Ep 148: 5 Self-Publishing Mistakes First-Time Authors Make
In this episode, we walk through 5 mistakes that quietly undermine first-time self-publishers and show how to fix each one with practical, doable steps.
We start by tightening your audience with a one-sentence framework that keeps every chapter aligned to a clear promise.
From there, we map a real editing workflow: self-edit, gather targeted beta feedback on structure and flow, then bring in a professional editor who can strengthen the developmental and line work.
We also get honest about design. DIY your interior with reliable templates and checklists. But your cover? Invest in that. It needs to signal genre, earn clicks, and meet exact printer specs for spine width, trim, and image quality.
Then we dig into metadata, the quiet engine behind discoverability. Keywords, categories, and a clean description help the right readers find you on the world’s third-largest search engine.
If you’re tired of guessing and want a simpler way to publish with confidence, this conversation gives you clarity and next steps you can trust.
MENTIONED RESOURCES:
Workshop with Jane Friedman: The Indie Author’s Guide to a Standout Amazon Listing
Date: January 16, 2026
Time: 10am PST / 11am MST / noon CST / 1pm EST
Sign up here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__NjEykZNSwSpeZ48tydhpw
Self-Publishing Starter Kit: https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/selfpublishing101
Self-Publishing Action Plan:
https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/actionplan
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SELF-PUBLISHING STARTER KIT
Discover the exact steps to focus on (and mistakes to avoid) so you can self-publish an incredible book that's indistinguishable in quality from a New York Times bestseller.
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