The Hesitation

In various aspects of writing, especially in fiction where my true passion lies, I often find myself reluctant to advance. It’s not the act of writing that holds me back, but rather the daunting prospect of sharing and publishing my work, particularly through self-publishing.

Although I recognize the merits of self-publishing and respect those who take that route, I can't help but feel attracted to the allure of traditional publishing. Moreover, I understand that self-publishing can be more challenging than it appears and may limit future publishing opportunities for untested material. Thus, approaching this option impulsively is not something I can afford.

However, the time has come to act before I feel completely ready.

The Shift in Perspective

As someone who is naturally introverted, values privacy, and tends to lean towards meticulous planning over spontaneity—while also grappling with anxiety—it's evident that there will always be tasks I never feel entirely "ready" to tackle. I must face my fears, push myself beyond my comfort zone, and simply do it.

This doesn't imply that I will leap into action without any preparation. Instead, it signifies the necessity to take steps forward without waiting for absolute confidence or the perfect circumstances. I must trust that even in failure, there are valuable lessons to be gleaned.

In the realm of creativity and writing, one must often take action before feeling fully prepared. There will always be more to learn, and your work may never seem quite up to your standards. The intimidation of making business decisions can overshadow your artistic pursuits, and the fear of taking control can be far greater than the hope of landing a lucrative publishing deal.

Instead of waiting indefinitely, I urge you to write that ambitious narrative, submit to contests, share your work online, pitch to editors, or even self-publish. Follow your unique writing journey—perhaps with caution and thoughtful planning—but never wait for perfection.

The Path Forward

I plan to self-publish several of my short stories—both as standalone pieces and in small collections—through Kindle Direct Publishing. These works will primarily consist of stories that have already appeared in literary markets, ensuring I won’t lose out on opportunities for untested material. This approach presents a relatively low-risk, low-reward scenario, as I don’t anticipate my short stories becoming breakout hits.

So why pursue this if I expect minimal returns? Alongside the motivating quote I mentioned, I came across an insightful article on Medium that suggested publishing shorter works on Amazon as a way to gain experience. This perspective helped me solidify my decision. I’m eager to navigate the entire process—formatting, cover design, user agreements, and more—to demystify it and acquire hands-on experience. Ultimately, I want to bolster my confidence for larger projects down the line.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you, essentially putting my words into action as I embark on this Path to Publishing Short Stories.

Paths to Publishing Short Stories Your options on where and how to publish your short fiction

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The Commitment

By writing this article, even though my idea is still in its infancy, I am holding myself accountable. I’m sharing this with you as a commitment to follow through.

This is my way of starting before I feel ready.

Margery Bayne is a librarian by day and a writer by night, much like a superhero, but with more paper cuts.