Witting you first book is a challenge. Getting it into a finished, printed book that people can actually buy and read is another.
For most first-time authors, the publishing side is completely new territory. There are editing decisions, cover design, formatting, printing, pricing and marketing to think about, and it can all feel a bit overwhelming.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be.
A lot of the stress comes from trying to do everything at once, or simply not allowing enough time for the production side. Thankfully, book printing service provider YouLove Print has put together guidance that helps break the process down into manageable steps.
Give yourself more time than you think
One of the biggest mistakes first-time authors make isn’t necessarily getting something wrong. It’s assuming everything will happen quickly.
Finishing your manuscript is only the beginning. You’ll still need to edit it, proofread it, sort out the cover and interior layout, prepare the files and then get the book printed.
Working backwards from the date you want to launch is a much better way of planning. Give yourself several months between finishing the manuscript and having the finished book in your hands. It might feel like a long time, but you’ll be glad you did.
Don’t print before the book is ready
It’s tempting to start thinking about paper, binding and cover finishes while you’re still writing. I’d resist that temptation.
Get the manuscript finished first. Then edit it properly. A developmental edit can help with structure and pacing, while copyediting and proofreading will pick up language, consistency and those annoying little mistakes that are so easy to miss when you’ve read your own words a hundred times.
Beta readers can help too. Sometimes you simply need somebody who hasn’t been staring at the same pages for months.
And remember, a mistake on screen can be fixed. A mistake in 500 printed books is a rather more expensive problem.
Digital printing doesn’t mean poor quality
There’s still a perception that digital printing is somehow inferior to traditional offset printing. Modern digital presses have changed that.
The quality available from digital printing can be extremely high, so the decision shouldn’t simply come down to assuming litho is better. For a first book, things like quantity, budget and how much flexibility you need are far more important.
Don’t order thousands of books just because it’s cheaper
This is where things can get tricky for a first-time author.
You don’t have a sales history, so how are you supposed to know whether you’ll sell 50 copies or 500?
Print-on-demand can make sense for occasional orders, while a large litho run can bring the cost per book down but leaves you paying upfront and finding somewhere to store the books.
Short-run digital printing can be a useful middle ground. You can print a smaller quantity, see how the book performs and make changes before committing to a much larger run.
For a first book, that flexibility can be worth far more than saving a few pence per copy.
Get your print files right
A surprising number of printing delays come down to the files rather than the printer.
Your cover and interior pages need to be supplied in the correct format, with things like CMYK colour, bleed and suitable image resolution taken care of. Images should generally be 300 DPI or higher so they don’t look soft when printed.
There’s also a good reason why colours can look different on the finished book. Your screen is backlit and uses RGB, whereas printed pages obviously aren’t.
Getting your files prepared correctly from the start helps avoid unpleasant surprises. I’d also recommend ordering a single proof copy before committing to a full print run. It’s a relatively small extra cost for the reassurance of seeing exactly what your reader will receive.
Don’t try to save money everywhere
There are areas where you can keep costs under control, but your cover probably isn’t one of them.
A good cover and a professionally laid-out interior can make a huge difference to how the finished book looks and feels. You don’t need to spend a fortune, but trying to do absolutely everything yourself can sometimes be a false economy.
The same applies to the book’s specification. A premium photography book might justify expensive paper and binding, whereas a children’s activity book probably doesn’t need the same treatment.
Think about the reader you’re actually selling to, rather than creating the most expensive version of the book you can afford.
Think about marketing before the book is printed
Marketing shouldn’t begin on launch day.
While your book is being edited and printed, you can already be building an audience, collecting email addresses, finding potential reviewers and thinking about where you’ll sell the finished book.
Amazon will be part of the picture for many authors, but you might also sell through your own website, at events or directly to readers.
The important thing is to give your launch somewhere to go. Having even a small audience waiting for the book is better than pressing the publish button and hoping people magically find it.
Self-publishing is about getting the order right
Self-publishing your first book can look complicated, but it becomes much more manageable when you break it down.
Finish the manuscript. Edit it properly. Get the design and files right. Choose a print method and quantity that you’re comfortable with. Think about your reader when setting the specification and price. And start thinking about marketing before the books arrive.
You don’t have to get everything perfect from day one. You just need to give yourself enough time, make sensible decisions and avoid making the expensive mistakes that can be avoided.
Your first book is a learning curve, but it doesn’t have to be an impossible one.
