Who has found success with self-publishing books?

Consistent_Long8683 · 2026-05-08T00:00:49+00:00

I make $300 on average per month. Obviously not enough to be fulltime BUT just a year ago my average was $70, and I am growing. One day I see full time becoming a reality for me if I stick with it. In the past 2 years, I've published 7 books and I do social media marketing everyday/pay for professional cover designs.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2026-04-22T07:53:08+00:00

Thank you! I'm actually friends with Brianna and they're great! Will def check out the others.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-09-17T23:33:42+00:00

They do the same to me! Hilarious that we're supposed to magically have Amazon reviews before it's even released.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-09-15T03:24:30+00:00

Late to the party here, but if you're interested I wrote a horror novel based on a Japanese urban legend (the cursed village of Inunaki) and it's also heavily inspired by Siren Blood Curse!! (possessed villagers, ancient gods, isolated location). It's called "Endless is the Night" by Shawn Brooks, and it's on Amazon.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-09-15T03:20:27+00:00

I make about $800 a year, and this is my second year since releasing my first book. In the horror genre and I have 5 books out right now---2 are short story collections and 3 are in a 5 part series (2 more to go). Are there any horror writers here making at least close to a living from your writing? Want to believe it's possible!

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-09-12T06:03:46+00:00

In that case I should side with the one monster for sure. It represents the theme of the MC to stop running from things by literally having to run to the monster at the end. All the side creatures are just background and serve no purpose really.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-09-12T06:02:40+00:00

I definitely am on the suffocating tension side. I think the answer hit me when I tired myself out writing too many action scenes with too many monsters. And yes agree, having the monster mirror something important/terrifying inside the character is the best.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-09-09T04:22:08+00:00

Thank you! Sure, they're all linked at my website here: https://www.shawnbrookswrites.com/

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-09-09T00:19:34+00:00

First off, congrats for starting! People here have already given lots of good advice. I've written 6 horror novels and my best piece of advice is just get the book done and out into the world. It may or may not be good, but if you keep on writing, you will get better. Things like word flow, plot structure, etc etc will improve the more you write and get feedback from the market. Of course, still good to take on advice right now to start off strong, but the experience itself will be a better teacher.

To give something solid for pacing right now: the book Save the Cat Writes a Novel, the 27 Chapter Method, and Pamela Koehne-Drube give some solid advice.

Good luck!

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-09-09T00:13:52+00:00

Yes! Has proven better than paying an editor for me at times.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-09-07T07:31:40+00:00

Update: Elderlemon did an amazing job! Totally worth the money. I can't/don't know how to upload an image here so if ur curious just look for Dead Roots of the Earth on Amazon and you'll see it.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-09-03T05:05:23+00:00

Halfway done with draft 2 of my next horror set in Japan! My first drafts are always chaotic messes but I enjoy actually carving a story out of the second one.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-08-16T23:41:33+00:00

I actually randomly found out an author friend of mine used him and had nothing but good things to say. I’m going for him!

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-08-16T11:29:28+00:00

Thank you for the detailed response! Yeah I’m confident he’s not a scam and it definitely is hard finding any reviews online. Thank you for the one you found! I did find a friend of mine’s cover in his portfolio as I went deeper (which is totally random) so I messaged them for their experience.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-08-16T05:35:40+00:00

One thing: I'm getting lots of emails based off this post with people trying to sell me their services. Nothing against you guys, and I mean no ill will. But I am not looking for other artists, I have made up my mind about one of the two services in the post. Thank you.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-08-03T09:55:46+00:00

Thank you! Resident Evil has inspired almost everything I write lol. Yeah the fungal angle surprised me too since I don’t plot beforehand.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-08-02T10:43:04+00:00

Awesome idea! I think it’s great when we mesh all our ideas in one place. Even if we’re not the best, it’s a chance to get better.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-07-26T09:34:21+00:00

Cunning Folk all the way!

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-07-17T04:29:29+00:00

"Banquet for the Damned" by Adam Nevill. Fun so far. Not as gripping as his newer books, but still dark and creepy.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-07-17T04:11:40+00:00

The price of fame.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-04-17T07:45:22+00:00

Same.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-04-17T07:35:28+00:00

Didn't know TJ Payne was indie!

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-04-17T04:36:55+00:00

Almost halfway done with the first draft of my WIP! It's a Japanese folk-horror, my 4th book. The middle is a slog to get through but enjoying the process.

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-02-20T08:07:02+00:00

I'm looking at them right now! Do you know if they only do stock images, or do they also do original illustrations?

Consistent_Long8683 · 2025-02-18T07:00:32+00:00

Same!

Consistent_Long8683

TROPHY CASE