In the ever-evolving landscape of publishing, the rise of self-publishing has empowered countless writers to take control of their creative destinies. For many, it begins with a story waiting to be told—often shaped by personal experiences, creative instincts, and a willingness to navigate uncharted territory. In this conversation, I spoke with an Author Mr. Harish C. Rijhwani, who transitioned from the setbacks of a shelved traditional publishing project during engineering days to becoming a self-published writer of six books.
Through this candid interview, we explore what motivated him to self-publish, how his expectations measured up against reality, and what he learned along the way—from mastering Amazon keywords and design tools to overcoming writer’s block and building creative discipline. His journey is not just about publishing books—it’s about resilience, continuous learning, and carving out a space in the crowded world of content through authenticity and strategic thinking.
For anyone considering self-publishing or struggling with the fear of judgment, this conversation offers both inspiration and actionable insights.
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What motivated you to self-publish your first book, and how did your expectations compare to the reality of that experience?
During my engineering days, I was set to be a co-author of a book, but due to strategic reasons, the book never got published. However, the experience provided me with a good idea of how traditional publishing works. Later, I started self-publishing my books and came to understand the various elements of publishing beyond writing and reviewing the manuscript. In self-publishing, you have to be self-driven to achieve the goal you have set for yourself.
Were there any misconceptions you had about self-publishing when you started out?
As I went through the self-publishing process, I found the process is structured. The key element that I learned is that writing and publishing a book becomes easy as you understand the process. However, selling it requires more patience, due diligence, and resilience.
How did your understanding evolve?
Having self-published six books, I understood the importance of seven Amazon keywords, leveraging advertising, and the importance of the book cover. Editing the book is a crucial aspect of the overall writing process. Leveraging tools like KDP Rocket, which helps decide the best possible keywords (these keywords help decipher how end users are searching books on Amazon).
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Do you follow a specific writing routine to stay productive, and what strategies do you use to overcome writer’s block or creative fatigue?
I usually take a break from writing, which helps keep my mind fresh and focused. However, when I start writing, I keep a target in mind. The target can be as simple as a deadline to complete the first draft of the book or even a goal to ensure each chapter is around 2000 words. By doing so, it helps me stay focused on my writing.
How do you balance creative freedom with discipline during the writing and editing stages?
Small goals help me stay grounded as I focus on writing 500 words daily, which in turn supports the bigger goal of completing my novel, which typically spans around 50,000 words. My writing is based on experiences, and the fun part is how I try to make it relevant and interesting. Because the experience is conveyed in just one sentence, but the creativity lies in depicting a scene of interaction in depth. I have also started actively using poetry in my writing, which helps bring a fun factor to my writing.
What were the biggest hurdles you faced in your first self-publishing experience, and how did you navigate technical aspects like formatting, cover design, or ISBNs as a beginner?
Understanding the self-publishing process itself was a new experience for me. I wasn’t aware of many elements that we fill as part of the book publishing process on Amazon. The most significant setback I faced was that Amazon doesn’t have a print-on-demand option for the Indian market. The first three books I published initially only had a Kindle version, and Kindle’s market penetration in India is low. Readers may not be aware that they can read a book on a Kindle App and they don’t need a Kindle device. I implemented the print option (in India) only after three years, because that’s when I realized I needed to utilize local print-on-demand options, such as Pothi and others. Amazon provides a free ISBN, especially for print options across its markets. However, for India, I understood the process a bit later, but it’s pretty straightforward once you get the idea.
Looking back, what would you have done differently in your early publishing attempts?
From a publishing point of view, I would have thought of involving a designer early in the process; that’s the only thing I would change if I had the option to go back.
As a self-published author, how do you mentally and emotionally handle negative reviews or criticism, and can you share an instance when feedback significantly influenced your future writing?
The simplest way to deal with it is to learn. If you feel the review is relevant, then work on it and improve. I have a simple motto: There is always someone better than you, and there is something we can learn from any feedback. When you receive negative feedback, yes, you might feel dejected or anxious at times, but remember, a combination of positive and negative reviews makes the feedback genuine.
What advice would you give to authors who are afraid of putting their work out there due to fear of judgment?
Just believe in yourself; don’t wait for perfection. Even Windows software had a Windows 98 version, and it evolved over the years. The more you write, the more you will learn.
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What are the top three pieces of advice you’d give to writers considering self-publishing today?
- Involve a cover designer in your self-publishing process.
- Invest in tools like Publisher Rocket, which can help you decide the relevant keywords for Amazon.
- Keep it simple and continue evolving in your writing journey.
How important is building an author platform or brand in achieving long-term success as a self-published writer?
I believe it is essential because, as a self-published author, you need to build your own brand (which won’t happen), and that can happen when you are focused and keep at it.
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