I’ve been toying with this idea for a while now, and figured I’d finally throw it out here – has anyone here ever written and actually published their own book? I’m not talking about some ghostwritten business eBook or crypto whitepaper (though that counts in its own way, I guess), but more like a personal project – stories, essays, maybe even poetry or fiction? Something that really came from you.
Yes, I have published several articles. But that has to do with my work at university, so I'm not writing any personal stories. You don't have to be particularly creative. You are given a topic and then have to write something about it.
Lately I’ve felt this weird urge to pull all the scattered texts I’ve written over the years together – some are half-finished, some are just thoughts that never made it past the note app stage. But I keep wondering: what does it take to turn all that into something real? Like, how do you go from idea to book without totally losing steam halfway through?
I can well understand that. I think it's the same with every hobby. At some point you want to take the next step. If you run, you want to take part in a marathon at some point, if you paint, you want to exhibit your paintings,...
I would look for help. There are writing courses or you can take lessons from authors. Some publishers also offer writing workshops (Novum publishing,...) or you can look for courses at universities.
I’ve read about self-publishing, or doing a small print run with local presses, but I’d love to hear real experiences. Did you do it all yourself? Hire someone? How did you even know when it was done?
It's difficult to find a publisher. Many switch to self-publishing or get help from service publishers. You could also get a literary agent involved. The alternatives to a traditional publisher are certainly becoming more and more popular because it is so difficult to find a publisher. You have to see which option is best for you.
And maybe most importantly: how did it feel? To hold the thing in your hands, or to send it out into the world? Was it worth the hassle?
I can only talk about the professional perspective. Some articles get a better response, some a worse one. But I have to do it. I'm certainly proud when colleagues approach me about certain articles. That's where the best conversations between colleagues come from. That also helps you move forward. But I don't see it as the main part of my job. That's why I focus on other things. That doesn't mean that I don't enjoy some of it or that I wouldn't be proud of my work.
But I think it's difficult to compare that with personal stories, novels, autobiographies,...