5 Self-Publishing Mistakes to Avoid
If you are about to embark on the great adventure of self-publishing, congratulations: you’ve made the first, most important decision of transforming your manuscript into a real book. Now come all the other ones, including which publishing option is right for you, what kind of book cover you want, and who is the best guru to skyrocket you to the top of the Amazon bestseller lists.
Before you launch headfirst into what is likely one of the biggest undertakings of your life, it’s a good idea to arm yourself with as much information as possible. We’ve gathered some of the most frequent self-publishing mistakes that hopeful authors commit. Read on, and spare yourself the pain from those who came before you:
Mistake #1: Skipping the Editing Process
“Honestly,” authors will often ask, “do I really need an editor?” Uh—yes. Definitely. In fact, more than one is ideal. (One to do a thorough edit and another set of eyes to proofread.) Do not place your trust in your spouse or BFF who went over your manuscript while catching an episode of their favourite show. You need to hire a professional who pays their bills by editing people’s manuscripts. In other words, someone serious. Preferably someone without Netflix.
Mistake #2: Doing Your Own Book Cover
Need a book cover? There are plenty of do-it-yourself templates out there. Download one, paste a stock image, and voilà! Need a beautiful, one-of-a-kind book cover? Then you need a cover designer. Sucks, we know, but there isn’t really any way around it. You need to find someone who will “get” your book, who will connect with its message, and who will create just the right design—one that will look great on your front and back covers. Don’t do it yourself, please. We beg you.
Mistake #3: Thinking That the World Has Been Holding Its Breath for Your Book
You’re very right to get your book professionally edited and designed. You’re equally wrong for assuming that this is enough to get readers adding your title to their Amazon cart. While there are unfortunately— far too many books without professional editing and design, there are others who meet basic quality standards. Many of them, in fact, and they, just like you, are vying for readers. So please, don’t be shocked (or worse, complain) if bookstores aren’t scrambling to stock your book. Author success is a process, not an instantaneous achievement.
Mistake #4: Going into Self-Publishing as a Luddite
Strangely enough, we still meet plenty of authors with strong reservations about technology. They’re not sure they can “trust” the Internet or are worried that their work will be “stolen” once it’s online. Look, the fact of the matter is, people can steal your book if they really want to. But many people will definitely never read your book if you—or the book—are not online. Stop worrying and get yourself a website, already.
Mistake #5: Not Understanding the Self-Publishing Process
As a self-publishing author, you have a responsibility to know what you’re doing. Even if you elect to hire an author services provider like us, you owe it to yourself to be informed on the process. Not only will this make the self-publishing experience that much easier, but it will also empower you to make informed decisions and judgements on the people you’re working with to get your book out there.
Self-publishing isn’t easy, but it’s not as hard if you know what you’re doing. Download our free Self-Publishing Success Tracker and start tracking your self-publishing journey. You can also always contact us for more info.
