Why I Decided to Self-Publish My Poetry Book.

For as long as I can remember — even back in elementary school — I’ve written poetry. I still own the small books our school helped us create in first grade, filled with the cute, rhyming verses I crafted as a child. My love for words began early, and over the past thirty-some years, that passion has only deepened as I’ve continued to write and explore the power of language.

Stacks of loose-leaf pages, composition notebooks, and digital files overflow with poems capturing my thoughts, feelings, and the moments that shaped me. Yet, for years, I hesitated to share my work. I dreamt of becoming a published poet, but fear held me back. My fears of people wouldn’t like what I had to say or would judge the raw emotions I expressed during my lowest points. I doubted whether I even counted as a “real” poet.

I procrastinated endlessly while researching journals, magazines, and websites where I could submit my poems, making lists of potential publications but never sending anything in.

In college, I took a small step forward and submitted a few poems to my school’s literary journal. To my surprise, some were accepted. While the experience felt validating, it also felt bittersweet. “This is just a school journal,” I told myself. “It’s not the real world. Not a ‘real’ publisher.” Doubts crept back in, and I shelved my poetry once again.

Years passed. My indecision frustrated me, as did watching my words collect dust in notebooks and files instead of reaching readers. I could have sent my manuscripts to publishers and waited months for responses, but the fear of rejection kept me from taking the plunge.

Eventually, something shifted. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment, but one day, I realized I didn’t need anyone else’s permission to share my work. The idea of self-publishing appealed to me — the freedom to present my poetry exactly as I envisioned it, with no edits or compromises. I wanted my voice to remain pure, accompanied by a cover design that reflected my vision.

Once I embraced self-publishing, I never looked back. In 2022, I uploaded my manuscript to Amazon and held my breath as I hit “publish.” Just like that, I achieved something I’d only dreamed of for years: my very own self-published poetry collection.

It wasn’t just about seeing my name in print. It was about finally stepping past fear, trusting my voice, and sharing my story — on my own terms.

If you’re interested in my poetry collection it is available on Amazon in paperback or kindle version. 

This article was originally published on Medium. Click here to see it.