10 Things I’ve learned since self publishing

I self published my first novel on Amazon just under three weeks ago. It has been a crazy whirlwind of excitement, stress and disappointment, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. So, here they are: ten things I’ve learned since pulling the trigger and putting my work out there.

1. It’s not going to be an overnight, cinderella-story, blockbuster success. It takes times to build up a following of readers, especially if you don’t have one already established before you publish. I’ve had ups and downs, and though I’ve had at least one sale almost every day, it’s nothing to write home about.

2. No matter what your friends tell you, not everyone is going to love it. Just accept that fact and move on.

3. Some people may actually hate it. That, or they are evil internet trolls who get their kicks off obliterating people on the internet.

4. Twitter is confusing. So is tumblr.

5. Marketing is like walking a tightrope. You need to get the word out, but stop just short of outright spamming your friends and followers.

6. Checking your sales reports 37 times a day is not good for your mental well being.

7. Patience is a virtue. One I don’t possess.

8. Googling your name or the name of your book only adds more stress when you see piracy websites offering your book for free. To click, or not to click? It could be real, in which case they are violating copyright laws, or it could be a fake phishing scam. I refuse to click, so I’ll never know.

9. Reviews are hard to get, even from friends and family. People just don’t like to take the time to do it. Cherish the ones you get, good, bad, or mediocre.

10. There is nothing in this world quite like receiving a call, a message, or a text from someone raving about how much they like your work. It’s euphoric, really. With so much uncertainty in this field, such a wide array of opinions and tastes, it really is amazing to hear people actually say the words “It’s really good.”