By: Madeline Harten

At 19 years old, Chandler Bolt made an unconventional decision: he left college to write and publish a book.

With no prior audience or publishing background, Bolt released The Productive Person on Amazon in 2014. The book quickly gained traction, giving him early insight into the opportunities emerging in the self-publishing space.

“I had no idea it would work,” Bolt reflects from the Austin headquarters of selfpublishing.com, the company he would go on to found. “But something told me books could be the key to something much bigger.”

Personal Loss, Lasting Impact

That deeper purpose took shape shortly after the release of his second book. While attending a company retreat, Bolt experienced a tragedy that would influence the direction of his work. A close friend and colleague, Kendall, passed away unexpectedly during the trip. Later, Bolt learned that Kendall had been quietly writing a book, drawing inspiration from Bolt’s publishing efforts.

After receiving the manuscript from Kendall’s family, Bolt and a group of peers helped complete and publish the book. The experience led to the formation of Self-Publishing School, now known as selfpublishing.com, and helped shape the company’s mission around creative legacy and accessibility.

“That was the turning point,” Bolt says. “It made the work feel personal.”

An Alternative Path to Publishing

Founded in 2015, selfpublishing.com developed as an alternative to traditional publishing models, which often rely on selective gatekeeping. The company provides education and support to writers seeking to publish independently, offering a combination of coaching, instructional resources, and publishing services.

Rather than focusing solely on the production of books, the platform emphasizes goal-setting and project completion. One of its more distinctive offerings is the inclusion of virtual writing rooms – structured group sessions that aim to provide authors with accountability throughout the writing process.

Former participants have cited this model as helpful in overcoming early-stage obstacles such as writer’s block and perfectionism.

Embracing Imperfection as a Process

A recurring theme in the company’s approach is the idea that creativity thrives when authors are free to begin before they feel ready.

“People often wait for the ‘perfect’ moment to start writing,” Bolt notes. “But in reality, the first draft is supposed to be messy. That’s how progress begins.”

This mindset is reflected throughout selfpublishing.com’s culture, where early outlines, incomplete drafts, and whiteboard sketches are displayed alongside finished works. Coaches affiliated with the platform, many of whom are published authors themselves, share early versions of their manuscripts to normalize the creative process.

Looking Ahead

In recent years, selfpublishing.com has expanded its offerings to include programs tailored to fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, and children’s literature. It has also introduced collaborative services such as ghostwriting and marketing support to accommodate a broader range of author needs.

Looking toward the future, Bolt has expressed interest in increasing the scale of the company’s reach, with a stated goal of helping 100,000 authors publish their work by 2035.

A wall in the company’s Austin office displays photographs of authors holding their published books – a visual reminder of the impact storytelling can have, both for readers and for those who write.

“Each book represents someone who followed through on their goal,” Bolt says. “It’s meaningful to see that effort turn into something lasting.”