Since I was a young girl, I dreamed of becoming a published author. I used to dictate my ideas, and my dad would transcribe them on his computer. Then, I’d add my illustrations with colored pencils to the printed pages.
As I grew older, that dream kind of fell by the wayside. You grow up, you go to college, you get a degree, and try and make a living, and in the process, your passions are placed on the back burner. It’s a tale as old as time, really!
But with the accessibility and ease of self-publishing these days, that dream of publishing my very own book was reignited. And guess what? I did it! I published a book!
Now, I’m not expecting my book to become anything close to bestseller—I’ll be happy if even my family or friends buy a copy!
And the truth is, there is steep competition in the world of self-published literature. But even so, there’s room for all of us. You don’t need a massive audience or the promise of making money to pursue self-publishing. The joy of creating and the excitement of seeing your work bound together in book form can be rewarding on its own.
So if you’re expecting tips on how to self-publish a bestselling children’s book, this blog post isn’t for you. Instead, I want to take you through my process of self-publishing. I’d also like to share a bit about my book and the inspiration behind it. In turn, my hope is to inspire other aspiring authors to take that first step towards getting published!
How I Did It
The text: To create and format the book, I started by drafting the text in Google Docs.
Once the draft was complete, I used Scrivener, a word processing program for writers, to format and organize my manuscript.
I made sure to include a copyright page, a title page, a dedication page, a table of contents, and an author page. These are things you may want to consider adding to your book for a more professional look and feel!
The cover: I took a shot at drawing the images on the cover and then worked on the design in Canva. Now, I’m no Michelangelo, and it definitely shows, but I really wanted to have a hand in creating the artwork! Remember, there’s always the option to hire an illustrator or use digital graphics to design your cover if you prefer.
The editing: I used ChatGPT to help with proofreading and editing.
Just to clarify, I did not use ChatGPT to write the book; I wanted it to be my work. However, I found ChatGPT very helpful for identifying awkward phrasing, punctuation errors, spelling issues, etc.
I would typically paste a chapter or section into the prompt and ask ChatGPT to look for errors or suggest areas that needed clarity, but since it didn’t always get it right, I made sure to read the text over myself, multiple times, to thoroughly proofread and edit.
Of course, if you’re wary about relying on AI, hiring a professional editor is also an option. You can even ask a trusted family member or friend (who has a knack for proofreading) to help look things over for you!
The publishing: I used Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) to self-publish my book!
I started by visiting kdp.amazon.com and logging in with my Amazon credentials. I selected ‘Create,’ added the relevant details, and chose criteria like dimensions and paper type.
I then uploaded my manuscript in PDF format and ensured my cover, also uploaded as a PDF, met all size and content guidelines to prevent any cutting off of images or text.
After setting a price and submitting it for publishing, my book entered a review phase during which Amazon checked for any issues before the book became available for purchase. I had to address a few issues, such as adjusting the spine text, before successfully resubmitting it for final approval. The review phase, for me, took no longer than a few hours.
Overall, the process of publishing with Amazon KDP was relatively quick, straightforward, and simple.
How long did the book take to create?
This project has been a bit of a journey for me. I started working on it in the fall of 2023, took a break for a while, and then revisited it this summer. Altogether, it didn’t take me that long—maybe 2 to 3 weeks if you count all the days combined.
Of course, the time it takes depends on the complexity of your book and how deeply you’re involved in every aspect of it. My book is under 100 pages, so I imagine if your book is 300+ pages, it will take significantly longer than 2 to 3 weeks!
The content and direction of your book also make a difference. For instance, your book might require more extensive research or feature more illustrations. So, basically, there is no perfect formula for this kind of endeavor, nor is there a right or wrong amount of time to spend on it.
What was my writing process like?
Initially, I outlined the story’s events. Then, I hammered out a draft. And finally, I worked on a few simple illustrations. At first, I had envisioned the book with more extensive artwork, but then I remembered…drawing is not my forte, so I quickly abandoned that idea and used the few illustrations I had worked on to decorate my cover.
After putting the project aside for several months, I revisited it this summer. I spent some more time fleshing out the story, editing the text, and formatting it in Scrivener, before finally submitting it for publishing.
So, what’s the book about?
Title: Harvey, Mocha, and the Land of Seasons
Synopsis: Harvey and Mocha are tired of winter. After a brutal snowstorm, the furry siblings find themselves stuck indoors, watching their mom, Tara, shovel snow, longing to play outside with her. When Tara finally takes them for a walk, a routine outing turns into an unexpected adventure as they stumble upon a mysterious, snowless forest. There, they encounter Willow, a wise and talking deer, who guides them through magical portals, transporting them across the seasons. The trio embarks on an unforgettable journey, discovering the joys and challenges of each season together.
Paperback: 94 pages
ISBN-13: 979-8329905861
Reading age: 6 – 12 years
Purchase a copy on Amazon here.
What inspired this story?
Well, I am a big dog lover and the mom of a 12-year-old chihuahua mix named Harvey, whom I adopted during the COVID pandemic. Growing up, my first dog was a Yorkshire Terrier named Mocha. Although Harvey and Mocha never had the chance to meet, writing this book gave me the opportunity to imagine a world where they could be together.
Drawing from my experience as a former children’s librarian, I felt more confident about writing a story tailored for kids rather than adults, and a story starring two little dogs just seemed more suited for children, anyway!
I also love the idea that each season offers something unique. There’s something magical, and sometimes frustrating, about how drastically our environment changes between seasons. One minute the leaves are green and the next they are red, brown, orange, etc. One minute the trees and bushes are bare, and the next they are covered in flowers. I wanted to write something that highlights those wondrous changes, while also making it a little educational.
That is the story of how I self-published a children’s book via Amazon KDP! If self-publishing is something you’ve been considering but have felt uncertain about, I encourage you to take the plunge and pursue it! There’s something truly special about holding your own book in your hands after it’s been published.
Overall, I didn’t pressure myself to create a masterpiece; I just wanted to get it done! And in my opinion, the end result isn’t anything extraordinary. It’s just a simple story about a girl, her two dogs, and an epic adventure. It’s hard to objectively judge your own work, and I think there is a lot of room for improvement. Despite this, I’m still happy with the end result and I’m glad I pushed through the self-doubt and completed it!
If you’ve already self-published a book, I’m eager to hear about your process! What genre did you choose? Who was your intended audience? What sparked your inspiration? And how long did the process take? I’m genuinely interested to hear about and learn from your experience!
Happy Writing!
Pawsitive Reads 