Why My Most Personal Book Didn’t Sell: My Self Publishing Journey (5/5)
The Challenges of Personal Work, Design Pitfalls, and Market Realities
By the time I reached my fourth self-published book, Carbon, I thought I had learned everything I needed to know about the process. But if my self-publishing journey has taught me anything, it’s that every project comes with its own set of surprises.
Carbon was meant to be my magnum opus—a deeply personal poetry collection that pulled together years of writing into a single anthology. It was raw, intimate, and unfiltered. But while it was meaningful to me, I quickly learned that personal significance doesn’t always translate into market success.
The Story Behind Carbon
Carbon was a reflection of everything I had written up to that point—a tapestry of poems that explored themes of identity, love, loss, and self-reflection. It was the most personal book I had created, and I approached it with the intention of sharing my inner world with readers.
I printed 250 copies, sticking to a smaller print run based on my previous experiences. But this time, something felt off. Despite my best efforts, the final product didn’t resonate the way I had hoped.
What Went Right
Personal Fulfillment: Carbon was a cathartic project for me. It allowed me to compile and reflect on my work, giving me a sense of closure and achievement.
Manageable Print Run: Printing 250 copies kept costs down and made inventory management simpler, which was a hard-earned lesson from my earlier books.
Creative Control: As with all my self-published books, I had complete creative freedom. The content was exactly what I wanted it to be—unfiltered and authentic.
What Went Wrong
Design Shortcomings: Despite my efforts, Carbon ended up feeling more like a glorified pamphlet than a highbrow poetry collection. The design didn’t match the depth of the content, and it lacked the visual appeal that could have elevated it.
Lack of Narrative Flow: The anthology format made the collection feel stitched together rather than cohesive. Without a clear narrative, readers found it harder to engage with the book as a whole.
Market Disconnect: Personal poetry collections are notoriously difficult to sell. While Carbon meant a lot to me, it didn’t have the universal appeal that had driven sales for my previous books.
Financial Loss: Unlike my earlier projects, Carbon didn’t break even. The costs outweighed the returns, making it a financial challenge.
Lessons Learned
Hold Your Art in High Regard: Just because a project is personal doesn’t mean you should cut corners. Every book deserves the same level of care and investment.
Narrative Matters: Even in poetry, readers crave a sense of flow and connection. A well-structured narrative can make a collection more engaging.
Market Demand is Crucial: No matter how much your work means to you, understanding your audience and their interests is key to commercial success.
Design Can Make or Break a Book: A beautifully designed book can elevate its content, while poor design can diminish even the most profound work.
Always Build Your Audience: One of my biggest regrets is not maintaining a mailing list from my previous books. Starting from scratch with each new project is exhausting. Build and nurture your audience continuously.
Reflections on Carbon
Carbon taught me humility. It reminded me that self-publishing isn’t just about putting your work out there—it’s about creating something that resonates with others. It also reinforced the importance of balancing personal expression with market realities.
As I think about future projects, I’m faced with a choice: continue self-publishing or seek out a publisher or agent. Whatever path I take, the lessons from my four books will guide me.
To those considering self-publishing: love your work fiercely but never lose sight of the audience you’re creating for. Invest in design, think about distribution, and build your community relentlessly.
What’s Next?
As I reflect on my self-publishing journey, I find myself standing at another crossroads. I’m currently working on a new creative project titled The Familiarity—a collection that explores the dynamics of long-term relationships through photography and poetry.
The Familiarity will delve into the interplay between family and familiarity, light and darkness, intimacy and distance. As I consider self-publishing this fifth book, I’m carrying forward every lesson learned from my previous projects: the importance of design, the value of a well-defined audience, and the need for a clear distribution strategy.
This time, I want to be even more intentional—not just in creating the work, but in how I share it with the world. Whether through self-publishing or seeking traditional publishing routes, my goal remains the same: to create art that resonates and to connect with readers who see themselves in my work.
So, what’s next? Another book, more lessons, and hopefully, a growing community of readers and writers who believe in the power of stories.
Very thorough. Thank you very much. Helps a lot
Thank you for being so honest about your journey. I learned quite a bit from your post. Much appreciated.