I would even go so far as to say that writing the story is the easiest part, at least for me.
I've heard of the term "Authorepeuneur" and a few similar like this (say that term fast three times) and it's so true. Because when you're a self published author, you're trying to build a business.
Here is a list of just some of the things you need to do
Build a brand
Write and edit (if you're like me and select other areas for your available budget, you learn to edit yourself)
Select a creative partner for your book covers and other creative requirements
Establish your ARC team
Build a social media and paid media strategy
Adapt based on your learnings
I'm sure there are other things I'm forgetting from this list, but you get the point that there is a lot that needs to be done.
Out of all these items, editing is probably the area I've struggled with the most in the past, and I still do to this day. But I don't want this to discourage you, because while this is hard, it's also some of the most rewarding work I've ever done. That moment where everything in the story comes together, that's where the magic really happens.
For example, if I look at my main character Riley, in War of the Witch Clans, after I completed my first draft of the story, she was a bit of a whiny brat. I didn’t mean for it to end up that way, but with some of the scenes where I had tried to convey emotion, that’s how she came across. After a couple of editing rounds, I can tell you I’m much happier with her character.
This is the power of editing, so never take this step for granted.
As Indie Authors, this is the part we usually struggle with the most, and I’m thoroughly enjoying this process of helping someone else shape their story. This leads me to think that I can potentially offer editing as a limited service in future. If this is something you would be interested in, you can let me know here.
I’ve been asked what does a budget look like for a self published author, and this really depends on who you ask. But for me, right now, while I finance everything, my fixed costs are:
Creative: 200 euros
Publishing tools: 100 euros (Book Sprout, Publish Drive, Website, etc)
Paid media: 100 euros
On ad hoc months, I could do expenses like Book Tours which depending on various factors could be a few hundred euros. While I have limited budget, I try and allocate it towards things I can’t do, and everything else within my skill set, I do.
But just because this works for me, doesn’t mean it will work for another self published author. Think of this as a guideline, or a starting point.
I hope this helps and happy reading!