Want to Succeed in Self-Publishing? Learn to Have Fun: Tips from an Indie Author

The author of 'Imperfect Chemistry' suggests self-publishers ask questions, roll with the punches, and remember to have a little fun.

Indie author Mary Frame self-published the first book in her Imperfect series last spring. Imperfect Chemistry earned a glowing review from Publishers Weekly, with our reviewer saying “the blend of humor and heart makes for a thoughtful, highly entertaining read” and that “perfectly imperfect characters and situations make Frame’s debut novel sparkle.”

While Frame didn’t do much to market Imperfect Chemistry, she built some buzz for its follow-up, Imperfectly Criminal, by doing interviews, running book giveaways, and advertising. She even polled fans to generate the book’s title.  

Frame says she has been pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm of the book blogging community and the welcome she received from them: “One of my favorite blogger groups even made a book trailer for Imperfect Chemistry. I was completely shocked and thrilled. I couldn’t believe anyone would take the time to create something like that for one of my books.”

Here are three tips from Frame about how to make your book a success.

Ask Questions

“I am fortunate to know a few indie writers, and they’ve been kind enough to let me pick their brains and ask all kinds of inane questions. Also, many self-published writers have taken the time to blog and share what’s worked for them and what hasn’t. One of my favorite resources is Susan Kaye Quinn. She has an entire section of her blog devoted to tips on self-publishing, and she wrote Indie Author Survival Guide, which is a good starting point for rookies like me.”

Roll with the Punches

“Bad reviews are scary, but once I got a few of those and the earth didn’t open up and swallow me whole, I realized that nothing is insurmountable. Even if you screw up, there is always the opportunity to learn from it and move on.”

Have Fun

“I know I should put something here about how you should edit thoroughly, hire a professional cover designer, and all of that very important business stuff. But the truth is, self-publishing can be a lot of work and we can be very hard on ourselves—especially when others are critical of our words. Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t forget why you started writing in the first place. You can’t please everyone, so stick with what makes you happiest and avoid all the drama of the non-fictional variety.”