I Published a Book at Sixteen and Here’s How I Did It by Claire Fraise

March 4, 2023 | By Women Writers Women Books | Reply More

I Published a Book at Sixteen and Here’s How I Did It by Claire Fraise, Author of Imperfect and the They Stay series

When I was sixteen and I told people about my plan to publish my YA dystopian novel, I was met with many different reactions. That is so exciting! You must be so proud of yourself. Are you sure you want to start publishing so early?

I understand where the last question was coming from. Published authors were quick to warn me that I might be embarrassed by this book when I got older and became capable of writing better, more complex stories. Even though this warning made me nervous, I put my fears aside and published the book anyway. It ended up being one of the most enriching experiences of my life.

WHY I PUBLISHED A BOOK

I began writing Imperfect when I was thirteen. I finished it when I was fifteen, and self-published it a couple of weeks after my sixteenth birthday using Amazon’s CreateSpace.

My goal for publishing was not to sell a million copies. I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the publishing process. I always knew I wanted to be an author. This was not going to be the last book I wrote or published, and I couldn’t wait to start pursuing my goals.

HOW I PUBLISHED THE BOOK

Once you have a goal, you can begin the process of publishing. Here is what I did, broken down into six steps.

Step 1: Write the book

This is the most important step. It is also the hardest. When I wrote Imperfect, I didn’t know very much about writing craft. I knew nothing about voice. I used too many adverbs. I didn’t understand the intricacies of POV, or how to differentiate between show vs tell, but it didn’t
matter. I wrote the story I loved, and I finished it. There is so much advice about writing out there. If you try to learn everything there is to know about writing, you will get overwhelmed, so just start writing and write the book all the way until the end.

Step 2: Decide on a publishing platform

I used Amazon’s CreateSpace (now Kindle Direct Publishing) to publish Imperfect, but there are so many options out there. Because I was new to the indie publishing game, I decided to start with one platform before branching out to others, but now I also use IngramSpark to print and distribute my current series.

Step 3: Edit the book

I used Amazon’s built-in editing, formatting, and cover design services for Imperfect. I was mostly satisfied with these services, but Amazon doesn’t offer them anymore, so currently, I work with freelance editors and designers for my books. You don’t need to hire professional editors, formatters, or cover designers, but it helps your book look more professional. To find freelancers, look at the copyright or acknowledgments sections of your favorite books and see whom those authors worked with. Join Facebook groups. Run Google
Searches. I use software called Vellum to format my books and it is fantastic.

Step 4: Publish the book

Uploading everything to CreateSpace was easy. I made a step-by-step video about how to upload to Amazon’s KDP on my YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOLMODU6fis&t=1248s

Step 5: Make a marketing plan

Getting people to buy your book can be tricky, but it’s a critically important part of being an author. There are many resources out there for authors learning how to market. I recommend listening to podcasts, reading books, joining Facebook groups, and watching YouTube videos. Some of my favorite resources are the podcast Six Figure Authors, the book Newsletter Ninja by Tammi Labreque, and Chris Fox’s YouTube Channel. You don’t have to do everything people recommend in these resources. Choose one or two things to focus on, and make sure one of those things is a newsletter because that’s your most powerful marketing tool as an author.

Step 6: Follow through on the marketing plan

This one is hard. But there’s no point in making a marketing plan if you don’t actually do
it.

DO I RECOMMEND IT?

Yes, but only if you treat it like a learning experience and take it seriously. Publishing a book was scary. Lots of people ended up reading Imperfect. Some people wrote me wonderful emails sharing how much they loved it, and others wrote scathing reviews about how much they hated it that made me cry for five days. I learned so much about putting myself out there, advocating for my story, and taking ownership of something I created.

I’m so glad I started publishing early. Even though Imperfect is not as good of a book as I can write today, that doesn’t mean it is not worth sharing. Many readers loved Imperfect. I have readers now who discovered me through Imperfect and have followed my career ever since.

You don’t have to publish a book in high school to be an author. But I did, and I don’t regret it.

For interviews with teen authors and more advice about publishing a book in high school,
visit my YouTube channel Write with Claire Fraise:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaHnxn6RT1-8k-08ym8pO3A

Claire Fraise is an award-winning author of ghostly young adult thrillers. Her books include the They Stay Series and her debut novel Imperfect which she published when she was 16. When Claire is not writing, you can find her crocheting amigurumi animals, baking gluten-free desserts, or hanging out with her dog. Even though it goes against every introverted bone in her body, she is on social media. Connect with her on YouTube at Write with Claire Fraise, Instagram at @clairefraiseauthor, or visit her website at clairefraise.com.

They Return: Book 3 of the They Stay Series

Their foe demands a horde to perform his wishes. Can these unflinching teens foil a cataclysmic plan before it unravels their world?

Shiloh Oleson is running scared. Recovering from severe injury and with the police keen to interview her over a string of mysterious deaths, the high schooler has no choice but to lie low. But the fiercely loyal girl soon races into action when she learns a close friend has been kidnapped by her greatest enemy.

Francesca Russo wants to see the best in people. Though after the softhearted survivor is snatched by a vicious man, she’s horrified when he forces her to employ necromantic powers to grant his dead friends new bodies. But she reluctantly agrees when he promises to use only naturally deceased corpses.

A harried Shiloh and her crew team up with unlikely allies to locate their missing companion as the cops draw near. And with no freedom in sight, Francesca is petrified when she discovers her callous captor’s dark secret…

Will these desperate ghost hunters find a way to banish evil for good?

They Return is the third book in the eerie They Stay YA supernatural thriller series. If you like determined characters, mind-bending twists, and haunting tension, then you’ll love Claire Fraise’s terrifying tale.

Content warning: This book contains dark scenes, gory descriptions of violence, mentions of self-harm, and mild adult language.