4 Common Self-Publishing Mistakes That Indie Authors Should Avoid

[Approximate Reading Time : 4 mins]

Writing a book is one thing, but getting it ready for publishing is a whole different story. While platforms such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) have made self-publishing popular, authors often fail to make enough money through self-published book sales. And it is not because the books are not good but authors tend to falter during the process of preparing the book for publishing.

Fortunately, these self-publishing mistakes can easily be avoided and eventually you can earn a good revenue that you can rely on.

#1 Trimming the editing process

When it comes to editing manuscripts there are various types – content, line, and copyediting to proofreading – all are equally important. Not getting your manuscript edited professionally can result in a book that is marred with plot holes, typos, structural, factual or even grammatical errors. While it may be tempting to skim through this process, please remember there are no shortcuts to editing a manuscript. Getting your manuscript professionally edited is a must if you do not want to be discredited as an author. A well-edited book not just appears professional but also makes it easy for the readers to understand and follow your narrative.

#2 Making formatting errors

The popularity and availability of new and emerging publishing platforms have resulted in proliferation of self-published eBooks. But the issue with these DIY (do-it-yourself) tools is that the authors don’t always get the formatting correct, resulting in books that don’t look right. Moreover, different publishing platforms may have varied technical requirements and formatting guidelines, which make the task even more difficult.  Poorly formatted book can really affect readability, hence there is no way around it. Paying attention to the details of book formatting can make your book look and read the way it is intended to and will also make your readers happy.

#3 Not focusing on the cover

Yes, it is true that one should not judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to book sales, first impressions count. A common mistake authors often make in order to save cost is try and create their own covers. Creating a book cover that sells requires experience and competence in book publishing and designing and unless you have these skills, one should steer clear from designing their book covers.  You would be surprised at the impact a well-designed and visually attractive book cover has on its sales – it is worth every penny.

#4 Failing to get the timing right

Getting the timing correct to publish and market your book cannot be overemphasized. There is an explosion of eBooks, so making a timely connection with your audience is invaluable in order to position your book and get attention. This requires meticulous planning and scheduling based on the production timescales needed for both digital and print. And most importantly ensuring you stick to those schedules so as to not disappoint your readers.

Self-publishing is a great avenue but the process of publishing is complex and unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all formula. It is therefore recommended that if you want your book to be a success you should consider hiring experts who can offer publishing services.

Amnet’s team comprises literary experts who have years of experience in working with an exhaustive list of authors helping them create and publish high-quality print and ebooks. What more? We keep our focus squarely on your readers throughout the publishing process which helps us ensure delivery excellence. To know more, connect with us.