Source: Freepik
Publishing your first book is a huge dream. It’s also probably one of the most rewarding things that can happen in any writer’s journey.
Whether you’re in Ghana, Nigeria, or somewhere outside of West Africa, the excitement of seeing your name on a book cover can be life-changing.
But the rush to make this dream come true can lead to a nightmare. This happens when first-time authors rush through the process and then make costly mistakes that slow down their progress or send them down a path of frustration.
Chances are that many seasoned writers have stories for days of bad judgment calls that wasted their time, money, and effort. But you don’t want that to be you. So how can you avoid this? By learning from the mistakes of others.
We’ve compiled a list of the biggest mistakes first-time authors make so you can watch out for them on your own journey. If you’re looking to self-publish, this blog will help you avoid the same traps that hold new authors back. Let’s jump right in.
#1: Playing “the Flash” with the Writing and Editing Process
Source: Giphy
Look, we get it, when inspiration strikes, you’ve got to get rolling before it disappears. So it’s very tempting to just write quickly and push your book into the world like a proud parent.
But you have to resist that urge to type “publish my book Accra” in Google as soon as you finish your first draft. That’s how you can end up with a poorly polished manuscript.
You know the type — weird spelling errors, awkward sentences, or unfinished storylines. The kind where the plot feels like it’s still cooking but was rushed off before it even had a chance to really marinate.
Readers can easily spot this, and it can affect how they view your work. Once they lose trust in your writing, it can be pretty hard to win them back.
👉What to Do Instead
You’ve heard people say that haste makes waste. You don’t want to print your books and then start noticing errors on every other page. So, resist that urge to rush to publish and do this instead:
- Take a break. That’s not what you want to do, but that may be the best thing you ever do. After finishing your draft, step away for at least a few days or a week. You will come back with fresh eyes that spot mistakes quickly.
- Do a couple of edits: If you only want to do the bare minimum, you can get away with three edits. The first is for general edits, the second for grammar/clarity edits, and one last one for flow/content edits.
- It takes a trustworthy villager or two. Share your self-edited draft with 2–3 trusted readers who represent your target audience. They can be a family member or friend within the targeted age bracket. They can give you valuable feedback.
- Get professional editors: You’ll need expert eyes to spot those errors and weird flow that everyone will miss. Even if you’re on a budget, you can consider a publishing service that offers a full package deal at a heavily discounted rate.
Some even offer special deals to first-time authors in Ghana and other West African countries all the time. They can help you polish the language while keeping the cultural context intact.
#2: Treating Professional Book Design Like an Afterthought
Source: Giphy
There’s a reason why everyone keeps advising against judging a book by its cover. People will notice your cover first, and many will use that to decide whether to buy or ditch it. We have all done it at least once.
If your cover looks like it was drunkenly designed and the lines are not properly formatted, readers are going to assume the content is just as weak.
This is especially true in competitive niches where readers have plenty of options to compare your book to, especially polished international titles.
So don’t underestimate how much design influences buying decisions.
👉What to Do Instead
They say first impressions last long. So if you want to make the best impression with your cover design, then you should really consider:
- Getting someone to create a professional book design. Look, you don’t even have to break the bank if you know where to look. You can find local designers happy to whip up something “uniquely you” for your book covers and transform your book’s appeal.
- Take genres seriously. Every genre has certain standards they have to meet. Whether it’s romance, children’s books, or business guides, your genre can affect the way your book is structured.
So do your research and make you understand what’s selling in your genre and how to fit in and make the most of it without losing your own uniqueness.
- Pay attention to formatting. This includes the usual interior layout, such as fonts, spacing, chapter headings, etc. Keep in mind that what’s inside also needs to look good as much as the cover.
If the words are bleeding or the pictures are cut off, your work will not look professional. So get credible editing/formatting services to sort this out for you. Done right, your design can help your book stand out on shelves and online stores.
#3: Going with the Wrong Publishing Choice
Source: Freepik
Far too many first-time authors fall into two traps: either they print far too few copies and run out quickly, or they overcommit to large, expensive print runs they can’t sell.
Usually, this happens because they simply do not know that they have other options besides the traditional printing option. Most traditional publishing options require a minimum number of copies that can run into hundreds.
But doing this can leave you with a ton of books just lying in your inventory and a new hole in your pocket. That’s if you even have the money to pay upfront for that many books.
👉What to Do Instead
Instead of going into debt for a large inventory or frantically running around trying to sell them off, you can take the path with less hassle:
- Start with a 100-copy print run and scale up as you go. It’s really as simple as it sounds, especially with Crows Publishing. You can print 100 books, which is just enough for a small, intimate launch event or signing session.
Better to run out and make headlines for selling out and have people preordering your next book than have excessive inventory gathering dust.
- Share your hard work. You’ve worked so hard, so it’s only fair that you show off. So share the books with families, supporters, friends, etc. You can even pass a few copies around in your book clubs.
- Scale up with print-on-demand. As your first copies get sold (congratulations btw), you can make more copies using print-on-demand Ghana services. This lets you reduce the risk of piles of unsold books.
#4: Neglecting Marketing and Promotion
Source: Giphy
Publishing is just one part of the story. If nobody knows about your book, sales will remain low no matter how good the content is. Some first-time authors assume their book will “sell itself,” or they rely only on friends and family for purchases.
Truth be told, marketing can feel like a lot of hassle or even downright boring if it’s not your thing. Most authors enjoy writing, but not the promotional work that comes with it.
Sometimes, it’s just fear of coming across as too pushy or just not knowing where to start. Whichever one it is, you can find a tactic that works for you.
👉What to Do Instead
- Start early: You can make social media posts about your book while still writing it. Stuff like snippets, quotes, on your Facebook and Instagram can go a long way.
- Use WhatsApp: WhatsApp is a proper sales channel in many countries now. Create a business account, and add your latest published work to the catalogue. You can make a broadcast list to share updates, pre-orders, and reviews.
Just don’t spam people with it. Use your status updates wisely. Your next reader might be watching.
- Host a local launch: This one requires some budgeting but if you can wing it, go for it. Even a small event in your local clubs or schools can build buzz and credibility.
- Try Ads: Think Facebook ads, WhatsApp ads, or even on Instagram. This can help you target readers that are specifically within your region or the diaspora.
- Visit book clubs: You’d be surprised how many there are, especially in online communities and forums. Use hashtags to find them in your target locations. This works for X, Instagram, etc.
Most book clubs and online communities are happy to support new authors. Just don’t take the aggressive tactic when doing this. Focus on starting interesting conversations and building relationships.
This takes time but works well. Your new friends will naturally become buyers/readers.
# 5: Pricing the Book Based on Vibes
Source: Giphy
Truth be told, it’s hard sometimes to know what the right pricing is. Do you price based on how much effort it took you to create this book? Should you set your price lower to attract more buyers? Tough decisions.
Some authors go with a price that’s quite high, thinking it proves value. Some just go with a too low price that can sometimes undermine all that effort they put in.
Neither of these methods is the best. You want to be in the sweet spot where you’re not unaffordable but also not losing profits.
👉What to Do Instead
- Do your research. You can Google book prices, but you also want to go around and check out actual bookstores around you. Compare similar titles in your genre.
- Add your costs. If you’re not running a nonprofit, then you’re looking to make profits. So calculate your cost and margins. Then settle on a number that lets you cover the costs while still leaving a healthy profit margin.
Just try to make sure you’re also staying affordable for local readers.
- Offer options: You want to print copies for physical events, but also offer eBooks at a lower price. Some of your readers might be on the other end of the world.
Making digital copies helps you reach more readers and break into new markets. You can also offer hardback versions to people who like to collect books.
- Change your price as needed. Inflation happens, so you’ll need to adjust pricing when it does. But you also want to offer discounts or the occasional promo to improve sales.
For the most part, when starting out, you can set a price, then monitor sales and adjust it based on demand.
Conclusion
So there you have it. The five mistakes that can waste your time when self-publishing. You can follow the steps in this post to help you avoid these issues. It’s a lot of effort, but you’ll be happy with the outcome.
To make the journey even more stressful, you can choose a partner that understands and supports your vision from start to finish.
At Crows Publishing, we help authors like you navigate editing, design, publishing, and everything in between.
👉 Ready to publish your book? Start your journey today with Crows Publishing.