For the past six months or so, I’ve been on a self-publishing journey that has been both challenging and rewarding. When I embarked on this journey, I had no one following me and absolutely no expertise in marketing or gaining a loyal fanbase. Six months later, not only have I acquired a vast amount of knowledge, but I have also broadened my skill-set to include managing a growing YouTube channel and building a presence on multiple platforms. Across several social media accounts, I am now connected with approximately 80 individuals. It is likely that some of those who follow me are doing so on more than one platform. Despite that, I am incredibly happy with the progress we’re making. With a novelette, ‘The Greatest Fight: Virtue’ and a novella, ‘Exiled: The Harvest’ already added to my literary collection, I’m eagerly anticipating the release of my novel by the end of the year. While my sales are not impressive, I am still making some very modest sales numbers. However, the crucial thing is that things are moving forward in a constructive manner. Reflecting on the past six months, I realised that I built up my following without any assistance from family or friends. This was a task that I took on independently, without seeking any help or support from anyone else. It’s an incredible feeling of pride and satisfaction to realise that I successfully accomplished everything without having to ask for help from anyone. Now, let’s delve into my actions and their reasons, and identify the areas where I need to make improvements or where things have gone awry.
Offering freebies:
Initially, I made available a book named 'Arrest' to everyone, and it is still accessible at no cost. When I uploaded Arrest for free on Wattpad, I discovered how useful the platform could be. I suspect it was Wattpad that first captured the attention of my initial group of followers, as they were drawn to my writing on the platform. In addition, I published it on three platforms: my personal website on WordPress, and Substack. Furthermore, I released another short story titled 'A moment of madness' and that also is available for free. Moreover, I’ve been utilising different platforms to blog about my journey and thoughts. At present, the plans for ‘Arrest’ have been halted, leaving the story in limbo. I am unable to write more on ‘Arrest’ because I am currently occupied with editing and writing up other stories that I hope to sell. My ultimate aspiration is to rely exclusively on the money I make from selling my books as my source of livelihood. Due to this, my priority is to write and upload new pieces for sale, but that doesn’t mean Arrest won’t continue.
There’s one more book in another series that I’m excited to release this year. It’s called ‘The Prime Minister’s Invitation’ and it’s a novel. My goal is to have it released in autumn or winter and use the winter to prepare chapters for Arrest. My goal is to not just write more chapters for Arrest, but also consider making audio versions, such as producing a radio or podcast series. I will elaborate on my reasons and approach for wanting to do this later in this blog.
YouTube and other video platforms:
Besides blogging, I’ve been producing videos for my channel as well. I currently use Bitchute, Rumble and Odysee to upload my videos to along with YouTube. I’ve been talking about my ideas about the world of conspiracies. This holds even more significance because my books primarily consist of science fiction themes intertwined with legal and conspiratorial elements. When adding a theme to my books or when they are heavily influenced by an idea, I often create videos exploring and discussing the research behind that idea or concept. For example, my Exiled series explores the concept of living through Satan’s little season as in Revelation 20 of the Bible.
In the future, I have a plan to write a dystopian alternative history fiction novel. As a result, I will delve into extensive research on this genre to provide detailed content for my channel. I always advocate for thinking creatively and breaking free from the limitations of the(television) box. In addition, I have been consistently uploading videos or a playlist named the A-Z of the Old World, offering a comprehensive exploration. These videos delve into the fascinating world of an antique dictionary from 1914, shedding light on the meanings of words as they were understood a hundred years ago. Given my interest in words and being a self-published author, it’s highly appropriate for me to investigate an antique dictionary. However, it has also been an enthralling adventure that I can embark on alongside my followers and those fascinated by the realm of conspiracies and alternative history.
In addition to those channel ideas, I would also like to incorporate a podcast or radio series into the mix. Eventually, I would like to upload audio-acted versions of each chapter from Arrest and the other three books, immersing listeners in the captivating sounds of the story. The radio series in the UK, The Archers, is my inspiration, and I’m hoping to embark on a project like that. My newfound enjoyment of learning video editing techniques has sparked a desire to create such a series, driven by my eagerness to improve. I see myself as a highly imaginative individual, and I have a strong desire to further develop my knowledge and skills in this particular domain. This is not something I will be doing regularly, especially not at this point in time. It could be a possibility that it will happen in the future, maybe a few years from now, once I have established a significant body of work. Adding vocals and atmospheric sounds is something I’m particularly interested in, as it will contribute to the realism of the podcast series. Nevertheless, I aim to add a significant number of chapters to Arrest, so I’ll resume work on it in the winter. With Arrest being an ongoing series, it remains unclear whether it will ever reach a definitive ending. Arrest, though incomplete, continues to occupy my thoughts, demanding that I find a way to give it life again.
It brings me joy and gratitude to witness the constant growth of my following. Despite my flip-flopping around and inconsistencies, it seems that my followers are not bothered by it. My plan for the future is to distribute leaflets for my book both locally and beyond, collaborating with those distributing ‘The Light’ newspaper. If I provide ‘The Light’, an underground alternative media newspaper, with my book’s leaflets and offer them payment, I hope they will include them in their publication. By doing that, I may then be able to sell my books more locally, expanding my reach and connecting with readers in my area or surrounding areas. Furthermore, my plan includes printing my logo or quotes from my books on clothing and accessories like T-shirts, hoodies, jumpers, or shopping bags. By doing so, my name is subtly becoming known both locally and beyond. It’s possible that my brand could eventually flourish, gaining popularity and enticing people to buy those clothes, but that’s a scenario that would only manifest significantly later.
In the immediate future I aspire to create a reliable and structured routine for sharing and publishing my books, podcasts, and other materials. These things will require dedicated time and meticulous planning to establish consistency. All things considered, I’m happy that I decided to start. In today’s world, where everything seems to require some sort of certificate of qualification, it feels like nothing ever gets off the ground. People often feel the need to undergo training or a similar preparation before attempting something new. My attempts at using that technique have always fallen short. My preference is to forge my own path and constantly push the boundaries of experimentation, which unfortunately goes against the grain of traditional education and training systems that tend to discourage making mistakes. Personally, I believe that making mistakes is crucial for personal growth and development. Is it possible to truly live if one is never allowed to make mistakes and learn from them? Are you developing if you make no room for mistakes? Sometimes, the best approach is to take a leap of faith and dive headfirst into the unknown, figuring things out as you go.
Money and costs so far:
So far, I’ve invested around £500 in my books, including their release, editing, and the development of my channels and website. To enhance the overall quality of my work, I allocate funds for book covers, employ editing software like Word and Filmora for video editing, and rely on grammar-checking tools such as Grammarly and ProWritingAid to refine my writing. I am also, paying for my website. Up until now, I haven’t recouped any of my investment.
I’m uncertain about continuing with my website since I can simply use Substack for free, which does attract a larger audience compared to WordPress. On the other hand, what I appreciate about WordPress is that it offers a higher level of interaction compared to Substack. Wattpad offers a higher level of interaction compared to both platforms, allowing users to engage through emails and messages, which I found enticing when I first joined and would like to return to, but I’m currently a bit busy. This is why I would like to continue with Arrest on there, despite my own inconsistencies that may have jeopardised it. At this point, my channel and following aren’t big enough to host an ask me-anything session. In several years time, that would be something to consider.
To all those who have stuck around and supported me despite my ever-changing moods and inconsistencies, I am truly grateful. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all those who have supported my work by purchasing my books. I cannot adequately convey my gratitude to my audience for the immense help and encouragement they have given me. You are a vital and influential group of people. Thank you.