In this blog, I’ll share what parts of my self-publishing journey I’m tackling myself and what I’m outsourcing.
When I first started writing my memoirs, I quickly decided to self-publish. Right after that, I decided I was going to do everything myself.
Part of that is a trauma response—I handle everything on my own because I can only trust myself to do things the way I want them done and on my timeline.
However, another part of me had this naive idea that I could be the Black author version of Eric Barone. Barone, the creator of one of my favourite games—Stardew Valley—not only solo-programmed the game but also created the music, wrote the dialogue, did all the artwork and animations, and self-published it.
I can do that too! I told myself on Day 1.
🚧 The Reality Check
However, I quickly realized a few things:
- 🕔 Five years of work: Eric Barone spent nearly half a decade creating Stardew Valley.
- 💪 Relentless schedule: He worked 10 hours a day, seven days a week.
- 🎨 Diverse skills: He already had expertise in programming, art, writing, animation, and composing.
- 🎯 Mastery through practice: He invested extra time refining those skills to achieve perfection.
I want to release my memoir within a year. I’m still working a full-time job; I’m married, I have four cats to raise, and a social life. I don’t have 10 hours a day, seven days a week, to devote to this. Plus, I don’t have strong enough design or audio production skills or the time (or desire) to learn them.
⚖️ Could I DIY Everything? Technically, Yes. But Should I?
- 🎨 Book Cover: I could use AI and Canva free trials… but would it have that bookstore-quality feel? Probably not.
- 🎙️ Audiobook: I could record it myself… but do I have the time, equipment, and voice skills?
So, early on, I compromised: I’ll DIY what I can and outsource what I should.
🛠️ What I’m Doing Myself
I feel confident handling these tasks because of my background, experience, and passion for learning—especially in writing, editing, and digital creation.
✅ ✍️ Writing: Obviously! The heart of this project is mine alone.
✅ 📝 Editing: Thanks to my experience in editing and tools like Grammarly!
✅ 📖 Formatting: I have software to format the book’s interior.
✅ 🌐 Website: I built my author website (shoutout to my 2004 Myspace HTML skills!).
✅ 📣 Marketing: I plan to handle my social media promotions myself.
✅ 📚 Publishing: I will self-publish on Amazon and other platforms.
💼 What I’m Outsourcing
I’m outsourcing these tasks because I value the expertise professionals bring. Their specialized skills will elevate my book’s quality beyond what I can achieve alone, making it more polished and professional.
💳 🎨 Cover Design: I’ve hired an illustrator for my book cover—and I’m so excited about the design! (I pitched to 11 different illustrators before finding the perfect match!)
💳 🎙️ Audiobook Production: I’ll hire a narrator through Audible’s ACX program. (Truthfully, I’m still deciding on this…)
💳 📑 Beta Readers: Close friends, family, and experienced beta readers will provide valuable feedback.
💳 ✔️ Final Copy Edit (Optional): I may hire a copy editor for a final polish.
💡 The Bottom Line
This experience is shaping my memoir and building my confidence as a self-published author (and a business—I’m creating my own business and brand now!).
💰 I track my budget diligently in an Excel spreadsheet.
⚖️ I balance my dream of DIY-ing everything with the reality of limited time and skills.
This process has taught me that it’s okay to focus on my strengths—writing my story—and let professionals help with everything else.
🗨️ What About You?
Would you ever self-publish? What parts of the process would you DIY, and what would you outsource? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please share them in the comments below. 💬👇