How to Self Publish Your First Book with Derek Siddoway

Derek Siddoway has self-published 18 fantasy novels in the past 12 years.

And he's already working on the next one.

In this conversation, Jack and Derek unpack how Derek turned a passion for writing fiction into income.

We explore his journey of writing, particularly in the fantasy genre, making money as a fantasy novel writer, writing tips for new and seasoned writers, his current transition from fiction to ghostwriting (and even writing and building his own brand on LinkedIn).

Derek shares on balancing writing with a day job and family life, the importance of building a personal brand on LinkedIn, and some ways he uses AI in his writing and marketing workflow.

Chapters & Time Stamps

00:00 Derek's Journey of a Writer

09:01 Turning fiction into income: how to make money as a fantasy writer

16:00 Balancing Writing Books and Content with Life

31:55 How to Build a Personal Brand as a Writer (from scratch)

40:16 The Journey of Commitment and Small Wins in Writing Online

46:54 He Derek has Shifted from Fiction to Impactful, Educational Social Media Writing

52:52 His Advice for Aspiring Writers

01:00:01 How He uses AI in Writing