Jenna Gohman ~ Author

9/10/26

I have been reflecting on my publishing journey a lot recently, and wanted to share some of the things I wish I had known before I published my book.

One thing I wish I had known, how long it would take to get my copyright certificate. I applied for copyright once my book had been through final edits. It took over a month to get confirmation that my copyright was active.

Another thing I wish I had known, how to market my book well. I have very much done the “learn as you go” technique with my first book. I think I would have started marketing and preorders for it a lot sooner. But again, I was learning how the timeline for the actual publishing would go.

I wish I would have known I needed to give my beta readers enough time to finish the book without the pressure of release day pushing in on them. For sure give your manuscript to beta readers and proof readers with plenty of time for them to enjoy the book and for you to make any corrections you need to.

I also would order more author copies from the start. Not proofs, I had 3 and felt that was enough to know it was ready. But ordering author copies to have on hand for my first book signing would have been helpful. I stressed that I wasn’t going to have enough. Luckily I did, but will need more before another signing.

All in all my first trip through self-publishing was great, scary, but it turned out ok. I learned a lot and feel much more confident for the next time around.