PROGRESS THREAD: How I quit my Job to pursue a Self-publishing Fastlane Journey

[mws87]

When you hire writers do you give them a few sentences about what you want, a partial outline, a whole outline, or a semi-completed manuscript?

I think this would depend on the subject and how precise you want it to be. If you're content is going to be really specific (good), I'd say give them an outline that is as detailed as possible.

If you're going for the quantity over quality approach, then you won't have to be very detailed. Amazon has been changing it's policies a lot lately so if you're going to be publishing on there *spoiler alert* you'll want some good quality to hook readers.

 

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[Cyberseraph]

What are you doing promotion wise? Do you dabble with kindle direct or are you just throwing it up for purchase?

I just launch my book and leave the price at $0,99 for 1-2 weeks to get my first buyers.
I mention in the description that it's a special promotion for a limited time. Thats it.

 

[Cyberseraph]

Hello everyone

Sorry for no new updates for a long time. My business was doing well this year. But it's a very lonely type of business. I never met any of the freelancers that are working for me. I'm spending a lot of time in front of the computer screen alone. I recently bought an apartment in Bangkok that I paid full in cash. No mortgages and no debt which is good.

But here is the bitter truth:
Doing this Self-Publishing business for a year is as exciting as flipping burgers at McDonalds.

Now I'm thinking about an exit strategy and about the next type of business that can solve a need and be exiting for me. I have plenty of free time. But there are only so many days that I can hang out in malls, go to movies and hit the gym. I would like to make a difference but I have no idea yet what I could do next. I'm thinking about flying to New York for a few weeks to get inspiration. Never been to US but it has been always a role model country for me when it comes to Entrepreneurship.

This was my first rant but I needed to let it out. I will try to make my next post more positive and inspiring.

 

[MTF]

I'm in the same business as you are @Cyberseraph, and get what you mean (I write my own books, though). I was also tempted to start a new business that would be exciting for me (and allowed me to feel I owned a "real" business), but decided against it (well, at least until the end of this year).

Here's why: it seems you're seeking more meaning and substance in your life, and you believe that running your business is the only way you can do it. This part of your post makes it pretty clear:

I have plenty of free time. But there are only so many days that I can hang out in malls, go to movies and hit the gym. I would like to make a difference but I have no idea yet what I could do next

You don't necessarily have to start a new business to make a difference and feel more fulfilled (because I guess that's the main issue here).

It seems like it's your social life (and perhaps your personal life - hobbies, etc.) that needs work, not starting a new business.

What if you dedicated the rest of this year to networking with other entrepreneurs and doing fun things with them all over the world? What if you made it your goal to master one foreign language this year, acquire a few new cool skills or perhaps work on the relationship part of your life? I'm pretty sure your need to start a new business wouldn't be so pressing then.

Note I'm NOT saying that starting a new, more impactful business wouldn't be a good idea (I'm pretty sure it's a lot of fun to run a company that can make a huge difference). I would consider other areas of your life first, though.

Your current business is a gift - it's largely automated, makes you a lot of money and lets you enjoy a lot of free time. Many entrepreneurs running huge companies would gladly trade places with you. In the end, it's freedom to do what we want that's important for us, not meaningless numbers. Figuring out what we want to do with this freedom is challenging, but it's the best problem in the world.

 

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[MakeItHappen]

But it's a very lonely type of business. I never met any of the freelancers that are working for me. I'm spending a lot of time in front of the computer screen alone.

Have you though about renting a coworking desk? Maybe this could be something of interest for you.

 

[Cyberseraph]

What if you dedicated the rest of this year to networking with other entrepreneurs and doing fun things with them all over the world? What if you made it your goal to master one foreign language this year, acquire a few new cool skills or perhaps work on the relationship part of your life? I'm pretty sure your need to start a new business wouldn't be so pressing then.

