My Journey to Self-Publishing

Recently, I was asked the question, “What is the most difficult aspect of self-publishing?”

For me, the answer was simple. It was the actual decision to embrace becoming a self-published author.

Throughout the pursuit of becoming an author, traditional publishing has always been the goal of my writing career. It is what I strived for, what I sought to attain. All the great authors I followed were traditionally published. Many had movies adapted from their books. They made-a-living strictly by writing.

I went to Fairleigh Dickinson University and earned an MFA in Creative Writing. I learned how to write. I am grateful for the education I received because my professors taught me how to be structured and how to trust my instincts when writing. But there was little to no education regarding the publishing process and virtually none spent on the self-publishing process. When being surrounded and taught by those who have been traditionally published and achieved some literary success, the conversation surrounding self-publishing was never really an option.

So for years I grappled with the decision of whether I should self-publish or pursue traditional publishing because I had been groomed to think that traditional publishing was the only way to not only have a career, but to be taken seriously in the writing industry.

I knew once I made the decision, though, I would have to fully immerse myself in the process. That’s why, earlier this year, I made the decision, with the support of my wife, to publish SCATTERED, a 30-poem chapbook scheduled to be released in September 2021. It is the “fruit of my labor” as every aspect from the cover design to internal formatting, ISBN, publishing company name, marketing, etc. is mine (and my wife’s). It is something I am proud of, and regardless of sales, I will be at my happiest with this project when I open the box to see my first printed copy.

I will suggest that if you are considering self-publishing, you surround yourself with a trusted circle of literary peers. Peers that will be honest about your work – about what is good and what needs improvement.

Of the 30 poems in the book, 8 were either published in literary journals or subjected to the rigors of the MFA Program.

As I continue this journey, I will be chronicling it. I will be offering tips on what I’ve learned because I know there are others out there struggling the same way I struggled. There is a tremendous amount of information regarding self-publishing on the internet. Some of it is great, some not-so-great. I’ll be offering some information here. Hopefully it helps you along with your journey.

The publishing process is not an easy one, this I can assure you. But no matter how difficult it gets, the decision to self-publish was the most difficult part for me.

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Kenneth Francis Pearson is a Self-Published Author and Training Coordinator for the Department of Behavioral Health of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. He was born in Stony Point, NY, but currently resides in Southern Arizona. His third book of poetry titled SCATTERED is due to be released on September 21, 2021.