Top 20 Mistakes to Avoid Before You Finish the Damn Book
Top 20 Mistakes to Avoid Before You Finish the Damn Book
From the desk of Susie Schaefer, CEO of Finish the Damn and Finish the Damn Book Podcast
While many first-time authors dream about getting picked up by a traditional publisher, the process of pitching to a publishing house can be time consuming and expensive. Many new authors, particularly nonfiction authors who have a business, where a book supports their marketing plan, is a much more feasible way to get your message out to the world.
Some of the benefits of indie publishing is that YOU get to control your budget, timeline, and content. Here are some common mistakes that can be avoided to make your book look professional, to put your best foot forward.
Not using a writing coach! One of the first steps for keeping your writing on track and on purpose, a writing coach helps with accountability, consistency, flow of the book, and helps you get unstuck.
Unprofessional editing; not just a proof edit! Investing in professional editing (development, line & proof editing) is essentially the key to moving forward, once you’ve got a “finished” draft of your manuscript.
Trying to go it alone, a.k.a. “boot-strapping” your book. Book coaches, publishing consultants, shepherds, and doulas know their way around the publishing industry and how various systems work, which is much more time efficient that you having to make heads or tails of how it all works.
Not asking for connections. Book coaches have resources that are worth their weight in gold, and can make recommendations for professional editors, book designers, public relations and media agents, book marketers, and more.
Improper spelling. It’s not Forward (as in moving ahead), it’s FOREWORD (as in “the words before”). And Acknowledgments is spelled without an “e” after the “g.”
An incomplete copyright page. This is one of the biggest mistakes in the indie publishing industry and is a legal document. Be sure that you have all the necessary items to ensure that your book is up to par.
Formatting Mistakes: Headers and footers appearing on blank pages is a big no-no, and can be avoided by using a professional interior book designer (also known as a formatter). Poor interior layout includes spaces between paragraphs, too-small margins, and chapter pages that lack unique or interesting design elements.
Bulk print jobs of 1000 or more books, versus using Print-On-Demand (POD) services. Why keep boxes of books in your garage? POD allows you the flexibility to order online as needed and ship directly to venues for speaking engagements.
Using the wrong color paper. Yes! There are different colors of paper for the interior of your book. Cream-colored paper is an industry standard, unless you’re publishing a textbook, medical, or reference book.
Short-cuts on your cover. Book design is much more than simply using a graphic designer. Professional book designers have an understanding of spine measurements and using cover templates. The cover of your book is the ONLY chance to make a great first impression!
Long back cover content. The back-of-the-book-blurb should be around 150-ish words; not fill up the back cover. Your author bio should be only a couple sentences and include a terrific head shot.
Publishing without an “imprint.” Publish under your business name to protect your content. Even better? Develop a media or publishing division of your company or LLC to give it that extra sparkle.
Using free or “borrowed” ISBNs (book identifier numbers). To be additionally sure that your content is protected, purchase your ISBNs under your imprint through Bowker (for U.S. books).
Starting your cover design too soon. You may have an idea of your cover design; however it’s best to wait until you’ve been through a round or two of editing, just in case themes or topics change.
Not embedding your barcode on the cover. Whoopsie! Book buyers look for the details, including a properly-designed barcode with a human-readable price. Pro Tip: Put the BISAC code (book industry category) above the barcode to facilitate where your book is shelved.
Getting stuck on the original title/subtitle. Consider that the perfect title may just jump out while in the editing phase. Once you’ve finalized your title & subtitle, start looking at options for your cover design.
Publishing without seeing a print proof. You’ll have multiple times to read through your book, and getting a physical copy (print/press proof) too review is the last step in the process. You’ll be amazed at what errors you find when you hold it in your hands.
Scheduling your book launch too soon. Wait to schedule your event until you have approved the print proof to ensure you will have books delivered in time for your event.
Not budgeting for book marketing. Create your book marketing plan early in the process, ideally during the editing phase, to start marketing your “Coming Soon” campaign as soon as you have the front cover of your book.
Using POD services to for pre-sales. By offering your pre-sale book via your website instead of online programs, you have the opportunity to capture email addresses and add to your list.
Create a Book to Impact the World
Just think… your book has the ability to make an impact on the world, so choosing your cause is something you’ll want to start thinking about early in the process.
Whether your mission is to feed the hungry, save the rainforest, or educate about human trafficking, the topic of your book can help drive awareness to the cause of your choice.
A few things to consider…
First, the cause you choose should be relevant to your book’s message. For example, if you’re writing a memoir about intimate partner abuse, your cause might be centered around shelters or helping survivors.
Second, you can decide if you want a portion of your book’s proceeds to fund a cause, or simply add information about how to support various organizations within your book. This can be done in your Acknowledgments, on your Business Page, or even as a list of Resources in the back of your book.
Third, you can also find organizations to “partner” with, by offering copies at a discount, or speaking at events. My recommendation is that you identify small to medium-size
organizations, rather than large ones that already have funding and marketing plans in place. The best way to establish a partnership is to contact the organization, let them know that you are publishing a book and ask, “How can I help?”
The great thing about publishing independently, is that if an organization ceases to exist, or you wish to change the organization you support, you have the ability to make that revision in your book and upload your updated interior file.
And finally, you can add a sentence or two in your book description that appears on your sales page via Amazon and Barnes & Noble. This will identify your cause to readers even before they’ve purchased your book. So, start thinking about your book’s message and how YOU can have an impact on the world.
For more ideas and to continue learning, be sure to tune in to the Finish the Damn Podcast.
Top 20 Mistakes to Avoid Before You Finish the Damn Book
Published by Finish the Book Publishing and Finish the Damn Book Podcast
Copyright ©2025, SUSIE SCHAEFER. All rights reserved.
SCHAEFER, SUSIE, Author
TOP 20 MISTAKES TO AVOID BEFORE YOU FINISH THE DAMN BOOK
SUSIE SCHAEFER
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Business Writing
EDUCATION / Professional Development
STUDY AIDS / Professional
All rights reserved by SUSIE SCHAEFER, FINISH THE BOOK PUBLISHING, a Key Collabn0rator with Manguus media Group
and FINISH THE DAMN BOOK PODCAST.
This book is printed in the United States of America.
