Everyone HATES self-published books!

I dunno how it works in the US and other western countries, but in Brazil, where I live, self-publishing and social media marketing is the way to go for new authors. You only get book deals if you are already famous. Its always the "safe bet". Either you are an actor/singer, media influencer or someone famous in anyway. No publishers wont give you the time of their day if you're a nobody.

I hate those AI generated books. P.E.Rowe is a major annoyance when im looking for audiobooks.

It'd be great to see a video about building an audience for your work. No matter what you find online about doing it, there are just as many things that say a particular method is garbage as will say it's the best thing ever. I realise no one thing will work for everyone, but hearing your personal experiences would be great 😊

Thank you for this super honest video and for sharing your experiences! I'm a new self-pub author and will definitely take your advice to heart! Take care and best of luck!

Very good video! Interesting points. Perhaps slightly ironic with the fan in the background and the audio quality somewhat lacking - but it suited what you were trying to say. Quite thought provoking and fascinating to hear both sides. We have something similar in music of course.

I really struggle with the whole self promotion side of self publishing. It is just not a skill I am good at, and is very much at odds with the introverted person I am. I have always enjoyed writing, but since I started putting my books out there the joy I used to get has become linked with how many people read my stories, and has thus waned to the point where I haven't written anything in months. Any advice on 1) how to actually start building that audience, and 2) how to get your motivation back when things haven't gone well in the past? Thanks, great video.

I do want to start writing but it seems like there is alot of things that could and/or will discourage me. So far I am having fun just writing for myself but that won´t go anywhere, and I have considered puting it out there for free but i honestly don´t know if its even good enough for that. I love your videos explaining all the intricacys of writing and i am learning alot. Starting with something as simple as "how do i structure a sentence" that ends up not beeing simple at all. :hands-yellow-heart-red: you have been very helpfull for me so far and i genuinly am greatfull i found your channel and books. You definetly got a new follower in me

as your a new youtuber I'll suggest you don't record with your fan going in the background. makes you hard to hear and is a distraction for me

As they say, "Don't quit your day job." And yes, many self published books aren't the quality level one expects. The thing is, it isn't all bad. But yeah, not to make enough money to become a writer as your day job. You can do books at the side, creative people need to do something with their insight/energy right? And sure in time, with the right push, and a lot of work, it might make its costs back.

Just found your channel. Enjoyed your content.

I was randomly recommended your video. I would like to encourage you to keep writing despite your two books not being super successful. I haven't read them and never will since I'm not interested in the genre, but I know what it's like to be passionate about something but not making a ton of money from it. If you love writing, I hope you don't give up. Even if god forbid, you never achieve major success, remember your love for writing.

Great video. Subscribed.

I started doing videos this way also. This is good stuff. My advise would be to look at the camera and not your screen.

But, as Theodore Sturgeon famously observed, ninety percent of everything is crud!

Every single stereotype that stains self-publishing is well-earned, I don't blame readers and critics for dismissing them altogether. There truly is a mountain of utter garbage out there that makes it impossible to find neglected gems through simple browsing. You have to rely on sources like SPFBO to get a good story, and even then I've yet to find a truly great novel among the ones I've read. Recently it has become so much worse, with the influx of AI sewage being spewed onto the digital shelves. Who in the world is reading those "books"? How is it remotely profitable? I have no idea. About finding an audience: something I don't see many mention is fanfiction. Find a relatively popular IP you are into, do your absolute best to write a novel in that universe and post it for free (you have to, it's fanfiction) It helps to get people hooked by posting only a few chapters at a time. Then direct readers to your original stuff at the end of it. A huge chunk of my sales has come from people enjoying my Life Is Strange stories.

I am not outraged. Just curious.

Really enjoy these insight videos. They're blunt and honest, but the advice you give is never disheartening. Also got a great voice for it.