He began to write stories. In 1913, he self-published his first novel, "The Conquest: The Story of a Negro Pioneer". In 1915, he had money troubles and lost his land. He moved to Sioux City, Iowa where he ran his own publishing company. In 1917, he rewrote "The Conquest" and published it as "The Homesteader". He sold the book door-to-door in small towns.