Don’t Jump The Gun: Why You Are Not Ready To Publish

All too often Authors loose that one big chance because they jumped the gun on publishing. I understand that writing a book is a long and grueling process and most authors are just ready to be done, but be patient. You would be surprised by how many people feel that their books are finished and ready to be published, but in reality they still have weeks and even months of much needed preparation ahead of them. Don’t let this discourage you, as this is the most exciting part of the writing journey. Your book is done and now it is time to do some house cleaning before you deliver it. Below is a checklist that will help you know when your book is ready to be published.

• Know My Industry Like The Back Of My Hand

First of all, does anyone even know the back of their hand? Either way, you know what I mean. This is the first on the checklist because it is one of the most important parts of the publishing process. Consider the characteristics that you look for in a life partner. You would want them to have similar morals and ethics as well as congruent interests and intentions. The same goes with matching your book with a publishing company. Does this publishing company understand your vision? Are they experienced in publishing your genre? What are the intentions of the publishing company with your book? Do not take for granted the time that you have to find the perfect publishing company for your and your book. Believe me, if you jump the gun on this one, you will regret it.

• Have I Started Marketing? If Not, Why?

Marketing, Marketing, Marketing! If you have not started marketing your book, now is the time. Many authors do not realize that self-promotion and marketing is extremely important. If you are traditionally publishing your book, chances are the publishing company will take care of a good amount of marketing. But, this does not mean you are off the hook. Get those marketing shoes on and get out there and promote your book. It is the best thing you can do for the success of your writing. Find blogs that will review your book. Set up media interviews and public readings. Marketing your book should come long before the publishing process. You have worked so hard on your writing, now its time to show it off!

• What Am I Up Against

Start taking notes because this is a big one that many authors miss. How well do you know your genre and its industry? Have you done your research on other authors in your genre and how have they done? A football player will never play a game without researching his opponent. The writing world is in some sense a battlefield and you must know what you are going up against. By the same token, you may find that some of the authors in the same genre may end up being great people to work along side of. The stronger your presence is in your industry, the more success you will have in the end. Do not burn any bridges with other writers; just be aware of your competition.

• Are Sales All I Care About

Almost any established author would tell you that one of the biggest mistakes a writer can do is expect millions of book sales. It is not a bad idea to keep your goals high, but do not set them at an unreachable height. Only best selling authors can really bank on a high number of annual sales and even that is not certain. If this is your first published book try setting your goals on other things like marketing and editing. These goals will almost always raise the number of books sold in the end. Sure, every author depends on sales for revenue, but you are at the beginning of your journey. The sales will come; now is the time to focus your thoughts on other areas.

• How Patient Am I

If you are an impatient person by nature then my best advice to you is to find a new industry. Book writing and publishing is for people with perseverance and patience. Most publishing companies will take over a year to publish your book. It is industry where the phrase “hurry up and wait” is commonly expressed between authors. If you are one of those people who was blessed with patience and a love for writing then you have found your calling.

There is so much preparation that goes into the creation of a book even before it is sent to the publishing company. These are just a few key steps on the long walk to publication. Do your research before your book is sent off and make sure that you never jump the gun.