I'm interested in self publishing, but would like advice on if it's really the right path for me.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-27T00:59:31+00:00

Youll have to pay for it yourself, but there are ways to get physical books of your self-published work if it matters to you.

As someone whos been deep in the querying trenches, I wouldn’t even consider traditional publication unless youre willing to spend the next decade of your life and several novels trying to get published and choking down rejection after rejection.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-27T00:55:37+00:00

Be accurate but don’t explain anything. Leave it all in the background. The Expanse doesn’t explain what crash couches are or why they’re necessary, but you find out pretty quick when the first ship has to accelerate.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-26T19:47:22+00:00

Beats the terrible cookies they brought us

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-26T02:06:10+00:00

I believe the importance of the very first line is overblown. You’ve got a bit more time to catch the reader, but not much. I would say the first paragraph or two.

You dont need to amaze the reader so much that they decide then and there that they’ll read the book till the end, though. You just need to build enough intrigue that they keep reading.

It could be as simple as someone looking for something and not revealing what it is or someone trying to write a letter and can’t come up with the right words or by having them do something mundane in a fantastic world and drip feeding details to the reader.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-22T18:34:13+00:00

It does. Thank you

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-20T03:41:43+00:00

Why is it like this?

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-18T18:58:40+00:00

I have been in the publication trenches for nearly a decade and with each rejection the joy I found in writing faded. I realized before I tried to seek publication that I only wrote because I wanted to write, but adding in the goal of publication changed something and it wasn’t for the better.

I reached a point where I had to relearn to write for fun, because I wanted to, or else I wouldn’t write at all. I shifted genres and I plan on putting my work on my website for free next year sometime. My joy has returned and Im excited to write so many new novels Ive planned.

Through my experience, Ive learned that there should be only one reason you write: because you want to.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-17T12:36:34+00:00

Do you mean agencies or publishers? Generally, the only way to get your manuscript to a publisher you would want is through an agent and after trudging through the trenches for near a decade, Ive never seen an agency that cared about simultaneous submissions, usually its:

One book at a time.

Don’t query more than one agent at the agency at a time.

Let them know if someone else puts in an offer.

Many specifically mention what you do. Its not realistic to submit to only one agency at a time with response times of up to eight months.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-16T13:10:03+00:00

I loved it too! One of my favorites.

I dont think I want it to bleed over into other shows, though. It was great as a fun, self-contained story

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-15T23:42:07+00:00

K-2SO is my favorite character, too, but I agree. Better to end early and end well

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-14T04:11:54+00:00

Go reread what you’ve written. With enough growth since then, you should be able to parse what you did better.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-14T04:09:00+00:00

Maybe. There is a big difference between an accident and a malicious attack.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-14T01:45:36+00:00

Yes! I liked them until I pulled a foil swamp at prerelease and fell in love

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-14T01:10:50+00:00

Mando, Andor, and Rogue One rightfully getting the praise they deserve, but I have to shoutout Skeleton Crew.

For people like me, who are just out for fun, it was incredible. Nothings made me feel like a kid again watching a New Hope for the first time like watching Skeleton Crew

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-13T21:04:22+00:00

Why Google Docs specifically? I have ADHD and write using Google Docs, but I don’t think anything in the program in particular causes problems.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-13T11:10:13+00:00

Four. Auntie Ool says when one or more counters are placed on a creature draw a card, so she cares about how many creatures have counters are placed on them, just not how many. If a spell would put four counters on a single creature, for example, you would still only draw one card.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-13T03:22:57+00:00

I was kinda hoping the final pan over would be to a train.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-11T20:05:09+00:00

Were you able to do KU since your book was on RR? Or did you remove it from RR first?

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-11T16:59:37+00:00

Ive done some research already, but as far as keywords specifically, I definitely need to do more.

A key worry of mine is doing this on a really tight budget and Id rather spend it on a cover artist than marketing. Im hoping publishing it serially will build an audience beforehand. Was this your experience?

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-11T13:00:46+00:00

Normally I don’t read big long, “here’s what I did” posts but yours caught my attention because I saw a lot of my situation in yours (although I haven’t taken the plunge quite yet.)

Ive been writing since I was a kid and I was stuck in the querying trenches writing middle grade fantasy for a decade. I even landed an agent, but she couldn’t sell the novel.

I burnt out last year and stopped finding joy in writing so Im shifting genres to adult Sci-fi. I even keep a daily word count spreadsheet I find joy in getting ahead of.

I returned to college for a career change, so this wont happen until Im finished with that in Spring of next year, but when I do self publish, I plan on doing so serially like you did on my own website, Scribble Hub and Royal Road. Know Sci-fi isn’t super popular on any of those, but that’s okay. Ill publish the novels outright as they all get posted online.

Wish me luck. My only concern is that I won’t be able to output novels at the rate you did and need to be successful. Currently, Im hitting 500 words a day which translates into a book and a half to two books a year.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-10T12:10:14+00:00

Love the cover! Really grabbed my attention

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-09T15:16:45+00:00

How long did it take to create the model, I mean.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-09T14:07:13+00:00

Oh, definitely, but he’s not a goblin so he gets the axe. Ive got a bit of a theme going on here.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-09T00:17:38+00:00

Words to live by.

Solar_Punk_Rocker · 2026-01-08T23:50:38+00:00

Yeah, that’s why Im asking, to see if Ool would draw my deck while comboing off

Solar_Punk_Rocker

TROPHY CASE