1 month ago
4
By this point in my writing adventure, I expected modest profits and 10+ published books. What happened? My first two books had major issues, and I had to put writing new books on hold to fix them. Another problem is that, despite having more experience, self-editing takes more time than ever. I think this is because I am better at spotting flaws, and finding a new flaw made me paranoid that additional flaws are present.
Sales remain elusive. Part of the problem is that I am not putting in enough marketing effort or building a strong social media presence. Yet, that is not the core issue.
I must admit that I am under a big delusion about how modern self-publishing works. Subconsciously, I have this crazy idea that putting my books on sale will magically succeed. All a reader has to do is search the internet for a “good book,” and mine will be first in the results. Clearly, I am living in dreamland.
Plus, I do not think marketing is my job. If I ran an eBook site and a bunch of authors sent me their books, I would promote the heck out of them. That is how commerce sites work. It is certainly how ecommerce sites like B&H Photo work. Right? No, the attitude of eBook sites is a resounding: “Jump into the self-publishing pool if you dare. You can sink or swim. Doesn’t matter to me. If you float, I am happy to cash the reader’s checks, and maybe I’ll throw you a few bucks.”
What books do eBook sites promote? One would think that excellent reviews and a powerful story would be the key factor, or that they had a “chief editor” who would read the books and promote the best ones. Wow, I’m deep in the fantasy pool. Unfortunately, eBook sites only promote books with great sales, which is a challenging club to join.
My other delusion is that I will get “discovered.” Someday, somebody will read my book and become a huge fan. Then they will do everything they can to let the world know. Perhaps Oprah Winfrey will get a copy and tell all her fans? Wow, my fantasy world is enormous.
It was a tough battle getting to this point, and I now understand that success will take time. The good news is that, despite being under an illusion, I know what is going on. This means I am not giving up and will keep putting maximum effort into writing, editing, and yes, promoting.
And my writing adventure has had several positives. I have learned a lot, met many great people, had a lot of fun, and feel I have made worthy accomplishments. So, I am not complaining. And there is more good news. My struggle will provide lots of article material.
You’re the best -Bill
September 19, 2026
Hey, book lovers, I published six. Please check them out:
Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.
Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.
Cable Ties. A slow-burning political spy thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.
Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.
Pushed to the Edge of Existence. Just when Kim, Gabe, and Emma’s lives start returning to normal, a mysterious government organization orders them to use their telepathic abilities, and then they travel to an alien planet.
Cable Pairs. A sprawling international spy thriller where stolen secrets, compromised networks, double-crossing spies, and a collapsing economy collide in a high-stakes race to uncover who is really behind the conspiracy.
These books are available in softcover and in eBook format.
