Top 5 Mistakes New Indie Authors Make (And How to Avoid Them)

If you’ve ever tried to publish your first book, you know the feeling: that strange mix of excitement and dread, like sending a kid off to their first sleepover. You hope everything goes well, but inside you’re wondering, Did I forget something important?

Most of us have. Every new indie author brushes up against the same handful of mistakes. Not because they’re careless, but because the process is big and the heart gets involved. So here’s a quiet, honest list to help you sidestep the things that trip almost all of us up.

1. Rushing Because You’re Tired of Holding Your Breath

A funny thing happens near the end of writing a book. You’ve been living in your own head for so long that you want to be done. You want to hit publish just to release the pressure of holding this story for months—sometimes years.

But rushing leads to tiny heartbreaks later: typos you can’t unsee, covers you outgrow in a week, readers asking questions that make you think, Oh… I should’ve fixed that part.

A gentler way:
Give your draft a few days of quiet. Step away. Go sit in the sun. Touch grass, literally. When you come back, you’ll see what needs care and what can stay exactly as it is.

Let Us Walk Beside You From Manuscript to Market Success

2. Trying to Edit Your Own Work With “Writer Eyes”

Writers read their own sentences the way parents hear their kid in a noisy playground—instantly and with built-in understanding. That means your brain fills in every missing word. It forgives awkward sentences. It smooths things over.

This is why every new indie author ends up with mistakes they truly didn’t see.

A gentler way:
Bring in someone with fresh eyes. A real editor if you can. A sharp friend if you can’t. Someone who will say, kindly,
“Hey… I think you meant something different here.”

3. Treating the Cover Like a Decoration Instead of a Door

New authors often create a cover the way you might decorate a school project—“What can I do with the tools I already have?”
Canva at midnight. A picture that’s “close enough.” A font that feels fine because you’ve been staring at the screen too long.

But covers are doors. And people don’t walk through doors that feel shaky or unfinished.

A gentler way:
Let someone who loves design handle it. Your cover should feel like your book is opening its arms and saying, “Come in, I’ve been waiting for you.” Even a simple, clean design can do that beautifully.

4. Writing a Book Description That Reads Like a Grocery List

Almost every indie author hits this wall: they can write 60,000 words but freeze when asked to write 120 about what the book is. So they write something stiff, or rushed, or too vague to matter.

But this little paragraph is where readers lean in or lean away.

A gentler way:
Imagine you’re telling a friend what your book is about over a slow Saturday breakfast. No fancy phrases. Just:
“It’s about this person… and they’re dealing with this thing… and here’s why I cared enough to write it.”

That tone is always better than anything forced.

5. Assuming “Good Book = People Will Find It”

Every new author has this hopeful moment. You think:
“I wrote something real. That should be enough.”

But the world is loud, and books—especially quiet ones—need help being heard. Marketing feels awkward at first, like you’re waving your arms too much. But readers can’t find you if you stay tucked away.

A gentler way:
Pick one or two things you don’t hate:
• sharing a quote
• posting a small update
• sending a friendly note to a reviewer
• joining a writing group
• offering a sample chapter

Small, steady signals beat big, loud campaigns every time.

And Finally...

Most indie authors feel like they’re making everything up as they go. Because they are. Everyone is. Even the ones who look confident.

These “mistakes” aren’t failures—they’re rites of passage. Signs that you’re learning the shape of this world. The fact that you’re here, reading this, means you’re already doing better than you think.

If you want, I can help you create a companion post or a downloadable checklist based on this—just tell me the vibe you want.

Let The Pulp House Publishing handle the nitty gritties while you focus on your art. Your writing… Contact them today!