Juggling two jobs, editing books, and marketing

I wanted to share a bit about my journey as a self-published author and the challenges I've faced along the way. Being an author is a dream come true, but the path to making it a reality is far from easy, especially when you’re juggling multiple responsibilities.

Balancing Two Jobs

By day, I work as a book translator, translating English to Indonesian and vice versa, and as a part-time teacher. Both jobs are rewarding in their own right, but they demand a lot of time and energy. Finding a balance between these two roles is challenging. Each job requires focus and dedication, which can sometimes leave me feeling drained. However, they also provide invaluable skills and experiences that enrich my writing.

Self-Editing My Novel

Editing is a crucial part of the writing process. Ideally, I would hire a professional editor to help polish my work. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, I have to self-edit my novels. As a middle-class Indonesian with an underpaid salary, hiring a legitimate British English editor from the UK is beyond my current budget. Even the more affordable editors I've found are still out of reach. So, for now, I rely on my own skills and the feedback from generous reviewers to improve my manuscript. It’s a tedious and often frustrating process, but it’s also incredibly rewarding to see my work evolve.

Marketing My Debut Novel

Marketing is another significant challenge. As a self-published author, I don’t have the backing of a big publishing house to promote my book. Instead, I rely on social media platforms like Instagram and Blogger to share my journey and engage with potential readers. It’s a slow process, and sometimes it feels like I’m shouting into the void. But every like, comment, and share means the world to me. It’s a sign that someone, somewhere, is interested in my story.

The Bigger Picture

Despite the challenges, I remain hopeful and determined. Each step, no matter how small, brings me closer to my dream. I hope to one day gather enough funds to hire a professional editor and republish my books as revised versions. Until then, I will continue to juggle my jobs, self-edit my novels, and market my work with all the passion and dedication I can muster.

How do you handle these kinds of juggling? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.