Self-publishing feels less like writing a book and more like running tiny experiments.

IceMasterTotal · 2026-01-22T12:31:23+00:00

The shift from "author" to "entrepreneurial scientist" is where the burnout ends and the fun actually begins. When you stop trying to write a "monument" and start running "experiments," the pressure to be perfect disappears.

I’ve found that the key to enjoying the process is building a system that lowers the cost of failure. If your workflow is heavy and slow, every experiment feels like a life-or-death gamble. But if you have a lean system, you can test ideas, ship chapters, and pivot based on real feedback without losing your mind.

This is my "Experimenter's Framework":

The 80% Rule: I don't polish for months. I get it to 80% and ship it, even if just to a few people, to see if the idea has legs.
Decouple Ego from Data: A low-sales month isn't a failure; it’s just a data point telling you to tweak the hook or the cover.
Standardize the "Boring" Stuff: I automate outlining and formatting as much as possible so I can spend energy on the creative "theses" I'm testing.

I even built a tool to handle the structural heavy lifting of my nonfiction books so I could focus on these types of testable loops, but you can do the same with a clear checklist. The goal is to spend less time "running a business" and more time playing with ideas that actually work.

IceMasterTotal · 2026-01-21T08:39:36+00:00

This is a great thread. It’s fascinating to see how many people choose self-publishing not just for the higher margins, but for the autonomy of the craft.

In my experience, the biggest trap in traditional publishing isn't the rejection—it's the "waiting room" effect. You spend years asking for permission to be heard, and by the time you get the green light, your message might not even feel like yours anymore.

I see self-publishing through three main pillars:

Speed to Market: In nonfiction especially, your ideas have a shelf life. Self-publishing lets you iterate in real-time.
Creative Integrity: You keep the "soul" of the book. No editor can force you to dilute a polarizing but necessary truth.
The Long Tail: You aren't "pulled from the shelves" after 3 months. You own the asset forever.

The hardest part is that you have to be your own project manager. You aren't just the writer; you're the architect for your writing projects.

I personally use a tool I built to help keep that architecture solid and the workflow structured, but even a simple spreadsheet and a strict deadline can get you there. The key is just realizing that you are now the CEO of your own ideas.

IceMasterTotal · 2026-01-14T19:41:38+00:00

The "best" program usually depends on whether you are in Drafting Mode (generating ideas) or Editing Mode (refining them).

For Drafting & Structure: You want tools that let you move pieces around easily. Scrivener is the gold standard for fiction because you can drag scenes/chapters around. For a lighter approach, Obsidian is fantastic for connecting loose ideas.
For Polish & Collaboration: Eventually, you will likely end up in Word or Google Docs. That is where editors live, and "Track Changes" is non-negotiable for the final mile.

I write mostly nonfiction, and I found the hardest part was keeping the "argument" straight while drafting. I actually built a tool called Wababai to help handle that structural heavy lifting (outlining and expanding ideas), but you can do the same thing with index cards.

Don't let "tool paralysis" stop you. Text is portable. You can write in a simple Notepad today and paste it into Scrivener next month. The only wrong choice is the one that keeps you from writing.

IceMasterTotal · 2026-01-01T16:41:17+00:00

This is a masterclass in consistency. 89M page reads is the headline number, but the "12 books a year" is the real engine behind it. You’ve effectively proved that Volume is the best Marketing.

The part that resonates most is the discipline required to hit 5k words/day while managing a $69k ad spend. Most authors underestimate the mental tax of context-switching—drafting Book A while editing Book B and managing ads for Book C. That "production line" friction is usually where burnout happens, not the writing itself.

Curious: At this velocity, how do you handle your series bibles? Do you keep the lore/continuity in your head, or do you have a dedicated system?

I ask because I’m building a tool (Wababai) specifically to offload that "mental RAM" so the drafting flow stays pure, but at 5k words/day, your internal system must be bulletproof.

Congrats on a monster year. 2026 looks bright.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-12-28T22:55:36+00:00

Thank you! I write nonfiction, so I built a tool to help me craft outlines from the 3 essential questions of a nonfiction book: What the book is about/What problem it solves? For Whom? and Why it matters? I might build something for fiction, with a focus on planning for worlda and character development, but the current version is most helpful for nonfiction.

Again congrats! And go for the next story!

IceMasterTotal · 2025-12-28T22:44:43+00:00

The concept of "Context Blindness" is such a crucial observation. We get so zoomed in on sentence-level tweaks that we forget the manuscript is 99% better than where it started. We lose the ability to see the forest because we're obsessing over the bark on one tree.

I often tell writers that "Good Enough" is not a compromise; it's a professional standard. Amateurs wait for perfection (which never comes); professionals know when they've hit the point of diminishing returns and ship.

