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The Write It Scared Podcast
A podcast to help fiction writers work through self-doubt and learn the craft of writing a novel.
The Write It Scared Podcast
Should You Self-Publish Your Novel? A Conversation with Libby Waterford
Self-publishing isn’t a shortcut nor a consolation prize. It’s a publishing model that works well for some writers and not at all for others.
Today, I’m joined by Libby Waterford, a prolific romance author and self-publishing educator with more than twenty books published across pen names.
We break down what self-publishing actually involves: the costs writers don’t always anticipate, the level of control and responsibility it requires, and how marketing, timelines, and long-term goals factor into whether it’s a good fit for you.
This episode is about education and understanding your options, asking questions, and making intentional decisions about your writing career based on your long-term goals
Timestamps
01:43 Meet Libby Waterford
05:28 Why Libby chose self-publishing after being with a traditional publisher
08:47 Pros and cons of self-publishing
16:38 The advantages of being your own publisher
23:09 Budgeting and essential costs
27:09 Marketing, ROI, and sustainability
38:53 Advice for new authors
41:07 What Libby’s working on next and education resources
Guest Bio:
Libby Waterford is the author of Sawyer's Cove, the Reboot, and The Never A Bride Contemporary Romance Series, and under her other pen name, Elle Waters, writes steamy Small Town Gay Romance. A former president of the Connecticut Chapter of Romance Writers of America, Libby is also a self-publishing coach and instructor at the Westport Writers Workshop in Westport, Connecticut, where she teaches classes on genre fiction and self-publishing.
Links
https://libbywaterford.com/,
https://www.instagram.com/libbywritesromance/,
https://ellewatersbooks.substack.com/
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