by Christy Barritt, @christybarritt

I’ve been in the indie market for a decade now, and I’ve seen a lot of books come and go during that time. Before I ventured into indie publishing, I was traditionally published, and years before that I worked as an assistant editor at a publishing house.

Now, before mentioned the mistakes I most often see indie authors make, let me just say this. I think indie authors rock, and I love that people are pursuing their dreams. But for every success story, there are hundreds (if not more) of indie published books that could be so much better.

So if you’re an indie author who’s still learning the ropes or if you’re thinking about venturing into the indie world, here are some of the most common mistakes you should avoid:

1. Not learning the craft or honing your skills. I started writing in high school and college, and I loved the books I wrote. I really did. I loved them enough that I submitted them to publishing houses and, one by one, they were all rejected. I was devasted because I thought these books were brilliant. Eventually, when they found no publishing home, I put the manuscripts away in a file box in my closet. Not long ago, I found these dusty books again. And guess what? They were horrible. I had no idea what I was doing back then. I now consider these books “practice manuscripts.” They were the ones I cut my teeth on.

As I progressed in my publishing journey, I began submitting my books to contests. I joined critique groups to have my writing evaluated. I went to conferences and read books on writing. I did all I could to hone my craft and become a better writer. Finally, after I’d put in a lot of hard work, my writing was ready to be published, and I got my first book contract.

In today’s world of publishing, it’s easy to write something, think it’s great, and stick it online for sale. But if you want to develop lifelong fans, put the time in. Go through the hard stuff—the critiques and the harsh feedback. Do whatever you can to be a better writer. In the long run, you won’t regret it. You don’t have to go the conventional publishing way to have the stamp of approval. But do everything you can to tell the best story possible.

1. Thinking they can edit their own work. As I said above, I worked at a publishing house before I began freelancing. I was also a newspaper reporter for eight years. In general, my editing skills are probably a little better than the average person. Still, I stink at editing my own work. Like, I totally stink. Why? Because I know what I’m trying to say, so my eyes skim over words and paragraphs. It’s just human nature. There’s no one I know who can successfully edit their own work. And I’m speaking about editing in terms of grammar, typos, and story elements. If you can’t afford an editor, see if you can trade services with someone else. Find a way to make it happen.
2. Not having a professional cover. I’ve seen many people who think they can create their own covers when they can’t. Graphic design is a skill. It takes training and practice—just like writing. So don’t think you’re going to be able to sit down and make something on your own that’s going to match the covers publishing houses are putting out. You can’t. You just can’t. But you can find some excellent designers or even pre-made covers out there that will put you in the game. Do yourself a favor and wrap that book you’ve been slaving over in the best package possible. You won’t regret it.
3. Assuming that if you publish a book, the readers will come. Publishing isn’t the Field of Dreams. The most successful indies I know are also masters at marketing. They know their way around Facebook and Amazon ads. They know how to write a newsletter. They realize the importance of a good website and an effective social media presence. They know that publishing is about more than putting a book for sale.
4. Having a one and done mindset. What I mean by this is that many people think if they release a book, they’re done. That’s it, and they’ve arrived. But indies who are making a living at writing are the ones who constantly release new books. Not everyone can have a new release every month or two months or even six months. But always have that next book in the queue. As soon as you finish one novel, begin the next one—no matter how long it takes you to write it.

Hidden Currents

You can take the detective out of the investigation, but you can’t take the investigator out of the detective.

A notorious gang puts a bounty on Detective Cady Matthews’s head after she takes down their leader, leaving her no choice but to hide until she can testify at trial. But her temporary home across the country on a remote North Carolina island isn’t as peaceful as she initially thinks.

Living under the new identity of Cassidy Livingston, she struggles to keep her investigative skills tucked away, especially after a body washes ashore. When local police bungle the murder investigation, she can’t resist stepping in. But Cassidy is supposed to be keeping a low profile. One wrong move could lead to both her discovery and her demise.

Can she bring justice to the island . . . or will the hidden currents surrounding her pull her under for good?

Christy Barritt 

USA Today has called Christy Barritt’s books “scary, funny, passionate, and quirky.”

A Publishers Weekly bestseller, Christy writes both mystery and romantic suspense novels that are clean with underlying messages of faith. Her book, Hazardous Duty, is currently being made into a movie, and her Worst Detective Ever series has been optioned for film.

Christy spent six weeks straight as the #1 author on Amazon in the Religion and Spirituality category, and she’s sold more than 1.4 million copies of her novels. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery, have been twice nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and have finaled for both a Carol Award and Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year.

She’s married to her prince charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious—but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado.

Christy currently splits her time between the Virginia suburbs and Hatteras Island, North Carolina.

For more information, visit her website: www.christybarritt.com.