Thanks for your great input - it is spot on! I do actually remember that several years ago I wrote down my long term goals. One of them was actually to travel the world with other entrepreneurs and doing fun activities. Networking is for sure a skill that I need to learn and to improve. Learning new skills was always something that excited me as well. I will make a list today what I want to learn this year.

Figuring out what we want to do with this freedom is challenging, but it's the best problem in the world.

This is a good way to see it! Thanks again for your great input and the reminder that it's a good problem to have!

Have you though about renting a coworking desk? Maybe this could be something of interest for you.

I'm already doing it. I have probably tried too many different co-working spaces. But it's a good way to meet people.

 

[Will Hodge]

Hello everyone

Sorry for no new updates for a long time. My business was doing well this year. But it's a very lonely type of business. I never met any of the freelancers that are working for me. I'm spending a lot of time in front of the computer screen alone. I recently bought an apartment in Bangkok that I paid full in cash. No mortgages and no debt which is good.

But here is the bitter truth:
Doing this Self-Publishing business for a year is as exciting as flipping burgers at McDonalds.

Now I'm thinking about an exit strategy and about the next type of business that can solve a need and be exiting for me. I have plenty of free time. But there are only so many days that I can hang out in malls, go to movies and hit the gym. I would like to make a difference but I have no idea yet what I could do next. I'm thinking about flying to New York for a few weeks to get inspiration. Never been to US but it has been always a role model country for me when it comes to Entrepreneurship.

This was my first rant but I needed to let it out. I will try to make my next post more positive and inspiring.

Incredible journey you have had. Your beginning reminds me of where I am now. Looking forward to seeing where the next journey in your life takes you!

 

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[CSRelentless]

Probally a stupid question, but I'm new to all this. Okay, so you set up a 3 way transaction between you, your source, and the buyer. So pretty much your just the middle man/broker. The buyer puts money in escrow and once they receive the product you and your source get paid. Now what keeps the buyer from buying straight from the source the next time instead of going through you?
Because when you set up an escrow transaction they will know who your supplier is, right?

Edit: posted in wrong thread sorry guys.

 

[Cyberseraph]

Hello fellow publishers,
This is actually a question for other successful self-publishers here.

What are your current Top 5 sites to promote your new released fiction book?
And what are your Top 5 Facebook groups for promotion?

Most of my books are in German and I there are different sites for that. But now I do also publish English fiction books and they could use a head start because I don't have a list for English readers yet.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Boozoon]

A lot of people on the Kindle Boards seemed to have good success with Bknights. Here is their fiverr gig ->
https://www.fiverr.com/bknights

I also think that depending on the genre of your book, you are going to find some sites more helpful than others. I am not successful myself, but I would like to see the take of others on this conversation ^_^

 

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[GiroudJD]

A lot of people on the Kindle Boards seemed to have good success with Bknights. Here is their fiverr gig ->
https://www.fiverr.com/bknights

I also think that depending on the genre of your book, you are going to find some sites more helpful than others. I am not successful myself, but I would like to see the take of others on this conversation ^_^

I used to have a lot of success with bknights. Lately, it hasn't been doing much at all. But, big caveat, I'm not in KU. After KU2, Amazon's algos changed big time, and they really punish books not in KU. My income in non-Amazon sites is 4 figures a month, so I can't give that up, but if you have books in KU, bknights should still work.

 

[Cyberseraph]

I used to have a lot of success with bknights. Lately, it hasn't been doing much at all. But, big caveat, I'm not in KU. After KU2, Amazon's algos changed big time, and they really punish books not in KU. My income in non-Amazon sites is 4 figures a month, so I can't give that up, but if you have books in KU, bknights should still work.

I tried Bknights on Fiverr but it was not making any difference. Just a little spike in the Bestseller rank, then a drop again.
But few weeks later I received a refund from them, without even asking for it. They saw that it did not help with my book and decided to give me a refund.

 

[Boozoon]

Really professional of them. I remember people saying that the sale seems to go better if you are relatively first in their page.

So does anyone know if there is anything self pubbers do, promotion wise?

