Chapter 1: The Beginning of My Writing Adventure

My path to writing success was filled with challenges. Transitioning from my initial draft to a polished manuscript of 90,000 words was no simple feat. In my early thirties, I immersed myself in non-fiction literature, focusing on genres such as personal development, business, creativity, writing, and psychology.

I explored timeless classics like The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, alongside contemporary hits like The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield, and Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg. During this period, I also dedicated myself to crafting THE BIG BOOK. However, fiction was never an option for me, as I realized that authors excel when they write what they are passionate about. For me, that passion lay in non-fiction.

Rising early at 5 AM for a full year, I worked on a book centered around creativity. My initial draft was a staggering 90,000 words long, surpassing the typical length of non-fiction works, which usually range from 50,000 to 70,000 words. To refine my draft, I hired a book editor, and we spent an entire month revising and condensing my chaotic first attempt.

In our discussions, I mentioned my plans for self-publishing. My editor suggested a fresh approach: instead of one lengthy book, I should divide my content into a trilogy focused on creativity. At the time, Amazon KDP had different guidelines, which made this idea feasible. I titled the series The Power of Creativity, targeting writers and artists.

The first book was available for free, and this strategy proved effective. The complimentary offering propelled sales of the subsequent volumes. Additionally, I created a combined version for readers interested in a single purchase, alongside a large print edition and an audiobook. To date, my creativity series has sold over 100,000 copies.

The key takeaway? Readers prefer various formats. Some enjoy lengthy reads, while others opt for shorter versions. Some favor Kindle, while others prefer printed books. Thus, it's wise to offer multiple formats for your work. Translation should also be considered—I should take my own advice and translate my book into Portuguese.

Interestingly, my book has gained popularity in Brazil, a phenomenon I struggle to understand. Amazon occasionally reaches out to see if I'd like to feature my work in exclusive promotions tailored for that market. My response? "Sim, Amazon, sim!"

Writing this book instilled in me the confidence that I could sustain myself through online writing. Perhaps I grew overly confident, as I was caught off guard when my subsequent work didn’t meet expectations. More on that tomorrow.

If you're interested, you can purchase the series directly from me. I utilized a platform called Payhip to set up my bookstore, allowing authors to earn a greater share by eliminating intermediaries like Amazon. Nonetheless, the first book is also available for free on Amazon.

Chapter 2: Achieving Success in Brazil

In this chapter, I delve deeper into my experiences with the Brazilian market and the unexpected success of my books.

This video showcases a talented singer-songwriter from South Brazil who is chasing his big dreams, paralleling my own ambitions in the literary world.

Here, you can enjoy the official music video for "Brazil" by Declan McKenna, reflecting the vibrant culture that has embraced my work.