Diary of a First Time Author - Episode #4

The Nitty Gritty of Publishing

Now we're getting to the crux of what it takes to self-publish.

Let me tell you, I consider myself to be pretty tech-savvy. If I don’t know how to do something, I’ll Google it, YouTube it, or phone a friend who does.

I also pride myself on being a solid multi-tasker, I like a challenge I can get my teeth into.

That said, self-publishing? It’s not for the faint-hearted.

I’ve absolutely loved the process, every bit of it.

But let’s not romanticise: it has tested me.

It’s pushed me out of my comfort zone, made me question my sanity at times, and taught me lessons you don’t learn until you're knee-deep in proof reading and metadata.

Here's a peek behind the curtain…

Self-Publishing

There’s no big publishing house backing me. No team of twenty handling the logistics. Just me, my laptop, a lot of late evenings, and a clear vision.

Self-publishing means doing all of the project management. The writing? That's just the beginning!

Having said that, I have managed to surround myself with a fabulous team who I cannot thank enough!

I've chosen to list on Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) for the obvious reasons that the platform is everyone's go-to for books.

In addition to this I was also advised to list on Ingramspark who have distribution networks across the world should any book chains wish to purchase 'Driven To Achieve' for their shelves. Let's wait and see what happens with this particular channel!

Purchasing the ISBN Numbers

ISBNs are the unique fingerprints of your book and if you want full control, you buy your own.

I didn’t want Amazon assigning mine (because they then hold more control than you might think), so I purchased my own UK ISBNs through Nielsen.

That gives me ownership and flexibility across formats and platforms and has been wonderful to see on the book cover.

If you’re considering writing your own book, this is something you’ll want to get right from the start.

Contributing to the British Library

A moment of real pride! My book will be catalogued in the British Library. As a UK publisher, you’re legally required to send a copy, and honestly, I couldn’t be prouder to know it’ll sit among the works of so many authors I admire.

It’s one of those pinch-me moments that makes all the hard graft worthwhile.

The British Library in London

Weekly Snippet from the Book...

You’ll Know When You’re on The Right Path

It starts as a spark, an idea, a curiosity, a thought that won’t quite let go. At first, it’s just an exploration, a “What if?” moment.

Then, almost before you realise it, that spark turns into an unstoppable energy, consuming your thoughts every waking hour.

And those waking hours? They’ll get longer. Because, let’s be honest, things don’t get done while you’re sleeping, and there’s a hell of a lot that needs doing!

It becomes the first thing on your mind when you wake up and the last thing before you fall asleep. Momentum kicks in. The snowball starts rolling, and suddenly you’re struggling to keep up with the pace, even with all your energy and drive.Things aren’t happening fast enough for your liking, but they are happening. If you’ve ever questioned what your “thing” is, your purpose, your reason for being, I can’t tell you exactly what it is, you’ll need to figure that one out yourself, but when you do find it, this is what will happen.

When everything starts aligning, when the excitement is relentless, when you can’t not do it… you’re on the right path.

Doors will open effortlessly. The right people will ‘magically’ appear just at the right moment. Opportunities will fall into place like they were waiting for you to show up. This isn’t just theory. It’s what’s been happening to me as I finish writing this book at the start of 2025.

Everything I’ve worked on for the last 30 years, every job, every challenge, every late night and early morning, is coming together in ways I never even imagined. And that’s how I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

Trust the process. When you’re on the right path, you’ll feel it.

And once you do, there’s no turning back!

Until next time... thank you for reading.