Are you making any of these most common mistakes? As a publishing consultant and editor, I have seen all of these. Psst, I’ve even committed some myself and had to learn the hard way. Good news is, if you can dodge them early on, the journey to writing and publishing your book is going to be a whole lot smoother.

Mistake #1: Waiting for Inspiration before writing

Being in the throws of a good writing flow can be intoxicating. But if you always wait for inspiration to strike, you’ll never finish your book. Successful authors say that writing doesn’t always come easy, and it’s up to the writer to push through.

Writing requires discipline just as much as inspiration. And on days when inspiration is absent, a good approach is to write anyway. Doing so could trigger a waterfall of inspo, but if not, you’re still moving your manuscript forward and can tweak it later in editing.

How to avoid it

Set a schedule or develop a writing routine, and show up consistently, not just when your heart feels it. Try author Stephen King’s approach. He says he makes himself write every day, in the same spot, at the same time, with the same type of music playing in the background.

Mistake #2: Writing for Everyone

I know you want everyone to love your book. But, the truth is that if you’re trying to write for everyone, you’re actually writing for no one.

You see, books resonate most deeply when they’re written with a specific audience in mind, that way you can tailor your message and marketing efforts to make them more direct and effective. Doing otherwise waters down your message and confuses marketing efforts.

How to avoid it

Nail down who your audience is. Is your book for new believers? Moms juggling faith and family? Young adults wrestling with identity? Christian women looking for clean romance? Business leaders trying to integrate faith at work? When you know who you’re writing for, your book instantly becomes more powerful — and easier to market.

Mistake #3: Skipping Professional Editing

Let’s be real — nobody wants to read a book full of typos, clunky sentences, or confusing flow. Bad editing is the biggest thing that screams “amateur” and shows an author skipped corners during their self-publishing journey.

You might be hesitant to have someone suggest changes to your work of love, but editing isn’t about eradicating your voice; it’s about sharpening it. A good editor will come alongside you to improve, refine, and shape your message leaving the essence of your voice and your message intact.

How to avoid it

Budget for a professional edit; don’t ask your teacher friend who’s also a good writer. While your friend might have some experience, they haven’t spent their professional lifetime honing the craft – I guarantee they’re not nearly as good as someone who has. They will miss things and your manuscript will suffer as a result.

Yes, it’s an investment, but you’ll have a polished final product that you can be proud of, and which will look professional and put you in the same league as those with book deals.

Mistake #4: Designing your own Book Cover

Listen, I love a good Canva hack as much as the next person — but book covers are not the place to wing it. A strong cover tells readers your book is worth their time and reflects the quality of your message.

First off, you could run into major copyright issues, but also, you could tarnish readers’ first impressions. People literally judge a book by its cover and unless you’re a trained graphic artist with a good understanding of what’s trending in cover design for your book genre, this is one area where you don’t want to cut corners.

How to avoid it

Hire a professional designer who understands book publishing. I can’t stress this part enough: take your time in finding the right person to do the job –not just someone who knows how to use design software. Look for a designer who’s good at composition, has a keen eye for what looks good, and is knowledgeable in industry trends.

Mistake #5: Choosing the Wrong Publishing Type

Traditional publishing vs. self-publishing — it’s a big decision. Neither is better than the other, but they’re very different journeys. And which one to choose to undergo entirely depends on your goals and preferences. Choosing the wrong one can leave you frustrated, broke, or stuck with a book that doesn’t reflect the vision you started with.

How to avoid it

Take time to learn the pros and cons of each one. Traditional publishing gives you wider distribution and prestige, but it’s highly competitive, slow, and some authors report, creatively-limiting. Self-publishing gives you full control and faster timelines, but likely means you need to budget for costs such as editing and cover design. Think about your goals, your timeline, and your resources before deciding.

Mistake #6: Ignoring Marketing Until Launch Week

It’s one thing to publish a book. It’s another thing to get people to read it. Many Christian authors don’t think about marketing until after the book is done, and that means missed opportunities to grow a circle of committed readers who will help you pay off expenses and spread the impact of your message to those who need to hear it most.

Here’s a secret: marketing starts the day you decide to write the book. Building an audience takes time, and you don’t want to be shouting into the void when your book is ready to go.

How to avoid it

Start small and early. Share your writing journey on the social media platform where your target audience hangs out most. For faith-based books, Facebook and Instagram tend to be the top 2, but it will entirely depend on your book and audience.

I also recommend setting up an author website, under your own name, where your social media followers can go to sign up for your email list. Post short reflections related to your book’s theme and start gathering a following. They will be the ones most likely to buy it and tell their friends to do it too.

Mistake #7: Overlooking Copyright and ISBN

Many Canadian authors are surprised to learn that copyright protection is automatic. It’s true, your published work is legally yours. But here’s the catch: if you ever need to defend your rights in court or prove ownership, having your copyright formally registered makes the process simpler and your case stronger.

And then there’s the ISBN (International Standard Book Number). In Canada, ISBNs are free through Library and Archives Canada, following a simple application. Without an ISBN, your book can’t be properly catalogued, distributed to bookstores, or listed on major online platforms.

Skipping these steps can create major headaches later — from ownership disputes to limited distribution, and can keep you from having your book self-published on platforms like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark.

How to avoid it

Learn the basics and register for both before you publish. If you’re unsure, a publishing consultant (like me 👋) can walk you through it.

Mistake #8: Doing It Solo

If you’re embarking on the book publishing journey for the first time it’s probably going to be a big learning curve. And you’re not alone if you started out trying to do it all on your own. Many new authors try to do everything themselves — editing, design, marketing, distribution — and burn out in the process.

How to avoid it

Build a team of support around you. Start with a group of close friends and family to be your prayer warriors. Then look for people around you, and through referrals, who already have the skills and experience you need to support you. That could mean hiring an editor, joining a writers’ group, or working with a consultant who can walk you through the whole manuscript-to-marketplace process.

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Every one of these mistakes is avoidable. And if you’ve already made some, it’s never too late to turn things around. Take it one step at a time and give yourself grace and patience.

If you want more tips like this, hop onto my monthly newsletter list — it’s where I share practical advice, encouragement, and updates on all things Christian writing & publishing in Canada.

And if you’re ready for a little extra help, let’s chat. At KingdomCOMM, I help authors just like you dodge these mistakes, cut through the noise, and get their book on track with confidence.