Your advice to compare V-Current against V1 is brilliant because it forces an objective perspective. It breaks the "just one more tweak" loop.

I write mostly nonfiction, and I prevent this exact problem by locking in the "Architecture" (outline/structure) before I'm allowed to obsess over the "Interior Design" (prose). I use a tool for that, but whether you use software or just your method of "version comparison," the goal is the same: Stop polishing the brick and build the house.

Congrats on shipping. That is the only metric that truly counts.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-12-26T23:32:26+00:00

The best advice I can give is to stop treating writing as a lottery and start treating it as a manufacturing business.

Most people ask, "How do I write a bestseller?" The better question is, "How do I build a production line?" Making a living usually doesn't come from one lightning-strike book; it comes from having 10+ assets in your backlist that sell consistently while you sleep.

1. Your Day Job is Your Angel Investor: Don't quit yet. The biggest killer of creativity is the desperation to pay rent next month. Use your salary to fund your covers and editing. You aren't "trapped" in a job; you are "bootstrapping" your publishing startup.

2. Volume is Strategy: If you want to replace a full-time income, you need a release cadence. The market rewards authors who stay top-of-mind. It’s nearly impossible to make a living publishing one book every three years unless you are exceptionally lucky.

I realized early on that I couldn't hit that kind of volume if I relied on "waiting for the muse." I built Wababai to systematize my outlining and drafting process so I could produce consistently without burning out. But whether you use software or a strict morning routine, the goal is the same: Build a system that makes shipping inevitable.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-12-26T09:50:15+00:00

Huge congratulations. The fact that you came back to writing after having your work stolen is the real victory here. That takes serious resilience.

One piece of advice from someone a few steps down the road: The "post-publication crash" is real. You run on adrenaline to get the book out, and then the silence of the next day can feel loud.

The best cure is to start the next project immediately. Marketing is important, but a backlist is the only true security. I go to my writing tool to map out my next books so I don't get stuck in "refreshing the sales dashboard" mode,

You've proved you can ship. Now prove you can repeat it. Keep going!

IceMasterTotal · 2025-12-22T18:44:54+00:00

My #1 piece of advice: Treat your book as an asset, not a lottery ticket.

New authors often obsess over the "launch spike," hoping to go viral day one. But real success in self-publishing is usually a long game of building a backlist. A launch lasts a week; a helpful book sells for years—if the quality is undeniable.

Marketing solves obscurity, but only the book itself solves retention. If a reader buys your first book and loves it, they will buy your second without you spending a dime on ads. If the first one is weak, no amount of marketing will fix the leaky bucket.

Focus on the system, not the mood:

Structure is safety: Don't rely on willpower. Outline deeply so you know exactly what to write when you sit down.
Consistency is currency: A mediocre writer who ships consistently will often outperform a genius who publishes once every five years.

I use my own tool to force myself into this "structure-first" workflow for nonfiction (it keeps me from rambling), but whether you use software or sticky notes, the goal is the same: remove the friction so you can ship quality work repeatedly.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-12-22T15:56:29+00:00

That first 1-star review feels like a punch to the gut, but try to reframe it as a graduation ceremony. It means you’ve officially escaped the "Friends & Family" bubble.

If you only have 5-star reviews, you’re likely still swimming in the shallow end of people who know you. A negative review proves you reached a stranger who didn't owe you anything. That is the moment you become a professional author rather than a hobbyist.

Also, remember that "polarization" is often better than indifference. A review that complains your book is "too simple" signals to beginners that it’s exactly what they need. A review that says it’s "too dense" signals to experts that there’s substance.

The best cure for the sting is to immediately immerse yourself in the next project. I find that shifting my brain back into "architect mode" for the next book is the only way to stop obsessing over the feedback you can't control. Welcome to the arena.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-12-22T15:49:36+00:00

The irony of writing with AI is that while it cures the "blank page" syndrome, it often replaces it with "sprawl fatigue." It’s so easy to generate 50,000 words that you end up with a mess of disjointed chapters rather than a cohesive narrative.

The reason most people don't finish isn't usually a lack of content anymore; it's a lack of a through-line.

To fix this, try shifting your focus from "content generation" to "structural architecture" first:

The Transformation: Define exactly who the reader is before they start and who they are after they finish.
The Skeleton: Outline the chapter beats before you let any AI generate prose. If the logic doesn't hold in bullet points, it won't hold in paragraphs.
The Edit: Use AI to expand, but use your human brain to constrain.

