Finishing a manuscript can feel like crossing the finish line of a marathon.
After months or years of writing, editing, and rewriting, you finally reach the point where your book is ready.
Naturally, the next question becomes: When should I publish it?
But, that may be the wrong question.
Before choosing a publication date, ask yourself a more important question:
Am I actually ready to publish?
A finished manuscript does not necessarily mean you have a book that is ready for the marketplace.
I recently worked with two authors who illustrate this distinction.
One author has a good book and an important message. But, her audience was still too small. Publishing too soon would mean asking a limited number of people to generate the sales needed to create momentum.
Rather than rush toward publication, I encouraged her to slow down.
Use the extra time to attract more followers. Build the email list. Create videos. Develop relationships with potential readers.
The book can wait.
The second author faced a completely different situation. He had already written an extensive historical novel and spent months building an audience around it. But, as we examined the book more closely, another opportunity emerged.
Instead of publishing one enormous book, what if the story became three books?
Suddenly, postponing publication was not a setback.
It created an opportunity to make the reading experience better while potentially creating three products to sell instead of one.
These situations demonstrate an important principle:
Finishing a manuscript doesn’t automatically mean it’s ready for publication.
Instead, there are three things that should be ready before you publish:
1. Your book
Is the manuscript truly finished? Is the title strong? Is the length appropriate? Does the book deliver what readers expect?
2. Your audience
Do enough people know you exist? Do you have an email list or another reliable way to reach potential buyers?
More importantly, have those people demonstrated genuine interest in your book?
3. Your marketing
Do you know how you will generate sales beyond friends and family?
Have you tested your message? Do you know what attracts readers? Do you have a plan for reaching more people after publication?
If one of these three pieces is missing, choosing a publication date will not solve the problem.
Sometimes, the smartest decision an author can make is to wait.
Use that time to improve the book, enlarge the audience, or strengthen the marketing.
Because finishing your manuscript is certainly worth celebrating.
But, being finished and being ready are not always the same thing.
If you are preparing to publish a book, it can be difficult to objectively determine whether your book, audience, and marketing are truly ready. That is where an experienced outside perspective can help.
Through my consulting services, I help authors evaluate their current situation, identify what may be missing, and develop a smarter strategy to generate more book sales.
If you would like my guidance to prepare for a stronger book launch, contact me to discuss your goals.
Leave a Reply