 

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[Cyberseraph]

Short Update:

Sorry for the long silence and no updates.
My business is still stable. It's just that being for two years in the publishing business, I'm not interested in talking about it anymore. It's not as exciting as people think and I'm glad that most part of it is outsourced now.

I'm still living in Bangkok, it's 1.5 years now being here in Thailand. I try to use my free time wisely and take care about my health. I used to be underweight but going to gym 5 days a week now I gained 17 pounds and look like a man instead of like a skinny geek. I'm in best shape of my life and also improving my social skills. I'm an introvert but getting better at socialising every day. Also my dating life has improved tremendously. If any of the guys here are interested in understanding women, having better relationships and being more successful with women, I can highly recommend this book here:

How To Be A 3% Man (by Corey Wayne) - this book is like The Millionaire Fastlane of Dating
I have been studying this book for a while now. Also check out his great YouTube channel.

That's it for today and I will write a new update soon.

PS: I have a very big project coming up, a new interesting challenge.
A little hint: "All 50".
More details in my next update!

 

[RisingStars]

@Cyberseraph
Congratz on your success so far. Since you already bought an appartment in Bangkok are you still a german citizen? Do you pay tax in germany?
If so can you please recommend me some resources where you learnt to live location independent? We are both from germany and I have some basic questions (like how do you manage to recieve your post mail while staying abroad and stuff).
I dont want to bother you with these questions, so maybe you can tell me a good resource.

 

[Cyberseraph]

@Cyberseraph
Congratz on your success so far. Since you already bought an appartment in Bangkok are you still a german citizen? Do you pay tax in germany?
If so can you please recommend me some resources where you learnt to live location independent?

I don't live in Germany anymore and therefore I'm not a German resident anymore. Thailand is my home base now and I receive all my mail there. It's a complicated topic but I can do recommend you the resources where I learnt all this:

http://www.earthcity.de
http://wirelesslife.de/digitale-nomaden-steuern/
http://www.coin-sl.com/produkte/ausland/index.php

 

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[RisingStars]

I don't live in Germany anymore and therefore I'm not a German resident anymore. Thailand is my home base now and I receive all my mail there. It's a complicated topic but I can do recommend you the resources where I learnt all this:

http://www.earthcity.de
http://wirelesslife.de/digitale-nomaden-steuern/
http://www.coin-sl.com/produkte/ausland/index.php

Thanks a lot.

 

[Cyberseraph]

Short Update:

This has nothing to do with the publishing business. But I have just made a long time dream come true and spent 6 weeks traveling in the USA. It was my first visit ever. It was a truly amazing experience! I was for one week in New York, then Washington DC. After that I rented a car and did a Route 66 road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles and back to Chicago. In total I have visited 12 states: Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska and Iowa. My goal for the next 5 years is to visit all 50 states.

I was also fortunate to meet other entrepreneurs and had some interesting conversations. This trip really inspired me with new ideas and I will be visiting USA more often in future. If anyone here can recommend interesting US based events for entrepreneurs then please let me know

 

[MJ DeMarco]

This has nothing to do with the publishing business.

But I have just made a long time dream come true and spent 6 weeks traveling in the USA.

But this was made possible by your publishing business? And being free to travel while making $$$?

 

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[Cyberseraph]

But this was made possible by your publishing business? And being free to travel while making $$$?

Yes MJ, that's right. I remember when I read the TMF book the first time and listening the audio version so many times that you spoke about creating a business that later allows you to do what you love. Instead of doing what you love as a business. Being a producer instead of a consumer. Produce first and consume after you have "made it". I was listening to it again and again until it became my philosophy that I live by. Thank you for writing a life changing book!

 

[Maxboost]

Quick question, which books did you buy for fiction writing? I would like to get this started ASAP.

 

[Cyberseraph]

Quick question, which books did you buy for fiction writing? I would like to get this started ASAP.

The book name is: How to write erotic fiction (by Ashley Lister)

 

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