Real Talk on Self-Publishing—LWS panel (25 Sept)
On September 25, 2025 I’m looking forward to participating in a London Writers’ Salon Real Talk on Self Publishing panel with fellow indie author Martin Lake. Martin is a seasoned author with 25 fiction books under his belt. Meanwhile OVERRIDE! What if there was another way? is my non-fiction book that has been in the world for a year and a half.
Here’s the LWS listing for anyone who wants to join:
What does it really take to succeed as an indie author? How do you choose the right platform, build a readership, and keep going when you’re your own publisher?
In this candid panel, self-published authors pull back the curtain on the indie publishing process. They’ll share hard-won lessons from the first draft to the finished book, comparing experiences with platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing, Lulu, and IngramSpark, as well as the editorial, design, marketing, and mindset choices that made the difference.
Whether you’re considering self-publishing for the first time or looking to level up your approach, you’ll gain insight into the creative and business decisions that can help your book find its audience.
We’ll explore:
How to choose the right editor and designer for your project
Whether you need to build an audience before publishing
Platform pros and cons: KDP, Lulu, IngramSpark
How to create a memorable book event (inspired by The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker)
Keeping your motivation through the self-publishing journey
Recommended tools and resources from each author
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There’s SO much to share, I’ll update this post after the talk.
In the meantime, here are some posts I’m likely to reference that highlight my experience:
The book! OVERRIDE! What if there was another way? 📓: http://override-book.com
Favourite resources for self-publishing: https://www.anneditmeyer.com/biz-blog/2024/11/21/my-favorite-resources-for-self-publishing
Why I decided to self-publish rather than go traditional: http://overridebook.substack.com/p/why-i-decided-to-self-publish-rather
OVERRIDE! Events + podcasts: https://www.anneditmeyer.com/biz-blog/category/override+events
OVERRIDE launch party: https://www.anneditmeyer.com/biz-blog/2024/4/26/how-to-create-a-memorable-and-meaningful-book-launch-event
OVERRIDE launch party (video): https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ_gDBqNt4h/
Public book party at Messy Nessy’s cabinet: https://www.anneditmeyer.com/biz-blog/2024/6/18/book-signing-banana-map-event-at-messy-nessys-cabinet-paris-july-3
Celebrating 1 year of OVERRIDE!: Celebrating 1 year of OVERRIDE!: https://www.anneditmeyer.com/biz-blog/2025/5/23/1-year-of-override
OVERRIDE! Substack to continue the conversation: https://overridebook.substack.com/
1st Sunday of the month banana mapping for Substack subscribers: https://overridebook.substack.com/p/youre-invited-come-banana-map-with
OVERRIDE Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/overridebook
(I cross posts all my Instagram posts on my primary account to increase visibility: https://www.instagram.com/pretavoyager)