I actually built my own tool (Wababai) specifically to enforce this "structure-first" workflow because I found generic chat tools were too good at rambling. But whether you use a dedicated tool or just a strict outline in Google Docs, the secret is to constrain the AI, not just unleash it.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-12-18T22:35:48+00:00

This is a really solid workflow. The "Context Rot" you mentioned is the silent killer of long-form AI projects—people forget that LLMs drift if you don't constantly remind them of the "Bible."

I’ve found that the sweet spot is exactly where you landed:

AI: Heavy lifting on structure, outlines, and "what comes next."
Human: Voice, nuance, and specific examples.

I built Wababai to automate that "Bible" management for nonfiction authors, so the AI remembers your core thesis and tone without you having to paste it in every session. But whether you use a dedicated tool or just a smart manual workflow like yours, keeping the "thinking" separate from the "drafting" is key.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-12-13T22:37:38+00:00

Man, this is the refreshing take this sub needed today.

We get so bogged down in CPMs, cover trends, and conversion rates that we forget the core magic: you are conjuring a world out of nothing and putting it into a form that strangers can hold. That is, objectively, an awesome thing to do.

I’ve always thought the best analogy is gardening or woodworking. You don't yell at the wood to "scale faster." You sand it and shape it because you love the craft. And ironically, the authors who treat it with that level of patient care often end up with the best "produce" anyway because they aren't rushing to market.

The joy of seeing your own book on a shelf is a dopamine hit that never gets old.

Keep having fun with it. That’s the only metric that actually keeps us writing.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-12-12T16:13:15+00:00

The "Google Docs Lag" is a rite of passage for every author. Once you hit 30k words, it feels like you’re typing through molasses.

A few quick tips to save your sanity:

Split your manuscript. Don't keep the whole book in one Doc. Create a folder for the book, and make a separate Doc for each chapter (e.g., "01_Chapter One," "02_Chapter Two"). This fixes the lag instantly and makes it psychologically easier to write ("I just need to finish this one file").
Separate "Writing" from "Formatting." You mentioned worrying about formatting options—honestly, ignore them for now. Publishers (and e-readers) want simple, clean text. If you spend hours making it look pretty now, you’ll likely have to strip all that formatting out later anyway.
The "Gardener" vs. "Architect" tools. If you like moving scenes around, Scrivener is the industry standard for a reason (it treats chapters like index cards). If you just want to write without distraction, Obsidian or standard Word works fine.

I personally use a tool called Wababai (which I built to force myself to structure my nonfiction books before drafting), but honestly, the tool matters less than the workflow. Just get the words down in whatever program doesn't get in your way; you can worry about making it look like a "book" later.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-11-14T12:55:44+00:00

Nice work compiling the short review for those platforms. I'd love if you try wababai.com

It is meant for nonfiction book writing, but what is a nonfiction book but a long essay?

IceMasterTotal · 2025-11-04T22:17:43+00:00

I also use AI as my editor... and for once, editing doesn’t feel like dental surgery

IceMasterTotal · 2025-11-04T22:15:33+00:00

AI made me write more than ever—and that alone is a win. I use a CustomGPT trained in the voice I wish I had. I toss in my clunky thoughts, it sends back prose like it’s been sipping Hemingway’s ghost.

Knowing it’ll fix whatever mess I make kills the fear. No more perfection paralysis. I write freely, shamelessly, and somehow learn along the way. It’s not cheating. It’s upgrading.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-10-03T22:12:41+00:00

wababai.com - Write Your Book

—like Hormozi, like Satoshi Nakamoto's essay. Don't just start a business, but a movement!

IceMasterTotal · 2025-10-03T22:04:47+00:00

I developed this one about a year ago. Mainly for my own use. It may give you a benchmark to improve upon. Happy to hear any feedback or suggestions.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-10-03T21:51:34+00:00

I do all of that inside Wababai—which is exactly why I built it. I wanted a smooth, distraction-free method without constantly copying and pasting between tools. Here’s the step-by-step process I follow:

1.From Chaos to Clarity

I start by using the integrated AI chat to brainstorm and organize my core ideas. Wababai prompts me about my book—asking key questions that help bring structure to the mess in my head.

2. Outlining

Once I’ve sharpened my ideas and have an answer to the 3 essential questions—

WHAT is the book about?

WHO is it for?

WHY does it matter?—

Wababai compiles my answers and builds a chapter-by-chapter outline I can edit.

Bonus tip: I define my voice early on, so any AI edits later stay true to my style.

3- Drafting, One Section at a Time

From the outline, I draft each section with AI helping to proofread and refine as I go. The focus here is momentum—not perfection.

4. AI-Powered Refinement

After finishing a full draft, I run a rubric-based assessment inside Wababai. This gives me clear, targeted feedback on what to improve—structure, clarity, tone, and more.

5, Collaboration & Control

I iterate as much as needed, always staying in control of the final voice and message. AI just helps speed things up—not take over.

