Embedded Files
I decided to publish the sci-fi stories that I had initially started as web novels, and I uploaded them as e-pub files to Google Books. It was not easy for a non-major who was unrelated to publishing to release a book, especially within Korea. I established a one-person publishing company and released the novels I had already written during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I, an amateur, had to do everything: writing, editing, publishing, marketing, and accounting—though there wasn't much accounting to do since I wasn't making any money. It was the worst possible situation for a lazy person.
(Those were the book covers from back then. I made them for free using trial versions of Canva and Affinity. I was surprised when Canva acquired Affinity.)
After coming to Canada, I learned Adobe programs and was able to express myself in design without difficulty. Since I had no income, I closed the publishing company and decided to focus on my studies. (Although I had no income for several years, Korea's National Pension Service still took about 90 dollars from me every month. I called them and stopped the automatic transfer, pleading with them not to take my money.)
During my school co-op term in Canada, I redesigned the covers and republished the books. I also released three children's storybooks and two books that expressed moments spent with my children through illustrations and writing.
(If you go to the Book page in the navigation, you’ll see links to eBook and paperback sales sites. For more details about these books, please visit the Blog’s Book page.)
Now I need to sell these...
It is time to focus on marketing. Therefore, I have decided to brand myself.
Website
Website
During my first year co-op term, having failed to find a job, I set myself two goals: to build my own website and to publish a children's book. This was so that people who needed someone like me could find me easily. I figured I must be useful somewhere.
Since I wasn't during a school term, I couldn't use paid software, so I found free programs to launch my website. After realizing that building and running a website could also cost a lot of money, I wanted to maintain the site at a minimal cost, so I built it to only require domain fee. I can’t share an image of the old website—it’s long gone—but trust me, it was far more garish than what you see today. (Be grateful your eyes were spared.)
I divided the categories into 'About', 'Gallery', 'Book', 'YouTube', and 'Contact'. While studying graphic design, I completed several interesting assignments (such as those where I could learn the fundamentals of design), but I couldn't upload all of them to the website.
Also, thoughts I had while creating, and things I wanted to say about the features of my books, began to accumulate. So, I created a new 'blog' category. And that is how you are now reading my blog.
Social Media Platforms
Social Media Platforms
I used social media platforms to share school projects and promote the books I had created. Although I didn’t manage to sell any through those posts, they became a gateway to meeting people with similar tastes. And knowing that there were people who genuinely appreciated what I made helped me focus more deeply on my goals.
-Instagram (Facebook): @monica.h.do
-X.com: @MonicaHDo
YouTube Channels
YouTube Channels
After publishing my sci-fi books, I started a YouTube channel as a marketing tool. But even though the channel was meant for promotion, I got caught up in trying to grow my subscriber count—and the direction of the channel began to drift. I need to stay true to my original intent. It looks like I’ll have to revisit and refine things again. It’s a time-consuming beast, yes—but it’s also a fast, direct way to release what I want to express into the world. So I’m not ready to let it go just yet.
About Science
About Science
The videos were created to visually present the scientific foundations behind my sci-fi novels. I produced content exploring my own interpretations of scientific theories—such as symmetric universe theory, artificial intelligence, and facts surrounding Nikola Tesla—which formed the backbone of my stories.
Lyric Video
Lyric Video
I started making translation videos focused on the songs linked in my novels—and that completely shifted the direction of my channel. I even tried creating Shorts that explored hidden English grammar points within the lyrics. (I framed it as a bold experiment—but truthfully, it was a sly little scheme to pump out short videos and harvest easy gains.)
Visual Storytelling
Visual Storytelling
I created videos using illustrations and narration to share my thoughts and personal experiences. Most of them focused on things I’ve seen since coming to Canada—and they’ll continue to center around that. I’m not sure when I’ll upload the next one, but that’s the direction I’ll keep following.
Promotional Materials & Portfolio
Promotional Materials & Portfolio
For my graduation and job search, I designed a business card and portfolio. (You can view the portfolio contents in the Gallery page.) Pretty cohesive, right? I even made my resume and cover letter to match the set.
Portfolio & Business card
Back of the bookmark
As a small gift for visitors at the graduation event, I created bookmarks—cut from watercolor paper, stamped on the back, and hand-painted on the front. I drew dogs, cats, plants… and every time I finished one, someone would take it right away. I grumbled to myself, “Why did I even do this? I can’t even take a break,” but deep down, I was grateful that people liked them.
Bookmarks
The real centerpiece of my booth, though, was supposed to be sketching visitors’ side profiles. That was my main event. But not a single person asked to have their drawn not until the exhibition ended. I just wanted to try it once… even if it meant getting silently cursed by someone’s eyes.
My booth
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse