Writers often find inspiration in their favorite authors but must differentiate between inspiration and imitation to succeed. Initially emulating others can stifle creativity, but finding one’s unique voice is essential. Embracing authenticity leads to fulfilling storytelling, allowing writers to express themselves without the burden of replicating someone else’s style.
As writers, we naturally gravitate toward particular styles that inspire us. We all have our favorites—those authors whose words resonate so deeply that we can’t help but be influenced by them. But there’s a fine line between inspiration and imitation, and learning to recognize that difference can make or break your writing career.
In the beginning, this was my struggle as I moved toward taking a more serious approach to my writing career. I attempted to become a modern-day version of Edgar Allen Poe (my absolute fave by the way). I thought, “This worked well for him-albeit posthumously-so surely this will benefit me as well. So why not give it a try?”
I’ve since learned that although emulating your favorite author is how many writers start out, it rarely works in the long run. No carbon copies allowed. I became so caught up in trying to use another writer’s formula that I became stifled and stagnant, unable to complete my own works.
In my frustration that I was doing it (writing) wrong, I almost gave up. Imitation is not the sincerest form of flattery it is a crutch.
Developing Your Voice
As aspiring writers, we must develop our own voices. In this digital age, we have tools, platforms, and exposure opportunities that our predecessors never dreamed of. But this blessing is also a curse. The waters have become muddied with self-appointed gurus and experts, making the landscape confusing and, at times, daunting.
Anyone with a laptop and internet access can post whenever and whatever they want. It’s easy to find yourself drowned out by the noise of fan fiction and poorly crafted writing. (I have nothing against fan fiction—my first online posts were Harry Potter fanfics, some of my best work, actually, though they’re in desperate need of editing.)
How I Found My Voice
So how did I find my voice?
I stopped trying to reinvent the wheel and began to write what felt natural to me. I stopped trying to get into the minds of King, Poe, and Flynn and began to write the sort of stories that I would love to read. I create the characters that I found fascinating, and every one of them embodies a bit of me.
I also stopped trying to force myself into a specific genre. Now, as someone relatively new to the writing game, I don’t know if this approach is “correct” or not, but it has worked for me thus far and allowed me to get back to what matters most: the story.
I feel I’ve freed myself and truly opened up to a world of great possibility. And that’s what finding your voice really means—giving yourself permission to write authentically, without the pressure of living up to someone else’s legacy.
Your turn. Have you struggled with finding your voice as a writer? Sound off in the comments, The Weirdo wants to know!
The book is written, cover design is done and that bad boy is published. Great sense of accomplishment. Check. Now, what’s next? Short answer…selling. In order to sell you have to market your book. Honestly, marketing and selling Taming Armand and Bloody Endings along with building a solid following has been harder than actually writing the books. Sweating it out over the keys is the easy part. Once you hit publish the real work starts.
I will go into this blog with a note to the reader. These are all actions that I have recently begun to undertake. As a green as spinach author (with the first book, I hope by now that I at least have a little seasoning, although still a bit bland, LOL) I thought if I publish the book they will come. My writing alone will bring the reader to the yard so to speak.
Arrogantly I thought I blast it out once at the onset and the buyers will come. I would gain a mass following, quit the rat race and write full time in a surf shack in Hawaii. Hmmm…not with the previous strategy which was no strategy.
Hopefully, this blog will help you and continue to aid me in this publishing journey.
I was two books in when I thought ‘hey, maybe I should market my books to increase sells.’ If you laughed, I assure you we have no qualms. At this stage of the indie publishing game, it’s very intuitive to think how do I market? How do I get my book or story out there? How do I build an email list? These were not questions that came naturally to me.
The Marketing Reality: It’s a Marathon, not a sprint.
Here’s the thing nobody tells you: marketing your indie book isn’t a one-and-done deal. It’s an ongoing relationship you build with your readers, one awkward social media post at a time. But don’t worry – we’re all figuring it out together. Your lack of sells doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer, it’s only means no one knows your product exists, and you as the producer of that product have to make people aware or else they don’t buy.
Start With Your Author Platform
Before you even think about paid ads get your foundation solid. Spend a little time and build an author website. Even a simple one-page site with your bio, books, and contact info beats having nothing. It gives people someone to go to find you.
You can do this for free. Now if you want to get fancy and have the website as your name or domain of your choosing you will have to pay, but if the budget is tight I would suggest you go with the free option. Trust me no one (aside from you) will care that your website name has something attached for instance .wordpress or the platform of your choosing.
2. Choose 2-3 social media platforms max.
Two to three social media platforms are recommended but I would say choose the number of platforms that you will realistically frequently update. If you hate a particular platform don’t use it. Although we are conducting business we still want to have a little fun and at the very least enjoy the content we make and share. Pick platforms where your readers actually hang out.
