how are you planning on getting sales? Are you going to be doing more in person sales through vendor events? Do you have a giant email list you’ve built over the years that you will be taping into? Let us know other ways you can market your book besides social media. (But also, I’m a strong believer that you definitely SHOULD be using it 😁)

Join the class now on Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/xps-nbro-kjj?authuser=0 Writing in Novelium & Reedsy

Many great books don’t struggle because the writing is bad… They struggle because readers never discover them. Publishing the book is one step. Getting the right readers to see it is another. For authors here: 👉 What has been your biggest challenge after publishing your book? • Getting readers • Marketing the book • Getting reviews After publishing your book, what has been the biggest challenge for you?

One thing I’ve noticed from working around authors and manuscripts is that many writers spend years focusing on *finishing* their book, but very little time thinking about the *publishing path* that will follow. By the time the manuscript is done, questions start appearing: • Should I query literary agents or consider independent publishing? • Is the manuscript truly ready for submission, or does it still need structural work? • What materials do agents or publishers actually expect? There isn’t a single right path for every book, but clarity about the publishing route can make a big difference in how smoothly the process goes. Out of curiosity for the writers here: Are you currently writing your manuscript, preparing to publish, or already querying agents?

But honestly? Finishing it whilst battling self-doubt, inconsistency, and overthinking is a completely different challenge. The more I learn about self-publishing, the more I realize that writing a book isn’t just about creativity, it’s about discipline, patience, and learning how to trust your own voice even when things feel messy behind the scenes. A lot of people only see the final product on Amazon or social media, but not the late nights rewriting chapters, second-guessing ideas, struggling with motivation, or wondering whether the book is even good enough to put out into the world. What’s encouraging, though, is seeing how many people in communities like this are pushing through those same challenges and continuing anyway. Some are writing their first book. Some are learning marketing. Some are trying to improve consistency. Others are figuring out how to actually turn their knowledge or story into something meaningful that helps people. And I think there’s value in hearing the real side of the journey, not just the polished wins. So I’d genuinely love to ask: - What stage are you currently at in your self-publishing journey? - What’s been the hardest part so far? - And what’s one thing that’s helped you keep moving forward? I think conversations like this help newer writers realize they’re not alone, whilst also giving experienced authors a chance to share lessons that could genuinely save someone months of frustration. Looking forward to hearing everyone’s experiences.