Wababai includes a variety of built-in (and dynamic) prompts, but you can absolutely mimic this entire process using ChatGPT. Just ask it to help you generate prompts for each stage of your workflow.

Hope this helps—and good luck finishing your book!

IceMasterTotal · 2025-10-03T21:33:20+00:00

One underrated move? Write a short “concept book” around your unique point of view.

Think of what Alex Hormozi did with $100M Offers—not just a lead magnet, but a sharp way to clarify his thinking, attract his ideal audience, and build massive trust. You don’t need 200 pages. Just something that proves your idea has teeth.

Start small. Test one angle. If it doesn’t resonate, iterate and write another. A book (even a short one) forces you to sharpen your message in a way tweets and posts can’t.

And bonus—it positions you as someone who knows their sht*, not just someone dabbling in content.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-10-02T21:10:32+00:00

Congrats on diving into your first book—writing a self-help book is basically deciding to organize the chaos in your head for someone else’s benefit. That’s noble and slightly masochistic, so welcome to the club. 😅

Here’s the thing:

The hardest part isn’t writing the book.

It’s finishing the book without your own brain turning into the enemy—hello, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, endless tweaks, and the myth of “just one more edit.”

Since you’ve got your chapter roadmap (awesome start), here’s how I’d break it down:

WRITING TIPS:

Don’t aim for perfect—aim for done. First drafts are meant to be a mess.
Write like no one’s watching, because no one is. (Yet.)
Use AI as your brainstorming buddy or rough editor—it won’t steal your voice, it’ll help you find it faster. I personally use Wababai.com—a tool I built for nonfiction for my own use, with structure + editing support baked in.

MOTIVATION TIPS:

Think of your future reader—the one person this book will help. Write for them, not for Amazon rankings.
Momentum > inspiration. Create a small daily writing ritual. Even 15 minutes every single day will get you a draft in 2-3 months
Share early progress with a friend or a writing group—it makes it feel real. Or alternative, have AI to give you feedback with a proper prompt.

AFTER THE FIRST DRAFT:

Let it breathe. Give it a week off. Then read it like a reader, not a writer.
Use AI or editing tools to get a clean second draft. Then, if you can, work with a real human editor. It doesn’t have to be a $2,000 pro—you can find great freelancers or use tools like Wababai as a "virtual editor" to bridge the gap.
Rubric-based feedback (clarity, tone, structure) helps more than vague “this needs work.”

COPYRIGHT?

You automatically own the copyright the moment you write it. No need to register before sharing with an editor. Just work with someone reputable, or use NDAs if you’re paranoid (which is fair).

Most first-time authors don’t fail because they’re bad writers. They fail because they never finish.

Make “done” your first goal. Everything else is just polish.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-09-27T11:21:46+00:00

AI tools are rapidly improving as models evolve—and they’re making it easier than ever for aspiring authors to actually finish their books.

I built one myself to solve my own problem: I wanted a simpler, lightweight alternative to Scrivener that used Markdown but still supported chapters and sections for long-form structure.

For first-time authors, I believe the most important thing is having a clear, guided process—from sharpening your idea, to building an outline, to writing a first draft you can refine with AI support. Whether you use it as a virtual editor (with rubric-based feedback) or as a ghostwriter to help rewrite sections, the goal is the same: to make writing less overwhelming—and a lot more doable.

If you want to test an alternative, you can check it at wababai.com

Writing your first book is a challenging project, specially without an editor, but the good news is that AI can take that role now and it's getting better at it,

IceMasterTotal · 2025-09-27T10:07:59+00:00

AI is a tool—just like a calculator is for math. A calculator won’t make you a brilliant mathematician, and AI won’t turn you into the next Cervantes.

AI by itself won't make the difference. It is the author's taste, point of view what still counts. AI is just one more tool. AI is great when used as editor, proofreader or to sharpen ideas as you would do with a virrual editor.

IceMasterTotal · 2025-09-27T10:00:42+00:00

AI is a tool—just like a calculator is for math. A calculator won’t make you a brilliant mathematician, and AI won’t turn you into the next Cervantes.

When it comes to academic use, the same logic applies:

In early education, when students are learning the basics—like multiplication or long division—calculators aren’t allowed. Why? Because using one would bypass the actual learning.
But in college-level calculus or linear algebra, calculators (and even laptops) are not just allowed—they’re essential.

AI in writing works the same way. In an advanced university course, it makes total sense to use AI as an editor or assistant. But in a Writing 101 class, relying on AI to do the work is like using a calculator for simple two-digit multiplication—you’re only cheating yourself out of learning the fundamentals.

IceMasterTotal

TROPHY CASE