From Idea to Impact: 5 Steps to Demystify Self-publishing🚀

If you've ever dreamed of publishing a book but feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or even a little afraid to be visible—this is for you. 

In a recent interview with self-publishing expert Kirsty Ogden, I was reminded that writing the book is only half the journey. Going beyond ideas and rough drafts takes consistency and effort, with a dash of courage to finish the book and share it with the world. This can make if feel overwhelming and that’s where guided support changes everything for first-time authors. 

Kirsty shares her 5-step framework for independent publishing that makes the process feel less intimidating and far more achievable: 

1. Correct – A professional edit to strengthen your message and remove doubt. 

1. Create – Typesetting your words so your book reads beautifully. 

1. Classify – Sorting your ISBN (a unique identifying number for all books), legal deposit, and metadata to make it official. 

1. Cover – Designing a suitable front cover that captures attention and reflects your voice. 

1. Check – Final proofread to give you total peace of mind. 

This roadmap is a way out of feeling like you’re doing it alone, and instead, accessing a proven path forward.  

With my years in Public Relations, I know that becoming visible and talking about yourself and your creative work can cause many people to freeze up or feel like running away to hide.

The idea of marketing their book is not their favourite thing at all and we discussed the natural human fear that comes with becoming visible—standing out from the crowd and stepping up as an author in the world. This type of vulnerability can stop your progress and it’s important to remember, your story and your message matters more than your discomfort of being visible.   

A few simple steps to overcome performance anxiety are to plan all the details you can (e.g. if you're public speaking, find out the location, organiser, audience size, other speakers, etc), write out dot points of what you’ll say and have a support person too. 

If you’re a first-time author, or you feel you’ve hit a stumbling block, here’s some advice. Start by writing down a clear statement of your “why.” Why are you writing this book? What change do you want it to inspire?

Even experienced professionals feel exposed when sharing their personal story. Writing is intimate. Publishing is vulnerable. Kirsty’s message: trust the process and trust the professionals. This is not a solo mission. 

“You don’t have to do it alone,” said Kirsty. With the right guidance, you can move from procrastination to published. 

📖 Ready to take the first step? Watch the full interview here on YouTube and allow the next step on your author journey begin.