4 Must-Do Tasks After Self-Publishing Your Book

Welcome to the Moms who Create podcast. I'm your host, kelly Hile, and I am thrilled to share a podcast that celebrates the incredible moms who are pursuing their creative passions. Are you a mom who feels like you just can't balance your creative pursuits with the demands of motherhood? Each week, I'm bringing you interviews with accomplished and talented moms who have made their creative dreams a reality. I talk to writers, artists, musicians and entrepreneurs who have successfully found a way to do what they love while raising the ones they love. Some of the writers I talk to are New York Times bestselling authors, while some are self-published first-time authors. I also share my own insights and resources to help you navigate the unique challenges of being a mom who creates. So, whether you're an early bird or a night owl, a seasoned pro or just starting out, I want you to know that you can pursue your creative passions and be an amazing mom at the same time. Grab a cup of coffee, a notebook and get ready to join our community of like-minded moms who are on a mission to live intentionally and create with purpose. This is the Moms who Create podcast, and I can't wait to share this journey with you. Hi everyone, and welcome back to this week's episode of the Moms who Create podcast. Alright, you've read the title. We're jumping into it. Ken, congratulations, author, you have taken a huge, big, scary, wonderfully amazing step in your creative journey by self-publishing your book. It's a monumental achievement and one that deserves recognition and celebration. However, as the saying goes, when one chapter ends, another begins. Publishing your book is just the first chapter in your writing adventure, right? Well, in this episode, we'll explore the steps that you should take after you've self-published your book, helping you navigate the exciting path that lies beyond publication. I'm going through this process right now, so I'm going to give you four-ish pieces of advice to help you in this huge, wonderful just big, big journey. Let's do this together. Alright, I'm leading off with, of course, it's 2023, social media. Let's talk about leveraging social media and your online presence. In today's digital age, having an online presence is not just important, it's literally essential for authors. Your online space is where you can interact with your readers, right? You can promote your book, you can build a thriving community of your dedicated followers, and the writing community is huge. I mean it's and it's so much fun too. Let's dive a little bit deeper into crafting an effective online strategy Platform exploration, so basically just finding which social media platform works for you. Right, there's Instagram, twitter, facebook and even TikTok for authors. Each platform has its unique advantages and unique audiences. Don't overdo it, though. If you're, at this stage, real listening to my podcast in this episode, you're probably an established person on social media. You probably have your established social media platforms anyway. But hey, listen, don't get TikTok, because your 13 year old niece has TikTok. I have it. I'm not a fan. I've tried, I'm just it's not for me. So I'm putting my focus on Instagram and Facebook. Now, I am a millennial. I was born in the 80s, so that's probably why but really focus on what works best for you and what's the most fun for you too. All right, are you going to just shriek up at what I'm going to say? Next, content creation. Boy oh boy. Content creation. I'm now. Don't hate me for this, but I'm not going to dive into this because I don't believe it. Of course, you need to make content for what you do, but I am 100% not someone who sits down and makes 65 reels at once. I make like one reel a month, basically because I want to be authentically me, and well, that's not authentic for me to push out content for the sake of pushing out content. Don't get overwhelmed by social media peer pressure that you just shut down. Show up without comparing yourself to others, whether it's like a thousand reels or a couple stories a day. You want to tell people about your book? Stop dancing. So, as far as community building, try Q&A sessions. I've been wanting to do this, so keep an eye out, but also try it for yourself. Foster a genuine online community of readers who connect only with your book, but with you as an author. Again, show up as you Not scared you, but not you. Who's dancing in your bathroom, I mean, unless you like that. If you're one to like, dance as you do your thing, go. You go, let's go, that's amazing. But if you're not, don't force it. Authenticity on social media is your friend. This second bit of advice I have talked about many times on the podcast before Reaching out to schools and libraries and connecting with your community. One of the most gratifying ways to connect with your readers and give back to your community is by engaging with local schools and libraries. These institutions can provide fantastic opportunities for readings, workshops and book-related events. Here's how to go about it Research and reach out. Start by researching local schools and libraries in your area that align with your book's target audience. Compile a list of contacts and consider sending them a professionally crafted proposal Highlighting how your book can benefit their educational programs and engage young readers. I donated a copy of my pumpkin patch book to my local library. It was a hard cover and honestly, they seemed thrilled. I could have put in a purchase request, but having a connection with the staff, talking to them about my book and handing it to them personally, really moves the needle a lot faster and also creates like a lasting friendship with them. This leads to events and more opportunities that you haven't even thought or dreamed of. So contact your local library, go, do it Like now. A third piece of advice After you contact your library, local schools what about exploring bookstores and literary festivals? Just expanding your reach