💬Is Self-Publishing Desperate?
Let’s get something out of the way.
Yes. And also… no.
That’s the whole answer.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
Okay, fine. You came here for however many words and some behind-the-scenes honesty, not a one-line mic drop. So buckle in. This blog post is for the writers feeling like outsiders at the traditional publishing gates, for the readers curious about how books make it into the world, and for anyone who’s ever been tempted to slap a “DESPERATE” label on a self-published book just because it didn’t come from Penguin, Harper, or insert-your-favorite-huge-house here.
This is not just a defense of self-publishing.
It’s a portrait of it.
A little ugly, a little glorious, and absolutely covered in caffeine and deleted drafts.
☕ Chapter 1: How I Got Here (And What I Was Chasing)
Let’s start with the facts:
I didn’t always want to self-publish. In fact, for a long time, I thought it was something you did as a last resort.
To me, “self-published” used to translate as:
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Couldn’t get a deal
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Rushed it
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Didn’t edit
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Bad cover
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Probably a werewolf romance with three typos in the title
Yes, I was snobby.
Yes, I was wrong.
No, I won’t apologize for the werewolf comment because I’ve read that book.
But when I started writing seriously—seriously as in: 2 a.m., cold coffee, 97 tabs open researching whether commas go before or after “however”—I realized something brutal: traditional publishing is not just about writing a great book. It’s about timing. Marketability. Networking. And sheer luck.
I submitted my work. I got rejections.
I revised. I waited. I cried (sometimes about more than the writing).
And I kept thinking: I just want this book out there. I want it to exist in the world.
That was the turning point. Not when I gave up, but when I gave in—to my real goal.
I wanted readers more than I wanted approval.
And that’s when I stepped into the world of self-publishing.
✨ Chapter 2: The Shift That Saved Me
I didn’t walk into self-publishing like it was a palace.
I tiptoed in like it was a garage sale.
But slowly… something shifted.
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I was writing what I wanted.
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I was designing covers that matched my vision.
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I was building a brand (hi, Minds In Design 👋).
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And I was releasing my work on my own terms.
Suddenly, I wasn’t waiting anymore. I was creating. I wasn’t chasing agents; I was building a store. I wasn’t asking permission; I was printing pages.
Was it scary? YES.
Was it empowering? Even more so.
And sure, I still dream about a traditional publishing deal—who doesn’t want an advance big enough to pretend you’ll spend it wisely? But I’m no longer desperate for it. Because self-publishing gave me a home for my stories when traditional publishing kept closing the door.
🔥 Chapter 3: The Desperation Question
So… does self-publishing mean an author is desperate?
Sometimes, yes.
Sometimes we’re desperate to be heard. To be seen. To not die with 14 Word documents on our laptop that no one ever read. And that desperation? It’s valid. We live in a world where attention is currency. Wanting to share your art is not shameful.
But sometimes it’s not desperation—it’s strategy.
Sometimes it’s control.
Sometimes it’s the refusal to wait another three years for a response that starts with “While we loved your work…”
Self-publishing is not a back door. It’s a side entrance. With better snacks.
📚 Chapter 4: Readers, Let’s Talk
If you’re a reader, maybe you’ve been burned by a bad indie book.
We’ve all been there—awkward formatting, no editing, and a plot that makes less sense than a reality TV reunion.
But please know: not all self-published books are created in a creative vacuum. Some of us obsess over the craft. I published my debut novel Until Time Remembers at 560 pages of looping timelines, emotional trauma, and carefully constructed narrative structure. It was the start of a whole series (Where Time Can’t Exist)—not a quick grab for attention.
And the truth is? Many self-published books are better than the traditionally published ones getting front-table placement at bookstores.
There, I said it.
Report me to the literary police.
📈 Chapter 5: Writers, Let’s Be Honest
Writers, I know some of you feel torn.
You want the prestige of a deal, but the freedom of self-pub.
You want distribution, but you also want to name your own damn price.
You want to tell your story your way—but still get shelf space.
I feel you.
And I’m telling you: You don’t have to choose one forever.
Self-publishing can be your creative playground. It can be the launchpad for your audience. It can be your proof that your story deserves to exist.
And if you do it right? Publishers might come looking for you.
💬 Chapter 6: Trending Topics — BookTok & AI Books
Let’s spice this up with a few hot bookish topics:
1. BookTok’s New Power
Self-published authors are crushing it on BookTok right now. Some indie authors have sold hundreds of thousands of copies based on a single viral video. It’s not about who published you—it’s about how you connect. Readers want authenticity. And guess what self-pub authors often have in droves? Authenticity.
2. AI-Generated Books (The Not-So-Great Side)
AI-written books are flooding Amazon right now. Yes, some are impressive. But most? They lack the emotional truth that human authors bleed into their work. That’s where real self-publishing shines: in the raw, imperfect, soul-bearing pages of your voice.
💡 Chapter 7: The Real Flex
Here’s my flex:
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I run my own company, Minds In Design, which now includes a growing online store.
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I’ve published 12 books on Amazon—from fiction to poetry to gripping character studies.
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My debut novel Until Time Remembers? A 560-page odyssey through time, pain, and purpose.
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My latest poetry release Because I Felt Everything was followed by a new one: It Hurt Beautifully, Available on my online store.
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I created a newsletter available on my blog (Issue #3 drops is out now)
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A podcast is coming in late August.
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And every single product in my store is between $3–$10. No catch. No fluff. Just honest storytelling.
If that’s desperation, baby, I’ll wear it like a crown.
📝 Final Thoughts: What I Hope You Take With You
Self-publishing isn’t the easy way.
It’s the brave way.
It’s messy. It’s personal. It’s hard work.
But it’s also freedom, power, and potential in your own hands.
So the next time someone asks if self-publishing means you’re desperate?
Smile. And say, “Maybe. But desperate people change the world.”
If you’re new here, welcome.
Check out my books. Read my newsletter. Browse the store. Follow the blog. Stick around. I’ve got more stories coming—on my terms.
And I’m just getting started.
💬🖤📚
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