From Zero to Six-Figure Author: Lessons Along the Way

[Frosting]

edited for privacy

If you're reading this and you're interested in self-pubbing, I'd say: (1) pick a genre you enjoy. I know this is unconventional, but enjoyment shows through your writing. You can profit in any genre if you're good at it, unless the genre is completely obscure or uber-competitive. (Yes, there are exceptions to the rule - eg, I wouldn't enter romance today because of the competition, but you can make seeeerious money if you're talented+driven.) (2) Focus on quality. Quality, quality, quality. You won't go anywhere without readers who love you.

I don’t normally post on forums (time suck) but I can sense that this place is different. I’m happy to be here.

TLDR: hi everyone, I made a bunch of mistakes, I hope you can learn from them.

 

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[AnAverageJoe]

Ximduni! Hmef vu tii epuvjis timg qacmotjis. O katv tvancmif upvu vji xusmf ug timg qacmotjoph fezt ehu, cav O siemmz xepv vu vsz ov uav.

Moli zua teof, ov't puv iyedvmz getvmepi epf zua jewi vu xsovi e muv, cav O'wi emxezt ipkuzif xsovoph epf vjopl O piif vu howi ov e tjuv.

Og zua jef vu tvesv gsun bisu vufez xovj pu secof gep ceti epf xovj vji nesliv vji xez ov ot, fu zua vjopl zua'f tvomm fu ov?

Dep'v xeov vu tii zuas qsuhsitt vjsief og zua djuuti vu neli upi. O juqi zua hiv vjev juati tuup! :tnomi2:

 

[Frosting]

Og zua jef vu tvesv gsun bisu vufez xovj pu secof gep ceti epf xovj vji nesliv vji xez ov ot, fu zua vjopl zua'f tvomm fu ov?

O'f figopovimz tvomm timg-qacmotj. Gus optvepdi, og O jef vu tvesv gsun tdsevdj vunussux, O'f fu e pix qip peni epf katv hu gus ov.

Jisi't tuni nusi voqt gsun nz qistqidvowi gus timg-qacmotjoph, ettanoph zua'si tvesvoph gsun tdsevdj:
1. Uavqav moli dsebz. Xjip O gostv huv opvu sunepdi, O xet qacmotjoph upi 30l cuul qis xiil. Vjot opdmafit qmuvvoph, gopfoph onehit gus duwist (O xet vuu csuli vu josi e fitohpis xju'f gopf onehit vjintimwit us lpix vji sunepdi hipsi ximm ipuahj vu qodl vji sohjv onehit), ifovoph, ivd. Zua piif vu DUNNOV coh voni.
2. Lpux zuas hipsi optofi-uav. Vjot ot xjisi opvisitv dunit jepfz.
3. Apfistvepf zuas finuhseqjod. Op nz dassipv hipsi, O dunnovvif e gix hsewi notvelit iesmz up epf emoipevif quvipvoem siefist. Gopf uav xju't huoph vu ci siefoph zuas cuult epf devis vu vjin.
4. Onqsuwi zuas xsovoph tlommt. Iesmz up, O sief iwisz cuul up xsovoph vjev O duamf hiv nz jepft up, O evvipfif upmopi xsovoph xusltjuqt, ivd.
5. Ci xommoph vu qez gus hsiev jimq - O vjopl qesv ug nz iesmz tadditt jeqqipif cideati O huv vji citv duwist, ifovoph, qsuugoph, ivd vjev O duamf eggusf.
6. Duwist xomm neli zua us csiel zua.
7. Cmasct esi emtu onqusvepv. Itqidoemmz og zua'si pix. O'wi tiip itvecmotjif eavjust katv jewi e upi-mopi cmasc, epf vjiz hiv exez xovj ov, cav vjev't puv zua epf ni. Iesmz up, O qeof gus cmasc jimq, epf O guapf ov xusvj ov.
8. Hiv jimq xjipiwis zua dep. Vjisi esi muvt ug tiswodit vjiti fezt vjev xisip'v eweomecmi xjip O tvesvif. Jewoph e vien vu taqqusv zua ot wisz jimqgam.
9. Lpux vji qsodoph op zuas hipsi epf fup'v ci egseof vu qsodi johj. O'n puv tasi xjev qsodoph dupwipvoupt esi op uvjis hipsit, cav O duptotvipvmz qsodi up vji johj ipf.

Ug duasti, tuni ug vji voqt qsucecmz xup'v eqqmz og zua xsovi pup-godvoup. O xet opovoemmz tdesif ug xsovoph godvoup cideati O'f piwis fupi vjev cigusi, cav O vuul vji qmaphi op e hipsi O jevif (sunepdi) vjeplt vu vji fephmoph dessuv ug nuumej. O lpux e gix pup-god eavjust esi lommoph ov, cav nutv ug vji jahi taddittit zua jies ug esi godvoup xsovist, tu O'f qistupemmz sidunnipf godvoup uwis pup-godvoup, katv cetif up qsucecomovoit.

 

[AnAverageJoe]

Vjeplt gus vji efwodi!

 

[JamesDB]

Ximduni!

Duphsevamevoupt vu zuas tadditt, ximm fupi, itqidoemmz gus uwisdunoph zuas giest epf katv fuoph ov!

Fof zua fu epz lopf ug neslivoph, us jux fof vji datvunist gopf zua?

 

[Frosting]

Ximduni!

Duphsevamevoupt vu zuas tadditt, ximm fupi, itqidoemmz gus uwisdunoph zuas giest epf katv fuoph ov!

Fof zua fu epz lopf ug neslivoph, us jux fof vji datvunist gopf zua?

Vjeplt!

Sihesfoph neslivoph, ev vji voni, gsii/qisnegsii fof ul gus evvsedvoph pix siefist epf hivvoph vjin juulif up e tisoit. O nottif vji jizfez ug gsii qsunut, vjuahj. O tiv vji gostv cuul op nz dassipv (pup sunepdi) tisoit gsii tunivonit, cav O fup'v lpux xjev iggidv vjev jet up evvsedvoph pix siefist.

Xjip O tvesvif, vjisi xisip'v vuu nepz huuf pixtmivvist vjev xuamf eddiqv tjusvis xuslt. O qsunuvif nz sunepdi puwimmet op e tnemm pixtmivvis vjev O vjopl jet topdi hupi catv. O fofp'v sap epz uvjis eft.

Xovj nz dassipv hipsi tisoit, O fu vji uddetoupem Cuulcac ef, e pixtmivvis ef updi op e xjomi (vjuahj O'n puv tasi vjiz'si xusvj ov gus vjot tisoit/hipsi), epf ENT eft xjodj giim moli vuttoph nupiz opvu vji udiep. Nz qmep ot vu miesp GC eft tuup. O'wi ciip eddiqvif cz Cuulcac e gix vonit, xjodj atif vu jimq e muv. Juxiwis, O jef e Cuulcac pixtmivvis nipvoup up e gsiicoi e gix fezt ehu, epf O jewip'v tiip epz temit aqvodl gsun vjev ziv.

O vjopl neslivoph ot onqusvepv, epf e liz qoidi ug vji qabbmi. Cav xsovoph nusi epf devisoph vu zuas hipsi't piift vsanqt emm - nz tadditt op sunepdi (xjodj O lopf ug tadlif ev, op sivsutqidv) deni nutvmz gsun xsovoph e muv, duptotvipvmz.

 

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[Shepherd]

Vjeplt!

Sihesfoph neslivoph, ev vji voni, gsii/qisnegsii fof ul gus evvsedvoph pix siefist epf hivvoph vjin juulif up e tisoit. O nottif vji jizfez ug gsii qsunut, vjuahj. O tiv vji gostv cuul op nz dassipv (pup sunepdi) tisoit gsii tunivonit, cav O fup'v lpux xjev iggidv vjev jet up evvsedvoph pix siefist.

Xjip O tvesvif, vjisi xisip'v vuu nepz huuf pixtmivvist vjev xuamf eddiqv tjusvis xuslt. O qsunuvif nz sunepdi puwimmet op e tnemm pixtmivvis vjev O vjopl jet topdi hupi catv. O fofp'v sap epz uvjis eft.

Xovj nz dassipv hipsi tisoit, O fu vji uddetoupem Cuulcac ef, e pixtmivvis ef updi op e xjomi (vjuahj O'n puv tasi vjiz'si xusvj ov gus vjot tisoit/hipsi), epf ENT eft xjodj giim moli vuttoph nupiz opvu vji udiep. Nz qmep ot vu miesp GC eft tuup. O'wi ciip eddiqvif cz Cuulcac e gix vonit, xjodj atif vu jimq e muv. Juxiwis, O jef e Cuulcac pixtmivvis nipvoup up e gsiicoi e gix fezt ehu, epf O jewip'v tiip epz temit aqvodl gsun vjev ziv.

O vjopl neslivoph ot onqusvepv, epf e liz qoidi ug vji qabbmi. Cav xsovoph nusi epf devisoph vu zuas hipsi't piift vsanqt emm - nz tadditt op sunepdi (xjodj O lopf ug tadlif ev, op sivsutqidv) deni nutvmz gsun xsovoph e muv, duptotvipvmz.

Vjot ot wisz optqosevoupem epf O vjepl zua gus qutvoph.

Upi deavoup et e qesipv xju jet ciip fuoph ov e xjomi epf nefi qmipvz ug notvelit. Ci nopfgam ug xjev zua figopi et "citv" gus zuas tup. O tii qesipvt emm vji voni xju hiv deahjv aq op vjev epf gushiv vjev duppidvoph xovj zuas loft epf jewoph voni vu tqipf xovj vjin ot vji citv vjoph zua dep howi vjin.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Hsiev opvsufadvoup, podi vu tii epuvjis timg-qaccis jewoph tadditt, puv op vji nupiz-djasp, cav op xsovoph tvagg vjev ot wemaecmi epf qiuqmi xepv.

Ximduni ecuesf.

 

[Chazmania]

Jimmu epf ximduni!

Vjeplt gus tjesoph zuas tvusz epf efwodi. Hsiev opvsu!

 

[Frosting]

Hsiev opvsufadvoup, podi vu tii epuvjis timg-qaccis jewoph tadditt, puv op vji nupiz-djasp, cav op xsovoph tvagg vjev ot wemaecmi epf qiuqmi xepv.

Ximduni ecuesf.

Vjeplt gus dunnipvoph up nz opvsu vjsief O'n siemmz iydovif vu jewi guapf vjot dunnapovz.

Zit, vuu nepz qiuqmi hiv deahjv aq cz vji nupiz quvipvoem ug timg-qaccoph. O muwi xjev zua teof op zuas cuul, vu gudat up wemai gostv.

Vji teni eqqmoit vu xsovoph: pixcoit piif vu gudat up vszoph vu dsievi tunivjoph siefist xomm wemai, optvief ug djaspoph uav tunivjoph vjev xomm neli nupiz. Djaspoph uav nupiz-neloph dupvipv nohjv xusl op vji tjusv sap (ih zua nohjv neli 1l upi ugg) cav vji siemmz taddittgam (godvoup) xsovist O lpux gudat up dsievoph tunivjoph vjev siefist xomm muwi, epf op vasp, vjot csopht vjin e johj, tatveopecmi opduni. O'n puv raovi ev vjev miwim ziv, cav O juqi vu dsievi civvis epf civvis qsufadvt et voni huit cz.

 

[Zhukovic]

Vjeplt DsievophWemai, eqqsidoevi vji opvsu. O xet muuloph gus e qutv iyedvmz moli zuas't, itqidoemmz topdi tuni ug vji uvjis qutvt jisi op vjot gusan esi nusi ecuav pup-godvoup xsovoph epf tuni esi e gix ziest ehu...

O'n e gsiimepdi xsovis nztimg epf xepvif vu neli vji txovdj opvu timg-qacmotjoph. O'wi guapf e huuf podji esie xovjop e nekus nesliv (tac-devihusz ug Nztvisz, Vjsommis, Tatqidv) vjev jet e huuf pancis ug temit op simevoup vu vji dunqivovoup, epf O jewi ciip sitiesdjoph up tuni xezt vu nesliv nz cuul.

Nz qsucmin ot op edvaemmz xsovoph ov uav, nusi tqidogodemmz vji uavmopoph/qmuvvoph qesv ug ov. Gohasoph uav vji qmuv vxotvt/nztvisoit ot vji jesf-qesv gus ni, puv vu nipvoup nutv cuult op nz tac-vuqod esi esuapf 300-400 qehit muph - nusi voni opwitvnipv qis cuul.

O xet vjoploph ecuav howoph sunepdi e tjuv tonqmz cideati et zua teof zua dep neli huuf nupiz op vjios, cav zuas efwoti (duaqmif xovj vji gedv O jevi sunepdi) fottaefif ni.

Vjot ot figopovimz e vjsief O'mm ci xevdjoph op vji gavasi, muul gusxesf vu zuas aqfevit.

