5 common mistakes first time self-publishing authors make (and how to avoid them)
Self-publishing has become a great option for authors who want more freedom and flexibility when it comes to putting their work out into the world. When you publish your book yourself, you have greater creative control and the potential to take home a bigger slice of the pie in terms of book sales.
But beware! There are traps that new authors can fall into that dramatically decrease your chance of success. Luckily, we’ve compiled a few of the most common to help you get prepared.
Mistake 1: Not editing the work well enough
Anyone who has ever come across a typo or obvious mistake knows how off-putting it can be as a reader. Inconsistencies, plot holes, and even just spelling errors can really draw you out of the world of the book and impact your enjoyment of it. That’s why it’s important that your work is at the highest possible standard. It can be hard to spot your own mistakes — invest in a professional editor to make sure your book is as good as it can be.
Mistake 2: Incorrectly formatting your book
You might type out your book using a standard word processing platform, but when it comes to making the book look like a professional publication, you need something more than that. Use proper formatting software to lay out your book correctly, with page numbers, proper indentation and margins, and being aware of typography rules. Not confident doing it yourself? There’s lots of professional formatters who can help you.
Mistake 3: Unprofessional cover design
They may say ‘don’t judge a book by its cover,’ but we can guarantee that your future readers will! A dodgy-looking homemade book cover looks amateurish and can be off-putting. To make sure your book cover is enticing for readers, carefully consider elements like the font, size and colour of the text for your title and name. Try to avoid stock photos and use an original image instead.
Mistake 4: Not marketing your book before publication
You finally get your book written, edited, formatted and printed. It’s out in the world! And then you don’t get any sales. You probably haven’t taken enough time to market your new release. People can’t buy a book they’ve never heard of, so make sure you’re getting the word out as early as possible. Make yourself an author website and set up social media channels to promote yourself and your new book.
Mistake 5: Selling through only one distributor
It’s very easy now to sell your book through an online retailer such as Amazon, but only using this one method is limiting your options. Get your book into as many hands as possible by reaching out to bookstores, libraries, and other places that might be interested in buying your book. It will require some more research and legwork on your part, but it will be worth it for the sales!