From Online Journal to Published Book
How I Self-Published My Story
I never explicitly set out with a grand master plan to "write a book". What actually started as a simple online journal—just a quiet way of saying this is what’s happening, this is where I am—slowly evolved into a twenty-five-year habit of noticing, reflecting, and piecing a life back together.
While I spent plenty of years writing mandatorily for university papers, this specific story was always sitting in the back of my mind, waiting for the right moment. When a stretch of downtime finally came along, the timing aligned perfectly to sit down and get it all out. What grew out of a rewarding personal project turned into a full self-publishing journey.
Fast-forward to today, and that story is officially a real book! Looking back, the self-publishing process was quite a journey with a steep learning curve, but it was also deeply rewarding. If you’ve ever thought about self-publishing your own book, here is a peek behind the scenes at how I pulled it off, step by step.
Step 1: Bringing in Professional Editing
Once the full manuscript was finally out of my head and onto the page, I needed an objective pair of eyes. I used Reedsy to connect with publishing freelancers and hired a copy editor to polish the text, smooth out the pacing, and refine the narrative flow.
Step 2: Building an Online Home Base
While editing was underway, I built my website—a space designed not only as an author hub, but also as a platform to advocate around my lived experience. Having a central space online gave readers a place to follow updates, learn more about the project, and connect with me directly. It quickly turned into a creative passion of its own as I realized how much more I wanted to share. Expanding on the themes of the book will be an ongoing focus, so stay tuned—more blog posts are on the way!
Step 3: Cover and Interior Design
A great story deserves great formatting. I worked with a book designer who took care of both the interior layout and the cover design. Watching my written words transform into a beautifully laid-out interior wrapped in an eye-catching cover was easily one of the most exciting milestones.
Step 4: Distributing Across KDP and Draft2Digital
When the final print and ebook files were ready, I published using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) alongside Draft2Digital (D2D). Using both allowed me to cover major storefronts like Amazon while ensuring broad distribution to other online booksellers and library networks.
Where Things Stand Now
Right now, I am in the thick of the book launch phase—sharing updates, celebrating milestones, and spreading the word. Once the launch pace slows down and the dust settles, my next goal is translating the book into French to share it with a whole new audience.
Looking back on the entire ride, treating self-publishing as an enjoyable passion project made every challenge feel like part of the adventure. If you have a story inside you, I can't encourage you enough to just start writing!
Have questions about any part of the self-publishing process, or working on a book of your own? Reach out—I'd love to connect!
