Are You Publishing Too Soon?

We all know how wonderful that feeling is - where you’ve finally finished your book, and you realize all the blood, sweat and tears you’ve poured into it are totally worth it.

Finishing one's book is a considerable achievement and not something that should be taken lightly. However, the excitement of doing so can lead many writers to get ahead of themselves.

Of course, it’s not surprising that writers can’t wait to see their book in print, and want to get their story out there and shared with the world as soon as possible. However, publishing too quickly can dramatically reduce a book’s chances of success.

So how do you know if you are publishing too soon?

How many drafts have you written?

No author, however talented, can produce a glittering, flawless manuscript the first time they attempt to write a book. You will probably go through several drafts and see your story change quite dramatically before you have the final document in hand. Don’t rush the writing process. It can feel slow and frustrating at times, but you’ll be so much happier with the result if you put the effort in now.

Has your book been edited by a professional?

No matter how grammar-savvy you are, it just makes good sense to have your book checked over by a professional. Having a fresh set of eyes look over your manuscript - ones that are trained to notice mistakes, inconsistencies and errors will mean you can feel confident your story is error-free before you publish - something your readers will thank you for!

Has your book cover been designed by a professional?

The same goes for book cover design - unless you are a professional designer by trade, leave it to someone who is. Forking out to have your book cover designed by someone who knows what they are doing is so worth it. Readers can tell the difference, and if your book looks unprofessional, they’ll assume the content is the same.

Have you got a marketing plan?

Marketing for your book should begin long before you publish. Researching your audience, reaching out to potential readers and coming up with a solid pre and post-marketing plan will make all the difference when it comes to sales. You can’t expect to publish your book and for people to find it without doing some serious legwork, so put a pause on publishing until you’ve got your marketing plan together.

Have you decided on what success means to you?

Before you publish, be clear about what you hope to achieve. You may want to feel the weight of your very own paperback in your hands, or you may want to get on the bestseller lists. Determining what your hopes and dreams are before you publish, will allow you to figure out what you need to do to get there and enjoy the journey as you make your way towards whatever your version of success is!

After all that hard work you've put into completing your book, you owe it to yourself to make sure that is really is ready to be published. So just slow down, step back, take a deep breath and think about whether you are ready to do so. Delaying it a little makes much more sense than publishing too soon, and you’ll no doubt kick yourself if you do.

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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