Facebook: Still huge for connecting with readers, especially in genre groups
Twitter/X: Good for connecting with other authors and industry folks
TIP: Share your writing process, not just “buy my book” posts. People love behind-the-scenes content – show your messy desk, your coffee addiction, your cat interrupting your writing sessions.
Highlight: Don’t spread yourself thin trying to be everywhere at once. This was a mistake I made and it only lead to burn out and inconsistencies all around.
3.Start collecting emails from day one.
My email list is in-progress. It can be difficult asking people to provide their emails. It seems naughty. Or we ignore the opportunity to collect that valuable and key piece of information. But it doesn’t have to be awkward nor hard. Use a free service like Mailchimp or ConvertKit to capture reader interest.
The Power of the Email List (Yes, Really)
I know, I know – email lists sound about as exciting as watching paint dry. But here’s the truth: social media platforms can disappear or change their algorithms overnight. Your email list? That’s yours forever.
Quick email list building tips:
Offer a free short story or chapter as a “reader magnet”
Include signup links in the back of your books
Mention your newsletter in every social media bio
4. Reviews: The Holy Grail (And How to Get Them)
Reviews are social proof that your book doesn’t completely suck. I am in need of more reviews I’m sure you are too; here’s some ways to get some or to get more.
Ask family and friends to leave honest reviews (but follow platform guidelines)
Join review exchange groups with other indie authors
Send advance reader copies (ARCs) to book bloggers and BookTubers
Follow up with readers: Include a gentle request for reviews in your book’s back matter
5. Network Like Your Career Depends on It (Because It Does)
The indie author community is incredibly supportive once you find your tribe. It is a bit ironic that what we do for the most part is a solo endeavor, but all the other parts of writing does require some interaction with community. Nobody understands nor will listen to you moan and groan about editing and cover designs like a fellow author. Trust me on this one. I would suggest:
Join Facebook groups for your genre
Attend virtual book events and author conferences
Collaborate with other authors: Cross-promotion, anthology submissions, guest blog posts
Support other indie authors: Like, share, and review their work – it often comes back around
6.Take it Easy on the Pockets
You don’t need a Hollywood budget to market effectively. Keep it simple in the early stages.
Free or Cheap Options:
BookFunnel and StoryOrigin promotions: Group giveaways and newsletter swaps
Genre-specific Facebook groups: Share when allowed, but engage genuinely first
Local opportunities: Library events, book clubs, writing groups
Podcast guesting: Many book podcasts are always looking for author interviews
Now only you can decide when and if you need to spend money on marketing. When you’re ready to spend a little here are some helpful hints:
BookBub Featured Deals: The gold standard, but competitive
Amazon ads: Start small ($5-10/day) and learn as you go
Newsletter swaps: Pay to be featured in other authors’ newsletters
Book promotion sites: Bargain Booksy, Robin Reads, Fussy Librarian
### Track What Works (And Ditch What Doesn’t)
Keep it simple but keep track:
Which social media posts get the most engagement?
Where are your sales coming from?
What promotional activities actually move the needle?
Use free tools like Google Analytics for your website and the built-in insights on social platforms to see what’s working.
The Long Game Mindset
Marketing your indie books isn’t about finding that one magic trick that makes you an overnight sensation. It’s about consistently showing up, building genuine relationships with readers, and slowly but surely growing your audience.
Some months you’ll sell three books. Some months you might sell thirty. Both are wins when you’re building something from scratch.
Remember: every bestselling author started exactly where you are now – with one book and a whole lot of hope. The difference between those who make it and those who don’t? They kept going, kept learning, and kept connecting with readers.
Be kind to yourself. If something doesn’t work adjust and try again.
Now stop reading about marketing and go do some actual marketing. Your books aren’t going to promote themselves (unfortunately).
What marketing strategies have worked best for you? What’s been your biggest challenge? Drop a comment below – the Weirdo wants to know!
This is how my “go big or go home’ mentality drained an already strained budget. Let’s talk money.
Self-publishing isn’t easy, and it certainly isn’t cheap. I learned this lesson the hard way while publishing my debut novel, Taming Armand. What started as an exciting creative journey quickly became a financial wake-up call when my “go big or go home” mentality burned through my budget, one seemingly innocent expense at a time.
If you’re curious about the self-publishing journey and considering embarking on this wild ride, let me first walk you through some of my most costly mistakes—and how you can avoid making the same ones I did.
