Seven weeks ago, this journey began with a bold idea: could I create and publish an illustrated, satirical Not for Kids (NFK) book in just one month? The answer was a resounding yes, and Sh*t, I Need a Job! was born. Along the way, I documented every step, offering insights and lessons learned to help others follow a similar path. This week, let’s take a moment to reflect on everything we’ve accomplished so far.
It all started with brainstorming and using a Mind Map to develop the core idea: a satirical, adult-themed children’s book about the chaos of job hunting. From fleshing out Bob, the relatable protagonist, to creating humorous scenarios like the Jungle of Job Listings and the Interview Monster, this week laid the foundation for the book’s tone and content.
With the story drafted, I turned to AI tools like DALL-E to create illustrations. This was a game-changer, allowing me to generate whimsical, professional-quality artwork without countless hours of creating the drawings in Adobe Illustrator or needing to hire an illustrator. Over the course of the week, I experimented with prompts, fine-tuned details, and ensured Bob’s design remained consistent across all pages.
Next came integrating the text and illustrations into a cohesive design. Using Adobe InDesign, I focused on balancing text and imagery, ensuring the layout flowed naturally and enhanced the humor. I also provided alternative software to use for those who may not own Adobe Creative Suite. By the end of this week, the book was nearly ready for publication.
In Week 4, the manuscript and illustrations were uploaded to Amazon KDP, Sh*t, I Need a Job! officially became available for purchase. This week also covered key aspects of self-publishing, such as pricing, file formatting, and selecting print and distribution options.
With the book published, the focus shifted to marketing. I leveraged social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to promote the book and began reaching out to podcasts for guest appearances. I also prioritized gathering Amazon reviews by giving away author copies in exchange for honest feedback.
In Week 6, I drafted and distributed a press release to media outlets and explored paid promotions to expand the book’s reach. I focused on Facebook Ads, creating a dedicated page for the book and running targeted campaigns to engage job seekers, recent graduates, and fans of humor.
For Facebook, I ran the ad for 7 days with a maximum of $10 max per day. At the end of the week, on the new author page I created, I had a total of 147 followers which equates to about $0.48 per follower.
This week, while I kept the Facebook Ads running, I continued to seek out interviews and podcasts using the AI written press release from last week.
Reflecting on these six weeks, here are some key takeaways:
- Planning Is Everything: Starting with a solid concept and roadmap made the process manageable.
- AI Is a Powerful Tool: From illustrations to press release drafting, AI proved invaluable in saving time and achieving professional results.
- Adaptability Is Key: Not every strategy worked as planned, but being flexible allowed me to pivot and explore new opportunities.
- Engagement Matters: Whether through social media or direct outreach, connecting with readers and supporters was crucial for building momentum.
While the journey of creating and publishing Sh*t, I Need a Job! has reached an exciting milestone, there’s still much to do. Over the next week and into the next year, I’ll dive deeper into ongoing marketing efforts, analyzing the performance of paid promotions, and exploring new platforms to reach even more readers. I am also contemplating on doing another book, this time showing how to use AI using a different platform than DALL-E.
Thank you for following along and being part of this journey. If you’ve been inspired to start your own project, I’d love to hear about it! Or if you need any help with bringing your book to Amazon, send me a message at: [email protected].
Let’s keep creating and pushing boundaries together!