as much as you can. These avenues can provide so much valuable exposure and opportunities for networking with fellow authors and readers alike. Here's how to navigate them. Bookstore opportunities Okay, there are various opportunities for getting your book into local bookstores, from independent bookstores to larger chains. I reached out to two really, really, really wonderful bookstores in my area with my little indie author plea to have my books in their stores and guess what? An immediate yes. Confident Kelly will tell you that I knew they'd say yes, but really I was holding my breath the entire time. And now my books are in the largest independent bookstore in my state, which is amazing, and another tiny niche bookstore in a really, really, really cool part of my area that a lot of out-of-towners go to and they really flock to in the fall, which goes along perfectly with my book. I sought out my audience. I found it. I saw where they went. I contacted them. Don't get shy. Now your book is in the world. A no is fine, but imagine how big a yes could be. So don't get scared of the no's. One yes could totally change your life or just make you really, really happy that year. Festivals, conferences, conventions these are things that we might skip over in our mind because we think it's unattainable, too big or, honestly, we just don't know where to start, right. So let's talk about this. From exhibiting as an author with a small table or joining a panel of others in your area of expertise, find a literary event that you think you could totally rock. Simply I don't know. Search Google for a list of events and you're gonna stumble on probably like 389,000, but find one that sticks out to you and you think is such a perfect fit for you, because there will be one. There's so many, so many, so many, so many. You're gonna find one that totally fits your niche. Email, reach out, do the thing Again. One yes is all you need. Doing these events helps boost your reach professionally and in the writing community. All right, guys, I hope these are helping. I'm gonna head on one more area about your brand Building a long-term author brand and thinking beyond the book. This journey is the best, isn't it? It really is. Well, it's essential to think long-term. Your book is just the first chapter in your author story. You know how I keep saying those, anyway. Well, here's how you can build a brand that stands the test of time. Emphasizing a long-term perspective in your writing career is, honestly, really crucial, because it reminds authors that success isn't solely defined by the immediate impact of a single book. Instead, it's about building like a lasting presence and legacy in the entire literary world, and here's why it matters Sustainability. A long-term perspective encourages author to plan for the sustainability of the writing career right. While an initial book launch is super exciting. It's really essential to think about how your writing will continue to resonate with readers over the years, years and years to come. You know your book's going to be out there really forever until you take it down. So building an audience. By thinking beyond the book, you can focus on building a dedicated audience. Readers who enjoy your first book are more likely to follow your future work if they know that you're committed to your craft. So exploring themes. Long-term thinking allows you to explore a broader range of themes, styles, genres, everything in your writing. You're not confined to a single niche, but can evolve and really experiment as an author, which leads you to evolving as an author. The writing world is dynamic, with evolving trends, changing markets and readers who crave fresh experiences. As an author, embracing change and evolution is key to staying relevant and growing personally and professionally. Stay open to adapting to changing markets and reader preferences. Don't be afraid to pivot your writing style or explore new genres if you feel inspired. View your writing journey as a continuous learning experience. Seek opportunities for growth, whether through workshops, collaborations or just feedback from readers and fellow authors. That's huge. You can also reinvent yourself. I know this is like future whatever, but this is important Authors who continuously evolve often enjoy enduring careers. Think of bestselling authors who have reinvented themselves with different like series or genres. Your willingness to explore new themes and styles can lead to exciting creative breakthroughs and you know you can go on in another direction that you didn't think you would ever go to and you can Find yourself. You can be like this is it, this is what I'm doing, this is what I meant to be doing. Am I just going too far out of left field here? I don't know, but it just feels right. So hopefully this is resonating with someone. That's it, guys. That's what I have for you today. In conclusion, really just publishing yourself, published book, is a huge deal. You know this, I know this, we know this. It's an incredible achievement, but it's just the beginning of your journey. The steps you take after publication are really crucial in building your brand, connecting with your readers and just growing as an author. Remember that each action you take brings you one step closer to achieving your creative goals and establishing yourself as a successful self-published author. Thank you, guys, so much for listening. If this episode resonated with you, I would love if you would just share it on social media or just message me and let me know that you liked this. What did you like about it? Where are you at in your journey? Share it with me. I would love, love, love to talk about it with you. And don't forget my new children's book, my Day the Pumpkin Patch, is currently available. It's on Amazon, hardcover is available pretty much everywhere and I would love if you would purchase it and leave a review. And leave a review for the podcast. So many things, so many things to say, but really just thank you so much for listening. I'll see you guys next week.