The Price of Indecision
My most expensive mistake wasn’t the result of a single purchase—it was due to lack of preparation. I made the cardinal sin of completing my entire manuscript without doing any research about the publishing process, whether traditional or self-publishing. I went in as ignorant as a newborn babe.
When I was finally ready to release my book into the world, my “research” consisted of watching several YouTube videos, and even those came embarrassingly late in the game.
This lack of preparation revealed itself in my publishing platform dilemma. From my limited research, I discovered Amazon KDP, Draft2Digital, and IngramSpark—three platforms consistently recommended by the content creators I followed. Instead of understanding the differences between them, I found myself paralyzed by choice, unsure which path would serve my book best.
The root of the problem was simple: I went into publishing with absolutely no plan. I had “pantsed” my novel (written without an outline), and I naively thought I could “pantser” my way through the publishing process too. But here’s what I learned the hard way—without direction, you have no aim. Without aim, you waste money on unnecessary expenses and miss opportunities to spend wisely on what actually matters.
Hidden Costs Add Up Fast
Let me break down where my money actually went. These costs cover both of my novels, Taming Armand and Bloody Endings, because the devil truly is in the details:
Professional Services
I went through Fiverr for book covers for both books, plus purchased a yearly subscription for a service that allows you to design your own book covers and create social media ads.
Fiverr covers: $150 (ebook and paperback versions)
Bookbrush yearly subscription: $246
Editing: $150 for developmental editing, $150 more for proofreading after making changes
Formatting: $120, then $80 more when I decided to add print versions
The “Just One More” Expenses
ISBN purchases: Started with one for $125 (Taming Armand), ended up buying a pack of 10 for $295 (during the publishing process for Bloody Endings)
Marketing materials: Business cards, bookmarks, banners—$200 total
Website and domain: $18/year that I forgot I was paying
What I Should Have Done Instead
Looking back, here’s the research-first approach I wish I’d taken:
Before Writing
Understand your genre’s market expectations
Research cover design trends in your category
Set a realistic total budget (including marketing)
Choose your publishing platform based on your goals, not popularity
During Writing
Build your author platform early (it’s never too early to start generating hype and an audience)
Connect with other authors in your genre
Start building an email list (this is something I’m currently working on—it’s a lot harder than people online make it seem)
Research editors and designers while you’re still writing
Before Publishing
Get quotes from multiple service providers
Understand the difference between developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, and beta reading (I hired a beta reader through Fiverr for Bloody Endings and it made a world of difference)
Plan for both ebook and print formats from the start
Create a marketing timeline and budget
The Emotional Cost of Financial Stress
What the YouTube videos don’t tell you is how financial stress affects your creative confidence. Every unexpected expense made me second-guess my decisions. Should I have gone with the cheaper cover designer? Was that developmental edit really necessary? These doubts crept into how I felt about the books themselves.
The financial pressure also rushed my timeline. Instead of taking time to make thoughtful decisions, I found myself throwing money at problems to meet unrealistic self-imposed deadlines because I was trying to have something ready for Noir at the Bar. This led to expensive rush fees and less-than-optimal choices.
Note: Don’t rush and risk putting out subpar work by publishing before you’re ready. Looking back, I wish I had listened to my gut on this one and waited.
Building a Sustainable Self-Publishing Budget
For your first book, I recommend this approach (please adjust as needed—if you have a large budget, go for it, but if you’re working with limited funds, stay in your lane):
Essential Expenses (Budget 60% here)
Professional editing
Cover design
Basic formatting
One set of ISBNs (this is where I suggest you splurge, especially if you plan to self-publish more than one book)
Marketing and Promotion (Budget 25% here)
Simple website
Basic promotional materials (some websites offer this fairly cheap—WordPress does)
Initial advertising budget
Contingency Fund (Budget 15% here)
Unexpected revisions
Additional promotional opportunities (I’d also factor in author events where you can set up a table and sell books etc.)
Learn from mistakes early and don’t be afraid to pivot
The Long-Term Perspective
Here’s what I wish someone had told me: your first book is an investment in learning the process, not making money. The real return on investment comes from applying what you learn to subsequent books. With each book you publish, you’ll get better.
My expensive mistakes with Taming Armand taught me valuable lessons that saved me a couple hundred dollars on Bloody Endings. With book two, I had direction and aim. I planned before I spent.
The Bottom Line
Self-publishing is challenging and fun, but it doesn’t have to break the bank—though it will cost more than you initially think. The key is channeling that “go big or go home” energy into strategic planning rather than reactive spending.
My advice? Start with research, not with writing. Understand the full journey before you begin, and your wallet (and sanity) will thank you later.
Have you had similar experiences with self-publishing costs? The Weirdo wants to know—I’d love to hear your stories and your money-saving tips in the comments.
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