Beyond Boundaries: How I Became a Self-Published Author at Eleven

Do you love writing? Do you tremble with joy when metaphors and similes land in your work like sprinkles on cupcakes? Do you have a dream or a great desire to show your work to the world? If so, then you are on the right page. 

If anyone ever tells you that a child isn’t mature enough, isn’t smart enough, or doesn’t have enough life experience to write a book, they are far from right. Ignore their words because you can do anything you set your mind to. Anne Frank started writing her diary when she was thirteen and it still pulls on our heartstrings. S.E. Hinton began writing The Outsiders at fifteen, a powerful book about fitting in that is still part of the middle school curriculum in 2024. At twelve, Alexander Pope wrote the famous introspective poem “Ode on Solitude.” So why should being young hold you back from being a writer?

When I was ten-years-old, COVID-19 bombarded Canada. The next thing I knew, I was studying online with only the four walls of my room to keep me company. At the time, I used reading as an escape from the loneliness and boredom of the pandemic. In the vast sea of books I read, a realization came to me: I could write a novel.

That is when I started writing my historical fiction novel, Miles of Legends. At the time, I had recently finished reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and fell in love with the concept of historical adventure novels. The novel’s protagonists are 19-year-old Luiz Balasco and his twin sister Lucille. Their lives change forever when a ship of illegal fur traders sails towards their homeland in the crystal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Tired of their tedious life on a Spanish farm, they join the crew and embark on a perilous journey to explore the New World, or Canada as it’s called now.

At school, we were learning about the War of the Spanish Succession, a pivotal event in Europe and North America’s history. I was fascinated by the topic, which is why I decided to center my story around this significant turning point. I spent hours researching it to gain an in-depth understanding of the topic. 

It took an entire year, but my masterpiece was finally completed in 2021 at just under 50,000 words.

I was nearing grade 6 after finishing the long, dreadful, but rewarding, self-editing process. Throughout writing the novel, my skills improved limitlessly, to the point where I had to edit the beginning to adjust it to the newly developed writing style at the end. After polishing my book as best as possible, my parents and I decided to explore professional editing opportunities. We settled on a price, and I received unbiased and beneficial feedback.

Once I was satisfied with the novel and considered my editor’s feedback, my family and I discussed our options. I could either self-publish it or pursue traditional publishing. We settled on self-publishing because it was a great introduction to the publishing world for a young author. I felt I needed to see a result, but I also wanted to improve my writing before attempting traditional publishing. Self-publishing was a good compromise.

We decided to publish on Kindle Direct Publishing. For this, I needed the help of my parents because there are restrictions for those under 18. We made an account and provided the necessary information. I wrote a compelling synopsis and designed an eye-catching cover using Canva. If you are thinking of choosing self-publishing, I suggest creating your own book cover using designing platforms. The cover is part of advertising and you know your book better than anyone.

The pride I felt once it was published was indescribable. Never throughout this journey had I truly seen the extraordinary accomplishment in front of my eyes. The moment I searched the name of my novel and saw the results of hours of endless work, changed me.

When I saw the cover of my novel on a website, I gained more confidence, self-esteem, and persistence. I felt like a true author. 

I advise aspiring young authors to never abandon a project. You spent so many hours. You poured your imagination into creating a different world. Even though you likely won’t become famous from your first book, and even though your book probably won’t sell a lot, self-publishing is an optimal start for your writing career. You will have a portfolio for future agents, which is a big asset. You will finally regain your motivation to continue expanding your vision for storytelling. Remember, age is just a number. Never doubt the remarkable power of creative writing.