The journey to publishing my first book was not traditional. I had a solid idea for a book but had no idea what I was doing! Writing a book was challenging enough but figuring out how to get it into the world was even harder. Now, almost a year after starting this process, I have a much clearer game plan for the future.
But publishing a book is much more than simply finding a publisher. Here are the 3 big tips that have helped me the most:
1. Surround yourself with a supportive community
My community has been an integral part of my growth as an author. I could not have gotten here alone. My parents instilled a love for books in me before I could even read. My husband supports me in all my dreams and aspirations—even the crazy ones! My friends are so encouraging, and I am deeply touched by how often they show up to support me. A big thank-you to everyone who has helped me publish this book! I couldn’t have done it without you.
So my advice to authors is this: find your supportive community!
It’s a huge blessing to get to know fellow authors and illustrators. Join book clubs and writing clubs. Attend author events at your local bookstore. Building these relationships is invaluable!
2. Immerse yourself in good literature
When I get writer’s block, the quickest way I regain my inspiration is to immerse myself in the inspiration of others. I love perusing bookstore shelves. I can spend hours (my husband can attest to this 😉) reading book descriptions, studying the art on the covers, thumbing through the illustrations, and picking out new books to read. Stepping out of my own head and into the literary world of another author unlocks new ideas and expands my imagination in so many ways. Fill your mind (and bookshelves) with good literature!
3. Challenge yourself to make progress every day
“The Ill-Tempered Clavier” took me 10 years and 7 months to write—5 years of doodling rats wearing bowties, 5 years of writing off and on, and 7 months of finally buckling down and getting it done! What changed in those last 7 months? I had a son and gained a new appreciation for the beauty in life. I also had some time on my hands during his naps (at least for a little bit, haha!)
I knew I wanted to finish that book, but there were many days I just didn’t have the motivation to work on it…but I did anyway, even if it was just 10 minutes of illustrating or 5 minutes of reading articles on marketing. And that is my biggest piece of advice for writers: do a little bit EVERY day. All of those days add up, and the effort you put in, however meager, will develop into something beautiful and will become a motivation in itself.
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