03/17/2026
Writers Helping Writer's
Some of What I Have Learned Over the Years
As an aspiring writer who became a sometimes writer, then a published author who transitioned to self-publishing in 2019, I have learned a lot along the way. Each step of this journey has led to the next, and now I spend nearly every day creating content for publication throughout the year. Some content is developed slowly and scheduled for release at least a year in advance. With over a dozen projects in progress and many more on hold to be published once current projects are finished, I believe it’s important to share some insights that most authors don’t have because they haven't yet completed their first draft or been published.
1) Don’t worry about where you are in your story; you could be writing its beginning, middle, or a small part of it. Spend some time each day in the same quiet place when you're alone — well, except for your pet(s).
2) Find a mentor and stay committed to them. While meeting in person might not be feasible, you can follow an author or other creative by engaging with their videos, posts, and social media content. Also, consider joining a local writers’ group in your neighborhood, along with your city and county libraries.
3) Editing your content can be challenging, so consider using an app with a versatile grammar checker to review your material and avoid repetitive word patterns. Hiring a professional is very costly and can amount to thousands before you're ready to publish.
4) “A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words,” so make your cover count and ensure any images used align with your content. Consider the many benefits of Public Domain and Creative Commons images and other similar materials for quick, ready use.
5) Don’t publish a huge first edition; instead, offer the first twenty to thirty pages as a free download. Once you get some feedback, revise it, re-release it, and improve again. Then, sell a larger sample for a small fee, like a dollar. Use the feedback to learn and gradually increase the content by several dozen pages at a time.
6) Social media and donation platforms can help you attract traffic and make some money along the way. Don’t overdo it; posting once a week is enough to build momentum, so just stay consistent. Plan your content in advance and write, edit, and improve your posts several days in advance.
7) The journey to self-publish, file your own copyright, and learn as you go can be a lengthy process. Be sure to include this information in your scheduled writing time, dedicating 15 to 30 minutes at a time to work toward mastering these tasks.
8) You expect to earn from your labor, but be realistic: about two million new publications are released in the U.S. each year, so standing out will be difficult. Keep releasing improved material over time. Consider registering a pen name as a Fictitious Business Name (FBN) or Doing Business As (DBA) each year for about $100.
9) Learn how to create a copyright page for your content. Review other copyright pages in books, newspapers, magazines, and similar publications. If you're unsure about the difference between an ISBN and an ISSN, now is the time to understand it.
10) Take breaks when needed, but try to write as often as you can. A useful exercise is to write down shopping instructions before your next grocery trip and imagine them as a story from the shopper's perspective. This will help you stay engaged and might also reveal interesting insights in other ways.
That’s it for now; look for other similar posts under the title of “Writer’s Helping Writers”.
Have a great week!
