Five Lessons Learned in Seeking to Self-Publish

A desk with an open laptop, coffee mug, pencil cup, and stacks of paper symbolizing the writing process.

Where to start?

After I had a draft of the memoir, I thought I was well on my way to being ready to publish. That was the furthest thing from the truth. So far, writing the first draft has been the easiest part of the process.

I knew a few things either from research or from talking to other writing communities: I knew I needed to research and decide on a publishing platform, to put the draft through beta readers, and that I would need to put it through editing. I also knew a certain cost would be incurred.

Researching a publishing platform was a little daunting, but with enough dedicated time, I was able to make an informed decision.

Finding groups of beta readers was fairly easy - once I started sharing with friends what I had been working on, I had many volunteers to give me feedback.

But there were many things I did not know, and I am sure a few I am still discovering along the way. Here are five lessons I have learned so far in the self-publishing journey.

Lesson 1 - This Process is Expensive

However much you think you might need, double it. Then, add another 50%. After this math, you might have a more realistic budget for your book.

Where does the money go? Editors, book cover design, typesetters, domain names, ISBN numbers, website hosting services, and ordering physical copies of the book, just to name a few areas.

Lesson 2 - This Process is Full of Details

There are so many details that go into this process I would have never considered. For example:

Book Cover Design

1. What color scheme do you want?

2. How do you want the words arranged on the page?

3. What kind of image will you use?

4. What font and size of the words?

5. What feeling do you want the cover to evoke?

6. What elements do you want on the back cover?

7. How should those elements be arranged?

Book Elements

1. How will you utilize your subtitle?

2. What name do you want to publish under?

3. How do you price your book?

Preorders

1. How will you gain preorders?

2. How will you track and distribute these?

3. When you know you are ready to take preorders?

These are just a few areas I have begun to unpack. I am just scratching the surface of marketing, so I am sure there is more to learn. And all of this has happened before I even have a completed product!

Lesson 3 - There Are Multiple Types of Editing

Despite having a degree in writing and being in the world of education for a decade, I had no idea there were so many different types of editing, and the type of editor you choose matters.

I had even done meticulous research on this to help me narrow my focus and make sure I found the right fit. And I still hired the wrong kind of editor.

This was a mistake that cost me both money and a significant amount of time, pushing my launch date back several months.

Learn from my mistakes: be clear on the type of editor you want and hire them in the correct order. You need a developmental editor before you hire a line editor, and those both come before a proofreader.

Lesson 4 - This Process is Nerve-Wracking

Writing the words on the page - easy.

Sharing those words, full of personal information not to mention passion, tears, and hopes - terrifying.

My first round of beta readers were all people who knew me, who I trusted, who I considered friends. And still, turning my work over to them and waiting a month to get their impressions was torture. What if I just spent months pouring my heart into what amounted to a steaming pile of garbage? I wasn't sure I could bear to be told that my life's dream would never be realized.

The first round of beta came and went with mostly positive feedback and some great suggestions to make the work even stronger. I put it through another round - this time mostly strangers I had found through connections. These people didn't know me, didn't have any reason to sugarcoat things for me. My thoughts again went to discovering this was the group who finally had the guts to tell me to cut my losses and give up (spoiler: they didn't tell me that).

Next came applying for an editor. These were people I was literally paying to read my work, and still I had the thought, "I am the one manuscript that will be so bad they tell me they couldn't even stomach it all the way through." Or worse: they simply read my pitch and tell me it's not something they, or anyone else, will ever be interested in reading.

As I write this, I am waiting for feedback from the (correctly hired) editor. Even with three rounds of feedback that haven't been at all harsh or dismissive, I am nervous to get the edits back.

I keep waiting for the moment in which I will be validated that yes, I have a worthy and inspiring story to tell. I accomplished my goal.

And yet, every round, I have that pit in my stomach.

This process is nerve-wracking. Do it anyway.

Lesson 5 - This Process Takes a LOT of Time

When I started writing this project in March, I knew a publish date in time for Christmas was a bit aggressive (considering other obligations like my full-time job, side business, volunteering ventures, and relationships), but I thought with a few months of hard work I could get it across the finish line.

Wow, was I wrong.

Writing of the first draft was done by August. I figured about a month for beta reading and revision, 6 weeks for editing and revision, and about a month for the elements to get ready to launch, and I would be good to go.

Those estimates are now laughable to me.

A better estimate is 6-8 months after the first beta round before your work will be ready to publish. This number can probably be shortened a bit if you are willing to hire out some of the tasks (website design, marketing, ordering, taking preorders), but if you are like me and trying to learn it all, give yourself enough time to have some grace.

In Short, There is Much to Learn

I know there are still lessons to learn; specifically, I anticipate learning lessons in marketing, in hosting in person events, and in finding opportunities to talk to people about my work and journey.

What I can say is that none of this has stopped me from pressing forward. I am passionate about this project, and that passion has been enough to push through each obstacle so far.

Comma Day will launch on April 1, 2026, and will be the culmination of over a year's worth of lessons learned. You can preorder your copy today. Reach out if you are interested in having me speak about my book, about this process, or about my sobriety journey.