Hi, I’m Kelly Morgan — indie author, indie publisher, and the voice behind The Author’s Mic™.

When I self-published my first book, I had no idea what I was stepping into. I thought I could just write, get a quick edit, upload it, and be good to go. But like many indie authors, I learned some lessons the hard way.

Today I want to share three things I wish I knew before I self-published. If you’re thinking about writing and publishing your own book, take these notes to heart. They’ll save you money, time, and frustration — and help you put out a book you’re proud of.

1. Editing Is More Expensive (and More Important) Than You Think

I’ll say it again for the people in the back: editing is more expensive than you think.

When I published my first book, I hired a cheap editor on Fiverr. I thought I was getting a great deal. Instead, I ended up with a poor-quality edit that left errors all through my manuscript. And here’s the kicker: I didn’t double-check the work because I assumed the editor had it handled.

Lesson learned. Readers noticed. Reviews came in pointing out the mistakes, and I lost credibility.

👉 Takeaway: Budget for professional editing. Good editing will make or break your book. Don’t cut corners.

2. Marketing Doesn’t Happen by Itself

I used to think publishing the book was the finish line. Spoiler alert: it’s only the beginning.

Your book won’t sell itself. You need a marketing plan that includes social media, email lists, book clubs, podcasts, and maybe even local events. If you don’t promote your work, no one will even know it exists.

👉 Takeaway: Start marketing early. Build buzz before your book launches, not after.

3. Self-Publishing Takes More Time Than You Expect

Writing the book is just one part of the journey. Between editing, formatting, cover design, uploading to platforms, and learning distribution options like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, the process is time-consuming.

If you rush it, you risk putting out something unfinished. That was my mistake. I rushed to publish, and it cost me both time and reputation.

👉 Takeaway: Give yourself more time than you think you need. Quality over speed will always pay off.

Final Thoughts

Self-publishing is rewarding, but it’s also full of hidden challenges. By learning from my mistakes, you can avoid the pain and put your best work into the world.

Invest in editing.

Plan your marketing.

Give yourself time.

If you remember these three things, you’ll already be ahead of where I started.

Get Connected

🎙️ Listen to more tips on The Author’s Mic™.

📚 Join our book club, the Indie Reader Society, to pitch or discover indie books.

🌐 Learn more about publishing support at: brightheadedpublishing.com

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