You’ve edited your book manuscript, had it proofread, incorporated feedback, and now your novel or memoir is ready to self-publish. And yet…you can’t seem to bring yourself to take the next step and start the process. At Self-Publishing Relief, we know many writers suffer from self-doubt and second-guess whether they should self-publish their work. And navigating the self-publishing process can be confusing and intimidating, especially if it’s your first time. Here’s the best advice from our experts to help you banish self-doubt and self-publish your book now.

Sources Of Self-Doubt—And How To Conquer Your Qualms And Self-Publish

Your inner critic is too harsh.

Before you can banish self-doubt and self-publish your book, you need to have your manuscript polished and finalized. But some writers have an inner critic who’s never satisfied. If you find yourself stuck in an endless cycle of revision, try some of these tips to help you put that red pen down and declare your work ready to publish.

You’re afraid of failure.

You may suffer from impostor syndrome and feel sure your book will be a failure. But instead of convincing yourself that your self-published book sales will be disappointing, stop for a reality check. Ask yourself what “failing” means to you. What are your goals for this book, and are they realistic? If you want to self-publish and sell ten thousand copies in your first week, you will definitely need to scale back a bit. Work your way up to your bigger sales goals in increments. Rather than saying, “I’ll sell ten thousand books in a week, or month, or year,” start with an easier-to-reach-goal: “I’ll sell twenty books in a month.”

Set yourself a series of smaller, attainable goals, and celebrate each win before you move on to a bigger goal. And remember: Whether you sell ten copies or ten million, writing and publishing a book is an impressive feat, and you should be proud of it!

What if some people don’t like your book? What if—eeek!—you get some negative reviews? The truth is, not everyone is going to like your writing. And that’s true for even the most successful authors! Don’t let “what ifs” derail your confidence. You won’t know how your book is really received by readers until you publish it and get it out into the hands of your audience. And if it is a flop? Learn from the experience to determine how to best move forward.

You have NO idea where to start.

Self-publishing can seem complicated and daunting—especially if you’re trying to do it alone. After all, you’re not just writing a whole book; you’re also creating the packaging, designing the interior, putting it up for sale, making all kinds of decisions about every detail imaginable, and marketing it! How do you know if you’re doing the right steps in the right order? And how do you avoid being scammed into paying for things you don’t really need? Some self-publishing companies will promise you anything to get your business—but fail to deliver.

Our comprehensive checklist is a fantastic place to start. And many of the articles on the Self-Publishing Relief blog cover everything you need to know so you can confidently make the right decisions when self-publishing your book.

You’re worried about doing it all on your own.

Here’s the secret: You don’t have to do it all completely alone. In fact, most people don’t! There are plenty of tasks you can safely outsource to others while retaining full control over your end product.

You can also hire experts to help you navigate the entire process, from manuscript to finished book you can be proud to put your name on! At Self-Publishing Relief, we are always thrilled to help our clients realize their dreams of being published by guiding them through every step. We don’t take any rights or royalties, and we don’t make pie-in-the-sky promises we can’t keep. If you’re interested in chatting with us about our different packages to see if we’d be a good fit for you, you can schedule a free consultation with our team.

Don’t let self-doubt stop you from self-publishing your book. Use these tips to overcome your anxieties and get started—you won’t regret it!

Question: What has held you back from self-publishing your book?