How I got started in the literary world:

I wrote a book, sent out queries, and I found an agent who got me a small publishing contract that turned out not to be the best fit for me, so I paid $2,000 to get my rights back and published it myself.

What happened?

At that point, I began to learn. I wanted to learn marketing to make my books do well, and to learn writing, to make better books. I wrote and shelved probably six books. With the end of each one, I had the idea for the next book, and instead of editing the book I’d finished, I set it aside and began the next one. The better one. Each book I wrote was better than the last as I learned craft and editing. I put several first drafts on Wattpad, just for fun and they actually did okay.

I started going to conferences and joining groups, like Saavy Authors, Missouri Writer’s Guild, Kansas City Writer’s Guild, and Nebraska Writer’s Guild. I entered into my first writing contest, Ink & Insights 2016, and made it into the top ten winners at number 8.

My second book launched as a #1 New Release, but I didn’t know how to keep it there, so it slid right down the charts. So, I got online, and I learned more about marketing. I learned the value of keywords and categories and covers.

My third book stayed a #1 New Release for a month, as did the following few books. So I wrote a book for authors about how to rank well on KDP.

What now?

Altogether, I plan to put out about 10 books in the next three years. Depending on my cover artist and what I can afford and when. It’s a huge goal and it makes me kinda sick to think about it, but if your goals don’t intimidate you, they aren’t big enough. That’s what I’ve always been taught. I’ve got my goal poster on the wall, and I’m ready to focus on my writing career.

Being a literary agent and publishing house editor has given me a love for authors, as well as being one myself. I want to help other authors succeed and to do that, I need to get there.

I have set aside my publishing house job, and I am doing editing under my own company name (www.frontpageediting.com), I am occasionally a professional editor for Reedsy, and now focusing on writing for myself. So, I am really excited about this new chapter of my writing career. I even hope to get back to blogging my journey. Follow me at: www.jenniferhaskin.com/blog.

*I am always writing a new book and need all the help I can get. So, if you enjoy beta reading and/or leaving reviews, contact me any time for free copies. I hope you enjoy all my books! But I’d love to hear what you think either way.