometimes brushed-over topic of a writer’s life because, for the past week, I’ve received some pretty important rejections and been struggling to keep writing through the mire of Self-Doubt’s matted fur and sharp claws and bloody teeth.

So, without further ado, here are a few little tricks I’ve found useful in my own writing life.

3 Deadly Symptoms of Self-Doubt:

1. Impostor Syndrome.

I’ve always known I was a writer, but am I a real writer? Real writers, as everyone knows, get paid with lavish advances, book deals, and movie rights. Real writers win contests and awards and speak at conferences. Real writers never question whether or not they should have gotten a steady job in astrophysics instead. Right?

A lot of friends have the words “aspiring writer” on their Twitter bio. I hate “aspiring.” Why? It encourages this train of thought: “Someday, I will be a real writer. But right now, I’m just not there yet.”

Stop aspiring. Start doing. Delete “aspiring writer.” Replace with “author.” It really is that simple, and that difficult. You’re never going to feel like you’re a “real author” unless you start treating yourself like one.

Halfway through writing this blog, I discovered this Writer’s Digest article about a certain monster that clings under your writing desk. The thoughts immediately came: “I’m no Chuck Sambuchino or C.C. Hunter! What am I thinking, trying to write an article that I have no qualifications to write?”

I wallowed for a little while. And then I wrote. Maybe it’s not as good as anything you’ll find on Writer’s Digest, but it’s something that only I could have written, and more importantly: It’s done! And published! I’m not an imposter after all!

2. Writer’s Paralysis.

This beast rears several ugly heads, and every time you cut one off, another grows back in its place.

It takes many forms. It can creep in while you endlessly edit, convinced it will never be ready to send out. Or it can be there at the beginning of a story, with a blank page staring in front of you, and this thought in your head: Whatever I write down, it will never be good enough. It won’t win any awards. It won’t get on the New York Times Bestseller List. I’m not even sure I’ll like it.

Indecision can be deadly.

Remember our little agreement? That you’re going to treat yourself like a “real author” (whatever the heck that is)?

Real authors sometimes get Writer’s Paralysis. And then they write.

Real authors don’t keep their creative flame under a bushel. They don’t stuff their half-finished manuscripts in desk drawers, consumed with crippling terror that they’ll never be the next J.K. Rowling or Shakespeare or Emily Dickinson. News flash: You won’t! You’ll be the one-and-only YOU, with your own unique authorial stamp. But first you have to do the work. That means shipping that sh!t.

3. Rejection Depression

Seriously. It’s going to happen, no matter how good you are. Here are two steps to train yourself to deal with it.

• Do something every single day that terrifies you. Something you might receive rejection from, be it a polite, “There are many factors that go into choosing pieces. Unfortunately…” or a less formal quip from a friend: “Yeah. This sucks.” That might mean submitting stuff after only 50 revisions, or accepting a writing assignment you don’t feel qualified for. This will help normalize the process of sending your brain children flapping from the nest.
• #ASSEMBLE!

Amass an army of rabid supporters—before the rejections start rolling in. When things don’t go well, you’re going to need this list of people to call on:

• The Mommy. Sometimes all you need is a shoulder to cry on. This doesn’t have to be your actual Mommy (although mine is), but anyone who hugs you and pats your back and goes all “Oh honey, you’re so talented, they just can’t see it.” B’awwwww.
• The Distraction. Get your mind off your own troubles with this one-man party: “Quit your bellyaching! Life is good! Let’s go get drunk!”
• The Voice of Reason. After being coddled and partying and waking up with a hangover so severe you’re not sure if you’ll ever write another word, this is the person you want to call up for some sound advice: “Drink coffee. Get your butt in that chair. Keep writing.”

That’s the most important writing advice I have ever heard:

KEEP WRITING!

“If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” ― Vincent van Gogh

Rejections? Keep writing. Self-doubt? Keep writing. Impatiently waiting? Keep writing. The monster of Self-Doubt haunts every artist. Imposters give up. Authors don’t. Starting today, you’re an author. (Yes, self, that means you, too!)

Got a question? Tweet me @beccaquibbles with the hashtag #askbecca, email me at becca [at] DIYMFA [dot] com, or just leave a comment below! You could see your question answered right here at Ask Becca!

Rebecca Ann Jordan is a speculative fiction author in San Diego. She recently won Reader’s Choice Best of 2013 for her short story “Promised Land” at Fiction Vortex and has published poetry and fiction in Flapperhouse, Yemassee Magazine, Bravura Literary Journal and more. Becca regularly columns for DIYMFA.com. Quibble with her @beccaquibbles.

The post Ask Becca: The 3 Deadly Symptoms of Self-Doubt appeared first on DIY MFA.