What I learned in Fifteen Years of Publishing on Kindle

 I belong to a group on FB for authors supporting authors. Every day I read posts. I see the hope of new writers and the struggles. I don’t comment because some posts get so many comments. I buy books from them quietly.

That group inspired me to share my story for anyone who wants to know about my publishing journey. And give some tips.

In the month of December, I celebrate fifteen years of being published on Kindle. My first kindle was published December 21, 2015. I remember the first royalty check of $33.00. I bought a pizza for my family.

When I started there were only 750,000 Kindle Books. Back then most of us did our own covers and you could pick out a self-published author by the cover and price. Some of mine were downright awful. Take a look at the first. I’m surprised I wasn’t run out of town.

There was a love and hate for self-published authors then. A lot of readers rallied around us because they were getting good stories at an affordable rate. They remained faithful.

I remain faithful to them.

Back then it was cutthroat. One bad review would tank your book. Competing authors knew this and would put torpedo reviews to hurt your sales.

I watched it grow to the six million books out there today. It’s harder now, but I am dedicated to my readers and grateful more than they know. I love them and know many of them personally now.

I still love getting an email telling me how much someone loved my book, and there are days I get some not so nice ones. I appreciate their honesty.

I went from a single mother standing in line at a foodbank to supporting my family with my passion for writing. You will never hear me tear down Amazon, because Amazon gave my unpublished work a platform.

Before KDP, I tried traditional publishers and was rejected because of the books I wrote. I have a bin with 1,172 rejection letters for my books, poems and screenplays. I was relentless, but I was getting nowhere. Fifteen years ago, on the advice of a friend to take a gamble with ebooks, my life changed.

It took a couple years to gain traction, but I did.

Granted, there are ups and downs. Good years and bad ones. Like when Covid hit, no one wanted to read end of the world books because they were living it. Many of my peers shifted gears. I didn’t. I plugged away.

Many new authors have written to me asking for advice, I freely give it and am always happy to help.

I am not an A list writer, or even B. Maybe C, but if I were to offer tips to new writers here’s what they’d be. 

• Advertise. You have to spend money to make money. Even if it’s a $15 Awesome Gang Book ad. They work.  Here is a report (Poor Man's Guide to Advertising) I did five years ago on many different affordable advertising. Tried and tested but some may no longer be valid.
• A good cover is important, one that stands out on a thumbnail. Canva is a great tool if you can’t afford an artist and don’t know photoshop. It doesn’t need to be elaborate.
• Have a sale and do giveaways on your website. Again, this is advertising,
• Connect with your readers, get to know them. If you are struggling to find readers join a FB book group that is similar to what you write. Get to know the people there. But don’t self promote in these groups. Allow them to find your work organically by knowing you.
• A great story and one well written will keep your readers turning to you for what is next. Of course, not all books will be great, even if we loved writing them.
• Don’t be afraid to give a book or two away. Word of mouth can not be beat. I relied heavily on grassroots in the beginning. Also, readers know when you’re genuine and you’re not. I give a lot of books away because sometimes readers can’t afford to buy a book.
• If you aren’t part of Kindle Select and KU, you’re missing out.
• Kindle Create is FREE and Formats your book.
• And finally, don’t give up. Keep writing!

If I were to define writer success as the ability to have people read your stories, then I have succeeded. When I first started, that was all I really wanted. People to read my stuff. As writers we love what we do, driven by storytelling and not financial gain. Write to be read not to be sold. Be real, get the word out and readers will come.