When I left a nearly 20-year career as a civil rights lawyer, I didn’t pause to Google:
“Is self publishing on Amazon worth it?” and I didn’t stop on the “Why self-publishing is bad” story I came across.
I probably should’ve. But I didn’t.
Because I wasn’t trying to build a book business. I was trying to start a storytelling movement—one where kids don’t just read the story, but help create it.
So no, I didn’t run a cost-benefit analysis or worry about the KDP algorithm. I followed the gut punch that said:
“If kids are going to shape the future, they need to practice shaping stories.”
It’s been four weeks.
And in just 28 days, I’ve learned more about publishing than any YouTube course or Facebook group could teach me.
Why Self-Publishing Is Bad—If You’re Only Doing It for Distribution
Let’s be real. Self-publishing can be a mess.
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Amazon controls the pricing, the shelf space, and the discoverability.
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You’re one of millions trying to game an algorithm instead of serve a reader.
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The market’s flooded with AI-generated junk that clogs every search bar.
If you’re publishing just to “get a book out there,” then yeah—self-publishing might break your spirit a little.
But what if the point isn’t just publishing?
What if it’s participation?
What I Chose to Build Instead
I didn’t want to fight for scraps on a digital bookshelf. I wanted to build something kids could co-create.
I call it Participatory Publishing—and in the past month, it’s gone from vision to traction.
Here’s what we’ve done in 4 weeks:
✅ Launched Book 3: The Should Sorter
A story that shows kids how to drop all the ‘shoulds’ that don’t serve who they really are. It launched on Feb 28, 2025—the same day as the corporate blackout protests. Perfect timing to realize: yeah, maybe Amazon shouldn’t be our only outlet.
✅ Ran Our First Creativity Contests
We kicked off three contests where kids shaped the concept (Theme Team), the language (Word Weaver), and the visuals (Sketch-Off) of the next book. Real kids. Real input. Real recognition.
✅ Started Production on Book 4: Story Shapers
This one flips the lens back on traditional publishing itself. It’s weird, wild, a little irreverent, and 100% kid-powered. Spoiler: the moose got tattoos.
✅ Began Writing Book 5—Our First Fully Co-Created Book
Book 5 is being shaped entirely by the winning entries from the creativity challenges. These kids don’t know each other—but they’re building something together. And that? That’s the point.
Why This Matters (And What No One Tells You on Amazon)
When people ask “Is self-publishing on Amazon worth it?”, they’re usually asking:
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Will I make money?
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Will anyone find my book?
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Will this be legit?
But they’re asking the wrong questions.
Here’s what I wish more people asked:
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What kind of stories do I want to bring into the world?
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Who do I want to shape those stories with?
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What legacy do I want to leave behind in print?
Because if the goal is just to hit publish, you’ll burn out fast.
But if the goal is to empower kids, build creative confidence, and tell stories that actually say something?
Then self-publishing isn’t the endgame—it’s just the printig press.
Two Real-World Reasons I Knew I Was on the Right Track
1. Jeff Bezos reminded us why we need indie storytelling.
In the most ironic of ironies… Bezos recently announced that The Washington Post would start aligning its editorial content with his business interests.
That’s not news. That’s narrative control.
And you better believe the same thing happens in children’s publishing—sanitized stories that sell well but say nothing.
We don’t need more Frosted Flakes books.
We need whole stories. Substance. Soul.
Participatory Publishing gives kids a seat at the storytelling table. They’re not just reading the story. They’re shaping it.
2. An indie film just swept the Oscars.
At the 2025 Academy Awards, an independent film took Best Picture. On stage, the filmmakers said:
“Tell the stories that move you.”
“We need more. This is proof.”
I replaced the word “film” with “book.” And I knew—this is exactly what we’re doing.
What’s Next—and How to Join Us
This is more than a publishing experiment. It’s a proof of concept for something bigger.
Book 4 is coming soon—Story Shapers is all about busting the gate wide open.
Book 5 is deep in co-creation mode, built from the voices of the community.
New Creativity Contests are launching soon—your kids can help shape the next one.
Want to Get Involved?
Drop a ✍️ in the comments if you believe kids should help create the stories they read.
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Tell me: What book do you wish existed when you were a kid?
Let’s build it. Together.
