By Kathy Shanks

 

You’ve poured your heart into your manuscript. Maybe spent months (or years!) writing, rewriting, and rethinking every word. Now you’re standing at the edge of the publishing world thinking, 'Surely it’s just a matter of clicking upload?'

 

I wish it were that simple.

 

After working with hundreds of first-time authors, I’ve seen the same things trip people up — and they’re rarely about the writing. It’s what happens next that catches people off guard. So, here’s what I wish every first-time author knew before pressing publish:

 

1. Amazon is a search engine, not just a bookshop

 

Most people don’t realise that Amazon works a bit like Google. Your book needs the right keywords, categories, and metadata to show up in front of readers who’d love it. Without those, even the best-written books can sink into the abyss.

 

2. Formatting is more than just making it 'look nice'

 

Formatting is about creating a smooth, professional reading experience. Margins, fonts, image placement ... they all matter more than you think. Readers do judge a book by its layout. (And they’ll leave reviews if it’s messy.)

 

3. Your book description is marketing copy, not a synopsis

 

This is a big one. Your blurb isn’t just a summary. It’s your sales pitch. It should speak directly to the reader and make them want to click ‘buy now.’ And here’s the thing: it’s often the last thing someone reads before deciding whether to spend money on your book. So, make it count. If your description reads like the back of a high school essay, it’s time for a rewrite.

 

4. Your launch is only the beginning

 

So many authors launch their book and then ... nothing. Crickets. That’s not a failure — it’s just a gap in strategy. You need a plan for what happens after launch: reviews, pricing, promotions, advertising, and ongoing visibility.

 

5. You don’t have to do it all alone

 

Publishing is full of moving parts, and trying to juggle them all solo is overwhelming. The good news? You don’t have to. Whether it’s joining a group, hiring help, or simply asking other writers how they did it — support makes all the difference to managing the overwhelm!

 

Every part of your book — from the title to the subtitle, formatting, keywords, blurb and beyond — plays a role in your reader’s decision-making journey. When you make strategic choices at each step, you’re not just publishing a book, you’re building a bridge to your ideal readers. The long game here isn’t just 'get it out there' — it’s get it into the hands of people who already love books like yours. That’s where your book can really shine.

 

Publishing your book isn’t just about finishing — it’s about setting it up to succeed.

 

And you deserve that.