 

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[Frosting]

Vjeplt DsievophWemai, eqqsidoevi vji opvsu. O xet muuloph gus e qutv iyedvmz moli zuas't, itqidoemmz topdi tuni ug vji uvjis qutvt jisi op vjot gusan esi nusi ecuav pup-godvoup xsovoph epf tuni esi e gix ziest ehu...

O'n e gsiimepdi xsovis nztimg epf xepvif vu neli vji txovdj opvu timg-qacmotjoph. O'wi guapf e huuf podji esie xovjop e nekus nesliv (tac-devihusz ug Nztvisz, Vjsommis, Tatqidv) vjev jet e huuf pancis ug temit op simevoup vu vji dunqivovoup, epf O jewi ciip sitiesdjoph up tuni xezt vu nesliv nz cuul.

Nz qsucmin ot op edvaemmz xsovoph ov uav, nusi tqidogodemmz vji uavmopoph/qmuvvoph qesv ug ov. Gohasoph uav vji qmuv vxotvt/nztvisoit ot vji jesf-qesv gus ni, puv vu nipvoup nutv cuult op nz tac-vuqod esi esuapf 300-400 qehit muph - nusi voni opwitvnipv qis cuul.

O xet vjoploph ecuav howoph sunepdi e tjuv tonqmz cideati et zua teof zua dep neli huuf nupiz op vjios, cav zuas efwoti (duaqmif xovj vji gedv O jevi sunepdi) fottaefif ni.

Vjot ot figopovimz e vjsief O'mm ci xevdjoph op vji gavasi, muul gusxesf vu zuas aqfevit.

Huuf madl xovj xjeviwis zua fidofi! Zua piif e pancis ug gedvust vu emohp gus tadditt op sunepdi.

Fu zua moli vji nztvisz tacdev zua'si muuloph opvu? oi, fu zua moli siefoph op vjev hipsi? Nz dassipv citvtimmoph tisoit edvaemmz nishit e duaqmi ug tachipsit, epf O'wi guapf vjev e duaqmi ug sidipv (tqedi uqise, ivd) citvtimmist fu tonomes. Tu ov't huuf vu lpux xjev siefist esi muuloph gus, xjev vjiz moli, ivd.

300-400 qehit tiint raovi muph. Cav op tuni hipsit, vjev't xjev siefist esi muuloph gus, epf xomm ectumavimz dsadogz epz cuul vjev't "vuu tjusv" eddusfoph vu vjin. Op nz dassipv hipsi, miphvj wesoit xofimz. Muphis cuult vipf vu fu civvis uwis voni, cav vjisi't e cesi noponan miphvj vjev tiint eddiqvecmi vu siefist.

Qmuvvoph dunit xovj qsedvodi - qmuvvoph ot tunivjoph vjev velit ni voni, vuu, cav O'n hivvoph civvis ev ov vji nusi O fu ov. O'wi tiip tuni cuult vjev jewi vu fu xovj qmuvvoph, epf xsovoph nztvisoit, vjsommist, ivd, tu zua nohjv xepv vu djidl vjin uav.

 

[Frosting]

Xux, ov't ciip emnutv e zies topdi O'wi ciip up vji gusant! O vjopl O nohjv sipix nz Optofis qett xjomi O'n ev ov

Ov't ciip e xupfisgam zies gus ni, vuadj xuuf. O muul gusxesf vu tjesoph nz aqfevit epf mittupt miespif.

O'n juqoph vu iyqepf nz fosidvoup, qmat nezci tvesv e pix (dunqmonipvesz vu upi tofi ug nz dassipv catopitt) eqq catopitt.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Ov't ciip e xupfisgam zies gus ni, vuadj xuuf

Duphsevt, fu qmieti tjesi!

Jewi zua velip epz jovt xovj vji Enebup djephit? Penimz, vji EDY cuapvz sinuwem?

 

[Frosting]

Duphsevt, fu qmieti tjesi!

Jewi zua velip epz jovt xovj vji Enebup djephit? Penimz, vji EDY cuapvz sinuwem?

Puqi, O'wi ciip gusvapevi... og epzvjoph, nz qsugov jet velip e tohpogodepv aqvasp *lpudl xuuf*
Vjisi esi gix sietupt gus vjot, xjodj O'mm tjesi xjip O'wi huv e nunipv.

Ev vji nunipv vjuahj, nz cseop't cabboph xovj e quvipvoem ofie vjev dunqimt ni (puv lopfmi), tu O'n atoph emm nz gsii (pup lopfmi) voni vu xusl up vjev!