5 Terrible Self-Publishing Mistakes of Any Writer

Self-publishing is a golden opportunity for any writer. For the first time in history, authors have the opportunity to show their work to the world without going through the critical eye of an editor. In this way, authors can reach readers with more freedom of movement.

However, self-publishing has been getting a bad rap as of late. It is like the prostitution of literature. Thinking like this is a very common mistake, not only among authors, but also among publishers and readers. But if he has that reputation, it will be for something, right?

Well yeah, most self-published writers don’t take care of their jobs. In many cases they are beginner’s mistakes, other times they are people who have not written or read anything in their lives , but who have seen a couple of chapters of   Californication and believe that that is enough to be a writer. In some cases they can’t afford to pay for a proofreader… sloppiness, lack of resources, or sheer ignorance. The point is that the self-published ghost writer sometimes makes a few drawer mistakes.

Here are some of them.

#1. Don’t ask for help

Writers shouldn’t be editors, at least of their own works. It is impossible for a writer to be: editor, proofreader, layout designer, designer and commercial.

If you intend to do things well, it is impossible. And asking a colleague to do those jobs for you is not a good idea either (it could be if your colleague loves you a lot and also works for Grupo Planeta), but your degree of acceptance of criticism will go to shit when it is your friend who gives you advice.

If you want to sell the book, if you don’t want to fall into Amazon’s bottomless pit, you need to spend money on your book. If you don’t, you won’t sell anything. Yes, there are exceptions, but they only serve to confirm this rule.

#2. Unrealistic expectations

There are very few books that sell more than 300 copies. Hitting the key to a best-seller is practically impossible. The publisher’s game has become to throw everything possible and see what sticks to the shelves. Most of the books you see in bookstores are destined for recycling.

Although lately the publishing game is changing, you cannot trust your numbers. Little by little, more books may be sold and self-published writers are gaining ground, but don’t play it. Do not be an idiot.

Do not invest more than necessary, do not overdo it, do not pawn your house or car to pay for the book. Use the “Print on Demand” platforms, don’t waste your retirement money printing a bunch of books that will end up rotting in the attic.

#3. Not creating a mailing list with potential readers

This is one of the reasons why traditional publishers take so long to publish a book. Usually what they do is send copies of the book to a good number of reviewers and critics about three months before its release. This way they make sure they get some positive reviews the day before launch.

For self-publishing, launch day means nothing. The day you receive your first five reviews will be your release. When you receive ten your book will be able to go around with your head held high and when you are fifty, Amazon will start sneaking into their algorithms to present you to buyers.

If you have a blog, create a mailing list (there is an excellent article on this blog that teaches you how to promote your book and another in Moon Magazine) with potential readers, send an email, talk to reviewers and other bloggers, ask them nicely let them read your book (give them a copy, don’t be a rat), don’t force them to leave you good comments, just tell them to read it and review it.

If you don’t have a blog, create one and use it to promote yourself.

#4. Not be different

No matter what you write, you have to find what makes it different from the rest. That you have written one of the millions of “me too” books on the current genre of fashion does not tell me anything. I shouldn’t tell you anything either, unless your thing is mediocrity.

A solid prose, a different and striking adjectival, a magical story about the inhabitants of a small and remote village of Formentera in which its inhabitants have lived for more than 120 years, that really motivates me. That makes you different.

Right now, writing another adolescent love book, another supposedly dirty love story between a rich man and a poor girl from the provinces, does not differentiate you at all. On the contrary, it puts you in the bag of: “more of the same.” And you don’t want to be in that bag, nor do I want to read another “more of the same.”

#5. Not believe in yourself

Contrary to what a certain character told me, you need to believe in yourself; that doesn’t make you arrogant. Many people don’t like confident people. Don’t be one of those, you need to believe in yourself, in what you do. If you don’t do it, don’t expect others to do it.

I’m not saying that everything you do will be fine, on the contrary, always doubt every word you write, but when they are all well placed and there is no going back, and believe in them. In each period, comma and space. Confidence in yourself will be necessary to succeed in self-publishing, if you hesitate a little, you will miss the train.

You will need to be persistent and work non-stop, learn day after day and not be afraid to face yourself. You will have to revise your book many times and you will have to be able to do it over and over and over and over again, until you are happy with the result.

In the past it could take a writer an average of ten years to find a publisher who wanted to publish it. In that period of time, the writer did not stop writing, he studied his trade, he put it into practice, and he worked every day.

If what you want is to work with the letters, you are going to have to work a lot, you will have to put a lot of desire into this, not stop studying, ask (and listen to) the advice of others. Get ready for a long trip.

Luckily you will not be alone, there is a large community of writers to lean on and if you need help, there are professionals who offer their services so that you can improve at what you do.