From Idea to Upload:

Here’s a little publishing secret no one wants to admit:
The books I throw together on a whim?
They’re the ones that actually work.

I’m not saying I don’t love a good plan. I’ve spent hours mapping out the perfect activity book — researching layouts, designing pages just right, stressing over every little element. And you know what happens?
Crickets.
The dreaded “0 sales” stretch that makes you question all your life choices.

But then there are the other books.
The “I woke up and decided to make a math book today” books.
The “sure, why not a birthday-themed word search” books.
Those books?
Done in a day. Uploaded the next.
And somehow… they sell.

Here’s what I’ve learned (the hard way):

The more time I spend overthinking a book, the less likely it is to launch.
And even when it does, it rarely lands the way I hoped.

But when I follow the spark — that impulsive idea, that gut feeling, that “wouldn’t it be fun if…” — things flow. The work feels lighter. The vision stays clear. And more often than not, readers actually respond.

My Actual, Unfiltered Workflow:

• Step 1: Panic or Coffee (sometimes both)
  A new day, a new fire to put out. But in between school buses and caregiving, I get a thought. A theme. A title. A vibe. I scribble it down.
• Step 2: Build the Book
  I don’t use Canva much — I’m more of a PowerPoint + BookBolt + Cloudorka kind of creator. It’s scrappy, but it works. I build puzzle pages, drop in some doodle borders or bold fonts, and don’t look back.
• Step 3: Don’t Overthink It (Seriously, Karen, Don’t)
  I resist the urge to make it “fancier.”
  I skip the deep dive into keyword rabbit holes.
  I keep the vision simple and let the book be what it is.
• Step 4: Upload It, Then Walk Away
  No fussing. No self-doubt spiral.
  Just a quiet click on “publish” and a quick post about it on Facebook.

And somehow, those books do better than the ones I’ve planned for months.

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Why does this happen? I have theories:

• I’m not trying to force an idea.
• I’m staying in my lane and making books that are fun for me.
• The creative energy stays fresh because I don’t wring it dry.
• I’m not chasing trends — I’m following curiosity.

And honestly? That’s the version of KDP I want to keep doing.

The version where I trust my gut.
Where not everything needs to be optimized, polished, or perfect.
Where I create because I want to, not just because I think I “should.”

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Final Thought:

Maybe the magic isn’t in the hours of prep or the perfect layout.
Maybe the magic is just… starting.

So here’s your nudge:
If you’ve been overthinking a book idea for weeks (or months), try letting go.
And if you wake up tomorrow thinking “hey, what if I made a joke book about squirrels?” — maybe that’s the book you’re meant to finish.

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Tell me:
Are you an overthinker or an on-the-spot creator?
👇 Drop your answer in the comments — I promise not to overanalyze it. 😉