So, you’ve written a book. First off—congrats! That’s a massive accomplishment. You’ve poured your heart and soul into those pages, maybe sacrificed weekends, social events, and a good chunk of your sanity. Now, you’re ready to share it with the world. But here’s the thing: writing the book is just half the battle. The next part—self-publishing—is where a lot of indie authors stumble.
Don’t worry though. If you’re planning to self-publish, you’re already in a good place. You’re taking control of your creative destiny. But to really nail it and come across like a seasoned pro, you’ll want to avoid the five biggest mistakes that can derail your success before you’ve even left the gate.
Let’s break them down, one by one.
Mistake #1: Rushing the Editing Process
This one’s a heartbreaker because so many authors get caught in the excitement of “I finally finished my book!” and hit publish way too soon. The result? Typos, plot holes, awkward phrasing, and reviews that say things like, “This could’ve been great… if someone had edited it.”
Editing isn’t just spellchecking and grammar clean-up. It’s structural, developmental, and detailed. You need fresh eyes—preferably professional ones—who will tell you what works and what doesn’t. Self-editing is a must, but you can only get so far on your own. Don’t skip the pros. A solid edit can be the difference between “meh” and “must-read.”
Think of it this way: would you go to a job interview in your pajamas? No? Then don’t send your book out into the world without giving it a proper polish.
Mistake #2: DIY-ing the Cover (Unless You’re a Designer, and Even Then…)
Look, we get it. Canva is tempting. You might even be handy with Photoshop. But unless you are a professional designer with specific experience in book covers, resist the urge to DIY.
Your cover is your first impression. Readers really do judge a book by it—especially when browsing on Amazon. If your cover screams “amateur,” chances are they’ll scroll right past, even if your story is the next literary masterpiece.
A great cover communicates genre, tone, and quality instantly. It doesn’t just look good—it speaks the reader’s language. Investing in a professionally designed cover tells readers, “Hey, I take this seriously—and you should too.”
Mistake #3: Skipping the Marketing Plan (No, Word-of-Mouth Is Not a Strategy)
You’ve uploaded your book, set your price, and now you wait for the sales to roll in. Aaaand… crickets.
That’s because publishing the book isn’t the same as selling the book.
The truth is, self-publishing means you’re also self-promoting. No matter how good your book is, it won’t magically find readers on its own. You need a marketing strategy—ideally one that starts before launch day.
This can include:
- Building an author platform (yes, even a simple newsletter helps!)
- Creating a launch plan
- Connecting with book bloggers and reviewers
- Running ads (Facebook, Amazon, etc.)
- Engaging in social media the right way (read: not shouting “buy my book” every five minutes)
Marketing doesn’t have to feel icky or overwhelming. Start small, be consistent, and remember: readers can’t buy what they don’t know exists.
Mistake #4: Choosing the Wrong Price Point
One of the trickiest parts of self-publishing is figuring out how to price your book. Too high, and you scare off readers. Too low, and you might undersell yourself—or worse, devalue your work.
It’s tempting to go for 99 cents and hope volume makes up for profit. But here’s a better strategy: study your genre. Look at top-selling books in your niche. What are they charging? What length are they? Are they part of a series?
Also consider the long game. Maybe you do price your first book lower, but only to funnel readers into a series. Or maybe you give away a short story as a lead magnet for your newsletter, then promote your full-priced book later. Point is—don’t just guess. Research and strategy go a long way.
Mistake #5: Thinking You Have to Do It All Alone
Self-publishing is empowering, sure—but that doesn’t mean you have to be a one-person army. In fact, trying to do everything on your own is a surefire way to burn out, make costly mistakes, and end up hating the process.
There are editors, designers, formatters, marketers, and coaches out there who live and breathe this stuff. Surround yourself with people who’ve done it before, who get the industry, and who can help guide you without all the trial-and-error.
Trust us, it’ll save you time, money, and a whole lot of stress.
Bringing It All Together
Self-publishing isn’t easy—but it is incredibly rewarding when you do it right. Like most things worth doing, it takes time, planning, and a bit of humility to admit when you need help.
You don’t need to be perfect right out of the gate. What you do need is a commitment to quality, a willingness to learn, and a network of people who can help you grow.
Speaking of which…
If you’re looking for guidance, support, or just want to see how the pros do it, check out Best Sellers LLC. They’re a team of industry experts who understand every angle of the self-publishing journey—from crafting your author brand to launching like a boss. While we’re not here to plug anyone directly, let’s just say they’ve helped more than a few authors go from blank page to bestseller.
Bottom line? Don’t let these common mistakes trip you up. Self-publishing can be one of the most thrilling rides of your life. Take it seriously, stay curious, and treat your book like the masterpiece it is.
Your readers are waiting.
