Shane’s Story . . .

From Technophobe to Published Author – How Shane Payne Brought His Book to Life

When Shane Payne first walked into one of my writing workshops, his manuscript was already two-thirds finished but he was struggling to complete it. He'd always wanted to write a book – even if it was just for himself and his mum – but the idea of actually getting it out into the world felt daunting. "I was a fair way in... there was a lot of self-doubt coming in. I just needed someone or something to nudge me, which that workshop did," Shane says.

The Fear of The Technical Stuff

"I had really developed this kind of fear of technology," Shane admits. "I watched a few things on YouTube about self-publishing and the Amazon stuff. But it scared me to death, really."

Like many writers, Shane didn't need more information – he needed guidance. Practical help. Reassurance that he wasn’t going to mess the whole thing up.

That's where our collaboration began. Shane had a clear vision for his book, but when it came to formatting, uploading, and cover design, he was ready to throw in the towel.

"All I wanted was it published," he said. "I was quite happy for someone to do that for me. And that was Wayne."

Collaborating For Success

Together, we shaped Shane’s manuscript into a professional-quality paperback and eBook. We worked on formatting, designed a cover based on his ideas, and walked through every stage of the Amazon upload process on a Zoom call. Shane describes the process like this:

"What did I have to do? I had to write the book. That's it."

Shane gave feedback, offered ideas, and trusted me to handle the technical parts. The result? A book he's proud to show off – not just to his family, but to the wider world.

"I wouldn't have published it if it had been left to me," Shane says.

That book didn't just sit on a shelf, either. It led to a feature in his local village magazine, a packed-out book club talk, and a realisation that he wasn't just someone who'd written a book – he was an author. You can find Shane’s book, Wages of Sin on Amazon right now.

Confidence For The Future

Now Shane's working on his second novel and building his confidence to share it even more widely. For anyone considering whether it's worth investing in help, Shane has this to say:

"It takes the stress, the anxiety, everything out of the process. If you've got a bit of money – and it really isn't a lot of money – get it done properly. What Wayne did helped me immeasurably and I'm very grateful for that."

If you want the same support Shane had – someone to walk you through the process, make the tech side simple, and bring your book into the world – I'm here to help and support you every step of the way.

From blank page, to first draft, to published book, I have a self publishing package or mentoring solution to help.

Want to know how I can help you in your writing or publishing journey?

Book a free 15 minute discovery call now.