Six Lessons Motherhood Taught Me About Building a Successful Author Career
Parenting and publishing may seem like two very different worlds...but any self-published author knows that writing, editing, and launching a book can feel a lot like raising a child. There’s trial and error, sleepless nights, and a constant mix of doubt and determination. The lessons I learned while raising my six children now guide the way I coach writers inside Seven Figure Author Career Program.
Here are six lessons motherhood taught me that changed not just my life as a mom, but my journey as an author and mentor.
1. People Who Don’t Believe in Your Potential Won’t Help You Reach It
When my oldest child, who has autism, was in public school, he was about to enter second grade and still couldn’t read. I pulled him out and started homeschooling. Within three months, he was reading. Within six, he was caught up. Within a year, he was reading at a high-school level.
The same thing happens in publishing. Some people simply don’t see your potential. That doesn’t mean you don’t have it. Traditional gatekeepers, skeptical friends, even early readers may underestimate you. But like homeschooling my son, when you take control of your own progress, through education, community, and persistence, you’ll surprise everyone who doubted you.
If someone doesn’t believe in your potential, don’t let them define it.
2. Sometimes You’re Too Close to See the Problem
My second-oldest child excelled in everything but school. Everyone assumed she just wasn’t trying, until she was diagnosed with ADHD at 16. Once we knew the cause, everything changed.
As authors, we can be the same way with our books. We’re too close to the work to see what’s really wrong, whether that’s a pacing issue, a weak blurb, or a cover that doesn’t fit the market.
That’s why it helps to get outside perspective! From professional editors, coaches, or peers who can see what you can’t. (Learn how to choose the right editor for your book in our post on Finding the Right Book Editor).
3. Sometimes Mainstream Advice Is Wrong
My third child was diagnosed with PDD-NOS and ADHD. We followed the doctor’s advice, medication, until it caused serious side effects.
I started paying attention and realized his issues appeared mostly in the afternoon. I gave him B12 at lunch. Problem solved.
That experience taught me that the “standard” advice isn’t always right, and that understanding why a solution works matters just as much as applying it.
The same goes for writing and publishing. A lot of advice floating around online sounds confident, but it’s often incomplete or out of context. That's why inside my 3xP Framework I teach authors how to think critically about the strategies they use. When you understand the principle behind what works, you can adapt it to your career instead of copying someone else’s formula.
4. No One Knows Your “Baby” Better Than You
My fourth child was born seven weeks early. Two minutes before she arrived, a nurse told me, “She’s not coming yet.” Two minutes later, she did. As she grew up, she often got sick, with allergic reactions that didn’t fit patterns. I’d point out the cause, and doctors would tell me I was wrong… until I turned out to be right.
No one knows your “baby” better than you. And yes, I’m talking about your books.
Editors, marketers, and readers can all offer great feedback, but at the end of the day, you know your story’s heart. Trust your instincts. That’s something I constantly remind my clients, advice is valuable, but your vision matters most.
5. We’re Capable of More Than People Believe
My fifth child was told he should repeat kindergarten because he couldn’t focus. We decided to homeschool him, too. He’s now finishing second grade, right on schedule.
He wasn’t struggling because he couldn’t understand the material; he was struggling because he wasn’t challenged enough.
Many authors feel the same way. They’re told to “slow down,” to “wait for their turn,” or that success takes decades. But sometimes, you’re not stuck, you’re just not being challenged in the right way.
Through my work as author coach, I’ve seen hundreds of writers thrive once they stop waiting for permission and start building momentum. You’re capable of more than anyone believes, including yourself!
6. What You Speak Over Yourself Becomes Reality
My youngest child had a language delay. At nearly four, he still wasn’t speaking, and everyone called him “nonverbal.” My mom said, “Stop saying that. He’s not nonverbal, he’s pre-verbal.”
That shift changed everything. Within weeks, he started talking. Within months, he was putting sentences together. It might sound small, but what we speak over ourselves matters.
If you keep saying “I’ll never make money from my books” or “I’m terrible at marketing,” you train your brain to believe it. Start changing that language. Say instead:
My books can reach readers.
I can learn what I need to succeed.
Abundance is available to me.
Your words shape your path, in life and in publishing!
Final Thoughts
Being a mom taught me that growth rarely looks the way we expect. It’s messy, unpredictable, and sometimes overwhelming, just like writing and publishing.
But through every setback, one thing remains constant: belief, persistence, and curiosity can move mountains.
If you’re ready to take what you’ve learned from your own life and apply it to your author journey, I’d love to support you through Six Figure Author Coachor our Free Author Community, where I share strategies and insights that help self-published authors grow sustainable, successful careers.
