The One Thing You Need To Know Before You Self-Publish

Before you self-publish, there is one thing you need to figure out. What do you really want out of this career? Today, we talk about why you need to think about what you want before you hit publish.

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**Scroll to the bottom of today's post and sign up for my list to unlock your free pages!

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Also, here's a link to the book I talked about in this episode! I highly recommend it!

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Heart Breathings - Episode 2

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About Me: My name is Sarra Cannon, and I've been indie publishing since 2010. In that time, I have published 22 books and sold well over half a million copies.

I've made some mistakes along the way, but I've also learned some valuable lessons that I think will help you reach your goals. I can't wait to help you learn to make money writing what you love.

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[HeartBreathings]

Thanks for watching! I'd love to hear what you want most out of this career! Do you feel like you have a clear vision? Or do you need to get quiet and really start thinking about it?

[brandyclemons]

My goal is to tell my story to help others who went through trauma and to show how others failed me

[BellaRoccaforte]

I really wish I had this info when I started. When I started writing I wasn't taking myself seriously at all and really didn't have a plan. I did okay and realized some success, but then because I didn't have my eye on the prize, because I didn't know what it was. When I rebooted my career you and I talked about a vision board. I didn't make one with pictures, but I did create a vision list. It has been so helpful doing that on my journey. I created a three year plan with a long term goal. It's like a total rush when I hit a goal and when the goal looks like it's not going to happen I know I have to re-evaluate. So yeah, omg putting together a set of goals for my career that are more solid than just "sell some books" has been a huge game changer for me.

[lucypbooks]

I'm new at this...I'm writing my first novel...it would be great to sell well....but I would really love for my story to reach people and maybe help them in some way through all the magic.

[bloodstreamcity]

As someone who is very guilty of series hopping, this one hit close to home.

[ChocolatexCherries]

3:50 I don't want to give up my rights to my work. I want full creative freedom.

[MichaelHurdleStudio]

Your one of my new mentors! I like your style.

[tljjazzy]

Thank you for this! I needed this info to help me figure out my next step.

[ShayALaMode]

Once again, thanks for the advice. Still taking notes.

[NTE.Stream]

Lived a long time not following the dreams that I always had for myself. Borderline quitting my job, even without a backup plan, but instead decided to dedicate myself to researching the path I should have followed when I was just a kid, a teenager, a young adult, and now the head of my household. Thank you for those journaling pages. I just spent three hours writing through them and I feel such clarity. Thank you for taking all this time and effort to pave the way forward for those of us that have always wanted this, but that never took the time to follow our dreams. It means everything in so many ways, Sarra. Thank you. Looking forward to watching through the rest of your channel in the days, weeks, months to come. <3

[barbarahoward]

Great video, Sarra! I'm glad that you shared this. We have to keep the main thing the main thing. But, we have to know what that is! This really helped get a new perspective! Super important :-)

[MohamedAnsary]

Thank you. This is exactly what I wanted to hear. You are awesome.

[keziahfrost]

I'm really enjoying your strategy-focused videos. I traditionally published one book this year with Harlequin/Park Row, and now am moving toward self-publishing its sequel. Thanks for sharing so many of the things you have learned.

[roelandaklomp]

This is actually great advice. I started to write a book because I just felt like it. I didn't even expect to finish it. I saw this video a while back and I thought deeper about it and found out that I actually wanted to publish it. So I used several tips from your videos and others and I'm at 3 quarters of the book. I started with an outline, but since my character took over a couple of times, I changed my plan a little bit and just write with a flow. Because of this video I set a date for myself and it actually really helps. Thanks 😊

[KinnardRoyale]

This is a fantastic video. As a person who is currently taking your Publish and Thrive course (and loving it by the way, thanks for all you do both on the paid and unpaid side of things), I highly encourage you to put this video on the welcome page along with the workbook that’s the pre-homework for the course because I think this would better focus people’s mindset going into the class and allow for more clear cut discussions during the weekly office hours.

[LittleBargainNook]

This is such great advice! I really want to focus on good writing, I want my readers to feel like they can't put my books down, to be so drawn into the story and so invested in my characters and end up rooting for those characters. That's my main focus with writing and ultimately self-publishing. So good stories that draw you in is my goal. Yes, I too want to make money from this, but that's not the ultimate goal, drawing my readers into my stories is!

Can you help us newbie writers start on this path. For example, right now I'm rough drafting a novel that I'm hoping to get self-published and i have a few others I'm going to be working on drafting. How do you get started in creating a schedule for drafting, editing, cover art, publishing and then marketing when it's your first book?

Thanks soso much for sharing this!

[xclairexbabeex]

Amazing video sarra I want to make people feel how I do when I read a book I want people to fall in love with my. Books x

[lance]

"I want to make 10k a month"

Cut to me over here gasping because I just want people to read my book and hopefully enjoy it a little bit 😭

[juliemace]

I've been taking notes and watching your vids for about a week now and I'm almost a quarter of the way finished with outlining my book within a day. You have such helpful info in all your videos and I like that you're honest with it all. My one question is: Where did/do you get you cover art or do you create it yourself? Do you sell hard copies and e-books? Is one better/more profitable over the other?

[supamundane]

Thank you for all your videos, they are really helping me go from published to self-published author. I'm wondering, are you going to be attending any 2020 events? I'd love to connect with you and find more conferences and such. I will be at WisCon women's scifi and fantasy conference in Wisconsin next May, ever been?