After you finish your first draft, what steps do you take before formatting? Self editing, beta readers, developmental editing (paid), copy/line/grammatical editing (paid), then proof reading (paid)?

Most self-published books fail not because the author is bad, but because the strategy is weak. Common mistakes include: • Choosing the wrong niche • Poor book covers • Weak titles & descriptions • No marketing strategy • Wrong keywords • Low-quality content • Giving up too early Self-publishing is more than just uploading a book you need the right strategy to attract readers and make sales. 🚀 What do you think is the biggest mistake beginners make in self-publishing? Have you ever tried publishing a book before? 👇

I screen recorded the process of uploading a simple paperback to KDP (edited down to 13 minutes). This was for a poetry book written by Astronaut Dr. Sian Proctor. We filmed this to share at a "how to publish your book" workshop at the Analog Astronaut Conference (AAC) held each May at Biosphere II in Arizona.

When I first got into the digital space, I thought success was all about learning more. I later realized that taking consistent action and staying focused on one path made the biggest difference. The same applies to self-publishing. Sometimes it's not writing the book that's hard, it's overcoming the one thing that's stopping you from moving forward. So, what's your biggest challenge right now? Is it finishing your manuscript, publishing, marketing your book, getting reviews, or reaching more readers? Share it in the comments. You might find someone here who's already overcome the challenge you're facing, and your answer could help another author too.