A Day in the Life of a Self-Published Author

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

I used to have a stressful 9-5 job as a lawyer, one in which my daily routine was largely dictated by boards of trustees, federal court rules, and the Internal Revenue Code (yes, in case you’re wondering, I also involuntarily shudder when I read the words “internal revenue code”).

For those of you familiar with the American businessman and educator, Stephen Covey, it was a life lived in “Quadrant One.”

Did I eat breakfast? No.

Did I repeatedly practice difficult conversations in the shower? Yes.

Did I meditate or write in a gratitude journal? No.

Did I wake up with headaches from grinding my teeth all night? Yes.

It wasn’t healthy or fulfilling, and I had always wanted to be a writer, so in 2020, I followed the nudge and started writing a novel. In 2022, while still working at the law firm, I self-published my first book, a historical fiction adventure called Tears of Chios.

On December 31, 2022, I left my old job and embarked on a new career as a self-published author. To date, I’ve self-published two historical fiction novels, and the third in the series is being released on July 31, 2025. I also managed to win a publishing contest in 2023, and wrote a book on using lessons learned from Shakespeare to improve mental health.

I can’t say that the transition was particularly easy. Adjusting to living outside of Stephen Covey’s Quadrant One takes effort, but it’s worth it.

Now my days are very different. I’m plenty busy, but in a way that feels creative and energizing.

I wake up without an alarm after a night of restful sleep.

I drink coffee with my husband, Dave, while he does crossword puzzles and I peruse my calendar.

I meditate and set my intentions for the day, often sharing them with my sister, who does the same.

I like writing in the morning, so I head into my home office and start working on scenes. I’m a plotter, not a pantser, so I also enjoy making a spreadsheet of scenes or a beat sheet to give me an idea of where my story is going before I dig into the writing. Making character sketches is also a fun way to flesh out my characters’ needs, wants, and physicality in a way that (hopefully) makes them jump off the page.

Scene writing brings a bonus: because I write historical fiction, I do tons of research to make sure I’m getting the time period, language, geography, and details of daily life right.

Below are some questions I’ve found myself typing into search bars:

1. Is chamomile an ingredient in Menorcan gin?

2. What’s the difference between a brig and a snow?

3. Was “zounds” a curse word in the 1700s?

4. How did British merchants curl their periwigs?

5. When did the name for the left-hand side of a ship change from larboard to port?

6. What was the moon phase on the evening of September 9, 1767?

7. How long did it take to sail from Menorca to Corsica in the 18^th century?

8. Is fig jam a traditional Menorcan garnish for oliagua?

I’m using the same research techniques I honed over decades as an attorney, but it’s much more enjoyable to spend hours exploring 18^th century Menorcan cuisine and sailor epithets than trying to parse the meaning of the phrase “substantially equal periodic payments” for the purpose of determining whether a tax penalty or one of several convoluted safe harbor formulas applies to a participant-elected non-retirement distribution from a qualified plan. Blech!

After I’ve spent the morning writing new scenes or editing old scenes, I (audible gasp) step away from my computer and eat lunch.

I fully realize that it is a gift to be able to make lunch when I’m going to eat it (as opposed to 6 or 12 hours before I’m going to eat it), and then leisurely gaze out the window at the squirrels and birds hopping by while I enjoy the mid-day meal.

After lunch I work on the craft of writing, usually watching videos or reading books written by authors who give advice on a myriad of topics: storytelling, building tension and stakes in scenes, creating relatable characters, developing intertwining story arcs, constructing exciting events that move the plot forward, honing a unique POV, and reinforcing well-written tropes that readers of each genre come to expect.

This part is akin to learning a foreign language, and it’s really fun!

Several days a week I participate in calls with other authors, where we discuss what we’re working on, share insights on the writing process, and talk about our favorite books and writers. We read and review each other’s books, serve as ARC and beta readers, share tips and tricks we’ve learned through our research, and promote each other’s work in any way we can. The community of self-published authors is vibrant and inspiring!

These days, I also have time for exercise, be it a jog, a hike, a swim, or a workout at the local gym, before planning and enjoying the evening meal with my husband.

In the evening, I run my chapters through a text-to-speech program so I can hear what I’ve written. It really helps to show where the gaps or awkward sentences are lurking, and it brings the book to life as I hear my own words read back to me like a personalized childhood bedtime story.

I go to sleep feeling fulfilled and supported, excited for what the next day will bring.

For other indie authors out there, what is your routine? Do you have a set schedule, or do you let the day unfold organically?