Go'n and do the Twelve-Step, Then Publish Boogie

The steps I took to publish my book:

Step 1: Solidify the idea and outline

• This was the hardest part for me. Being able to look at the idea that I had in front of me and convince myself that it was solid enough for a book. I fought with myself so much over this and was hoping that when I got my outline done, I would feel comfortable enough to sit down and put everything on paper. I'm definitely not a Pantser - I know that now. I need an outline in order to feel sturdy with my writing.

Step 2: Write the novel

• This was actually the easiest part! I sat down and wrote Seeing Double in 24 days. Beginning to end; this book was completed and ready to move on to the editing process. I knew it wasn't a final copy because I wanted to add quite a bit more detail and expand on a few parts in my story. Little did I know, I was going to have a few issues down the road.

Step 3: Create a support group

• HUGE help for me. I jumped into one of my Facebook groups and asked if anyone would be willing to join a support group via Facebook chat. I had three girls respond to me and we dove right in! It was the best thing I could have done because not only were they there to cheer me on, but they were going through the exact same process I was going through and it was nice to be able to relate to someone.

Step 4: Social media everything

• Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. I needed to get my name out there since I wanted to become a self-published author. Marketing and promos were all on me and I needed to make sure that people knew who I was. I posted on the daily and made sure to respond to my followers. Everything from the goofy selfies to the funny memes to the advertisements of my book and upcoming news.

Step 5: Website creation

• I knew that social media wasn't going to be enough. Once I got through the four major platforms, I figured it was time to create a website. I spent quite a bit of time on this part since there were a TON of elements to it. Learning how to use the creator and how to link things together. I then used my social media to get word out about my website. This is used for my arc reader applications as well as my editing services. Plus, it's a professional way to put everything in the same place about my work.

Step 6: Blog creation

• My blog will be a forever thing. Since it's easy to come up with topics to discuss with my readers, I will always have this little gem. I'm pretty thankful for my blog because it gives me a place to just lay out my thoughts and my way of doing things. If I did something exciting and I want to remember it, I can turn it into a blog post. If someone asks me a question that will take quite a bit of explaining, I can either use my YouTube channel to explain it, or I can do it on my blog with pictures and links to other things.

Step 7: Mailing list and subscribers

• Along with my website came my mailing list. I have quite a few subscribers as of now and the list is still growing. My mailing list is going to take a lot of work because I'm using a whole other platform to create the emails for it so they're "perdy". Subscribers on my mailing list will receive freebies and urgent news about my work. They seem to be enjoying it! (Subscribe at the bottom of the page)

Step 8: Beta readers & Alpha readers

• I had a lot to learn when it came to this. I was mainly worried because I didn't want to give my work out for free. I knew that if I created an application for readers, they would come swarming me and I wouldn't know how I could rely on and who was just in it for a free book. After I created my screening process, it went by a lot smoother and I couldn't be happier with my reading team.

Step 9: Edit the novel

• This was the part that I didn't think was ever going to end! I swear, after each round of reading and edits I did, I always had the urge to go back through and do it again. My fellow-writers were telling me that this was going to be a never-ending process and MAN were they not kidding! I did my own edits so I was pretty thankful that I have the knowledge to do so and not have to pay someone else to do it for me! After I did my round, I had to go back and add the comments and suggestions that were provided to me by my beta and alpha readers.

Step 10: Design the cover

• Since I do my own design, it was pretty exciting to get to see the final piece all put together. However, it was A LOT of work. There are so many regulations when it comes to this. I had to obtain my ISBN number for the back cover as well as my inside cover; that was something I knew nothing about. The final cover design went out to my mailing list and was posted on my social media accounts. Thanks to my baby brother who let me use his face for the cover of Seeing Double.

Step 11: Arc readers

• I almost cried over this process. I was SO nervous to send out to my arc readers because I kept thinking my book wasn't ready to be seen. I didn't want to fall into the trap of not knowing and never submitting it, so I bit the bullet and sent it out. They're currently reading and reviewing it so I'm excited to see what they have to say.

Step 12: Publish

• EEEEEK! Yep, the big part! I use KDP to publish, so all I have to do is go on to their website and upload the final PDF copy and hit go! Then it will be out for the world to read!

THIS IS NOT AN ALL INCLUSIVE LIST! There were a lot more steps to each process. I will be creating a YouTube video to walk through each and every step and what I struggled with and how I overcame it. Stay tuned for those videos and subscribe to my Channel!

Anyway, I've gotta run! Lots to get done and very little time to do it in!

-A. Lynn

Author/Editor