Only I didn't realize that...gulp, I had not edited nearly enough. So booyaa, bad reviews started flowing in and I was horrified. 

After three edits I was still finding stuff and realizing that...dyslexia is not the writers friend. I have struggled with it all my life and when publishing this book had shown just how fabulous I was at transposition. Again Whoops. Finally, I had what I knew wasn’t a perfect manuscript, but was selling with comments like Dear God get an editor, and was good but has no concept of grammar. Sigh…

Looking into editing gave me nightmares…on a book that I had made only 45 dollars, editing would be upwards of 1200 dollars. Needless to say I did not get it edited, and watched with sad eyes as the title was torn apart. I put on my big girl pants and started the next book; only I did the many edits before placing it on the market. Still got the messages about grammar and word misuse but numbers started to pick up. Finally I was selling over 100 books waaahoo.

Then wrote five more and was making fare money, but still getting the needs editing ruined the story reviews. These were peppered between five star reviews from people who loved the books so I just took it like a big girl and stewed, but moved on without dwelling. My numbers were good but still felt awful that the books weren’t edited. This past month when I finally earned enough to have the first book edited I was relieved. So I say to self published authors who may be wondering should they save up for editing. Yes definitely, but don’t keep your work hidden away because you can’t afford to pay for editing. Polish it as best you can and put it out. Try joining some proof reader groups (after applying for copyright of course). If I had waited or taken mine off the market I never would have had the money to edit it and make it a better product to offer my readers.

The other horror of self publishing is marketing. In a sea of books how do you get yours to the people who want to read it? How do you make it to a best sellers list? After ten months, I still don’t know. I think a lot of it has to do with luck. As an author you’re used to rejection or if not you should be. Because not everyone is going to love your books. I know that, and take every bad review with a nod and a tear. So they didn’t like it but sixty eight other people did. Be happy about those people who did love it.

Take cues from other Indies and don’t over market!! No spam. One announcement in several groups about your book and then post nothing for at least three to four weeks. Do not repeatedly post and post and post. I get it but you’re in this for a long haul not an instant get rich quick scheme. Be aware that if you trust your work and focus on making it better, and writing the next one. (Because not many people become famous writers by only writing one book…not all of us are writing the next Harry Potter, Fifty Shades, or Twilight.)

Be aware there are several low cost options to market twitter, Facebook, and other social media aren’t the only ways to get the word out. Look into The Fussy Liberian and Goodreads these are great places to advertise your books at a reasonable cost. Also join Indie groups that don’t have anything to do with marketing and learn from them. What works, what doesn’t they can be a fountain of knowledge. Be graceful and follow the rules!! Good luck and thanks for reading this article.