In the early part of 2024, I spent weeks (perhaps, months!) trying to figure out the difference between traditional and self-publishing. Both have their perks and challenges, but I eventually figured out that self-publishing was the right choice for me. If you want to know a bit more about my journey, read on! 🙂
Why Self-Publishing?
✔ No gatekeepers! ✨ No waiting for approvals, no compromising my creative vision. I get to share my work exactly as I intended.
✔ I could get help where I need it—like editing—and I was willing to learn anything that I needed to do myself (coordinating prints, marketing, etc.).
✔ I have a design background, which meant I could create the full book myself or confidently collaborate with someone else if needed.
✔ Marketing was always going to be my responsibility—regardless of whether I self-published or went traditional. As a first-time author, publishers rarely invest heavily in promotion and authors need to give a big push to the marketing of the book.
✔ I actually enjoy the business side of things. Instead of seeing it as a burden, I treat it like an experiment—figuring out what works and what doesn’t.
I absolutely love the autonomy that personal projects give to creatives, and self-publishing takes it to the next level. It lets you share your story without censorship. 🪶
In my own book-writing journey, I caught a glimpse of the “rules” that publishers impose. And when you’re writing about creativity and breaking the status quo, those rules just don’t sit right.
The Biggest Challenge: Getting Into Bookstores
One of the hardest realities of self-publishing? Many of my favorite bookstores don’t accept independently published books. They prefer working with established publishers because it simplifies logistics for them.
So instead of worrying about that, I’ve shifted my focus to online sales, direct-to-reader marketing, and event-based promotions. And honestly? I love the idea of meeting my readers directly, whether through social media, pop-ups, or book fairs.
The most fun part: Cover Design Process 🎨
As a designer, I knew the cover had to be eye-catching, clear at small sizes, and true to the book’s essence. I’ll take you behind the scenes of how I designed it and the decisions that shaped the final look.
I turned the cover design process into a conversation with my creative community (and future audience for the book). I shared a video showing the 4 options at the time, and hundred of people commented and voted for different options.
This process helped me overcome my biases & design for my readers, instead of just designing for myself.
Milestones along the way
⭐️ In June 2024, I printed 200 copies to begin with and my first big milestone came 3 months later when they were all sold out!
⭐️ My book and I have been featured in both newspapers & online publications, and I continue to facilitate workshops based on the contents of the book at design conferences and creative events across the country.
⭐️ I’ve also written more about my self-publishing milestones in my year-end recap on social media (check it out on: Instagram/LinkedIn)
How AI Helped Me in the Process
I know there’s a lot of debate about AI in creative fields, but I’ve found it to be a great support tool. Here are three ways I used AI while writing my book:
💡 Overcoming Blank Page Syndrome: Staring at an empty screen is the worst. Jamming with AI on quick prompts helped me break past creative blocks and get ideas flowing.
✂ Rambling Control: I tend to go off on tangents. AI became my quick editing buddy, helping me refine my thoughts and cut down on unnecessary fluff.
👀 Reducing Eye Strain: Long writing sessions can be exhausting. Having AI read my drafts aloud helped me catch errors and gave my eyes a break.
So, are you looking to self-publish?
I love the self-publishing route but I won’t blindly recommend it to everyone. Because it isn’t for everyone. But if you love creative freedom and are willing to learn, experiment, and adapt, it can be incredibly fulfilling!
If you’re thinking about self-publishing your own book and are looking for some guidance, let’s connect on a 1:1 call to chat more.
And if you’re looking to read more about the creative process itself—how to understand creative mindblocks, overcome them to find inspiration, and bring ideas to life—my book Inspired: The A-Z of Creative Unblocking dives deep into those topics. Grab a copy here.
nishita mohta 