What Self-Publishing Doesn’t Tell You (But I Will)

Self-publishing has changed the game for writers. You no longer need a traditional publisher’s approval to share your work with the world—and that’s powerful. But while platforms like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark make it look easy, the truth is… self-publishing comes with a steep learning curve.

What no one tells you is that publishing a book is not the same as producing a professional one.

There’s a lot more to it than hitting “upload.” Here are some of the most common self-publishing pitfalls—and what you can do to avoid them.

1. Skipping Professional Editing

This is the most common mistake self-published authors make. It’s easy to assume you can catch all the typos yourself—or have a friend with “an eye for grammar” take a look.

But editing is so much more than fixing punctuation. A good editor helps you:

• Clarify your ideas

• Strengthen your message

• Improve pacing, tone, and flow

• Catch inconsistencies, awkward transitions, and factual errors

And yes, they’ll find the typos, too.

What to do instead:

Budget for editing early in your process. Even if you can’t afford every level (developmental, copyediting, proofreading), getting a professional review will dramatically improve your book’s quality and credibility.

2. Designing Your Own Cover Without Experience

You may be able to write your book—but unless you’re also a graphic designer with genre-specific knowledge, you probably shouldn’t design your own cover.

Readers do judge books by their covers. It’s the first thing they see—and it communicates genre, tone, and professionalism in a split second.

What to do instead:

Hire a designer who specializes in books, ideally someone who understands what works in your genre. At the very least, invest in a clean, genre-appropriate template and customized typography. (And never use Microsoft Word art. Please.)

3. Formatting Problems (They’re More Common Than You Think)

Formatting your manuscript for print and eBooks can be surprisingly technical. If you don’t format properly, your book might upload with broken page breaks, missing headers, or wonky spacing. For readers, it’s frustrating. For your reputation? It’s damaging.

What to do instead:

Use formatting software (like Vellum or Atticus), or hire someone to do it for you. It’s a one-time cost that saves hours of stress—and prevents reviews that say, “I couldn’t even read this.”

4. Publishing Before You’re Ready

It’s tempting to hit “publish” the moment your manuscript feels done enough. But rushing the process often leads to regrets—especially when you realize your book needed one more round of edits or a stronger back cover blurb.

What to do instead:

Give yourself time to finish strong. Step away from the draft, revisit it with fresh eyes, and involve at least one professional (editor, coach, or designer) before releasing your work into the world.

5. Not Having a Launch Plan

Self-publishing gives you control—but that also means you’re in charge of everything, including your book’s promotion. Publishing your book without a plan for visibility is like opening a store in the middle of the woods and hoping someone wanders by.

What to do instead:

Start building your audience early—on LinkedIn, through a blog, or with an email list. Think about how you’ll spread the word:

• Pre-orders or giveaways?

• Blog tours or interviews?

• Launch team or ARC readers?

A strong launch doesn’t have to be flashy—it just has to be intentional.

6. Believing “If I Publish It, They Will Come”

This is one of the biggest myths of self-publishing. Uploading your book doesn’t guarantee sales. Without a strategy, your book can sit on Amazon with no traction, no reviews, and no audience.

What to do instead:

Treat your book like a product. Think like a publisher. Who is this for? Where are they? What do they need to see or feel to say, “Yes—I want this”?

A little intentionality goes a long way.

Final Thought: Self-Publishing Is a Business

Publishing your book is exciting—but it’s also work. The process doesn’t end with typing “The End.” You’re now the writer, the publisher, and (at least initially) the marketing team.

That doesn’t mean it has to be overwhelming. It just means you need the right tools, timeline, and support system. The good news? You don’t have to do it all alone.

If you’re considering self-publishing and want help avoiding the common missteps, I’d love to walk with you. From developmental editing to formatting and launch prep—I help writers like you finish well and publish with confidence.