Three Steps I Never Skip As an Indie Author
Photo by Micah Boswell on Unsplash
As a junior PR practitioner, I once came within minutes of sending a client's annual report to press with a typo on the cover. The word “public” was missing its essential “l”. Yikes. That was all it took to teach me how easy it is to overlook the obvious. Years later, as an indie author and publisher, I still haven't forgotten that lesson.
That's why I never assume my books are ready just because I've finished writing and editing them. Self-publishing means becoming your own publisher. To produce a book that rivals traditional publishing house standards, a publisher must ensure rigorous quality checks at every stage: from developmental edits and line editing to interior formatting, cover design, and physical print production.
To succeed in this role, we indie authors must be self-aware and realistic about our own skills. We have to look honestly at those quality-control benchmarks and decide what we genuinely can do well and when we need professional help. No one is an expert at all of these stages. Being a smart indie publisher does not mean doing everything yourself. It means knowing when to act as the creator and when to hire the right experts.
As authors and publishers, we are solely responsible for that final product. That's a tall order, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. Investing in your book's quality requires a little extra intentionality and a realistic budget, but it prevents costly mistakes. You want to feel proud of the books you're putting into the hands of your readers.
Amateurish publishing shows up in clunky interior layouts, unprofessional designs, typos, and stories that haven’t been polished through editorial or reader feedback. This is especially true in children’s literature, where clunky page turns, mismatched illustration pacing, and text-heavy layouts alienate young readers. In a crowded marketplace, a well-crafted, meticulously produced book stands out and shows respect for your audience.
Although I’m an experienced, confident and competent writer and editor, I still don’t go it alone when it comes to my own books. On the contrary, experience has taught me that even the most polished drafts benefit from an outside perspective and one final, tactile check. I'm a demon for quality, and with my reputation on the line, these are the three steps I never skip:
Step 1: Hire an Editorial Reviewer for a Structural Check
Whether you are writing a 60,000-word novel or a picture book manuscript under 800 words, finishing a draft is a massive achievement. (And don't let the short word count of kid lit fool you—distilling a narrative arc into a few hundred words can require grinding through a dozen or more drafts!)
Once I get the words on the page, I get someone else to review my manuscript. Why? Because as the creator, I’m simply too close to the work. I can no longer see its blind spots, structural gaps, pacing issues, or opportunities to give the reader a richer experience. For me, this step isn’t about catching typos (I can do that later). It’s about ensuring the core structure and narrative arc are the best they possibly can be.
Pro Tip: Look for an editor or reviewer who works in your specific genre. Their insights will be tailored, precise, and actionable. If you write children's books, find someone who understands age-appropriate vocabulary and layout constraints. Depending on the project, budget for an independent evaluation or developmental critique before you move to line editing.
Step 2: Make Time for Beta Readers
Once I’ve revised based on professional editorial feedback, I share the manuscript with a small group of trusted beta readers.
Ideally, these are people who mirror your actual target audience. In my case, that means parents, grandparents, librarians, and educators who will read the text aloud to children. Their job isn’t to edit line by line, but to react to the story. What kept them turning pages? Where did they lose interest? Did the kids stay engaged? This kind of feedback helps to polish the manuscript in ways no solitary revision ever could.
Pro Tip: Give your beta readers a few guiding questions focused on the overall reading experience rather than grammar. You’re looking for honest, emotional, and behavioral reactions (like where a child fidgets or smiles). This step costs nothing but your time and coordination.
Step 3: Proof a Printed Copy. Always
I love the economy of print-on-demand and use platforms like IngramSpark and KDP, both of which provide a digital preview file after you upload your manuscript. Having spent years in publishing, however, I know there’s no substitute for holding a physical proof in your hands.
No matter how sharp your eyes are or how many times you’ve reviewed a digital PDF, errors can slip through that will make you cringe if you don't catch them. Typos, formatting quirks, color shifts, bleeds that don't extend all the way to the edge of the page, and text placement that looks perfect on a glowing screen can feel completely off on a physical, paper page. For illustrated or children's books, seeing how the artwork meets the gutter and how the colors actually render on paper is non-negotiable. The last thing you want to do is launch a book that carries the telltale signs of shortcuts or inexperience.
Seeing your book in print also helps you experience it exactly the way your buyers will. You can feel the physical pacing, see how the margins look in hand, and decide if the product meets your standards. Until I’ve held it, it isn’t final.
Pro Tip: We all get impatient to launch our books, but budget the time and a tiny amount of cash for this step. It’s worth a short delay to catch a mistake you can’t unsee later. Shipping a single proof copy usually costs less than $25 and adds about 10 to 14 days to your timeline. If you're printing in both hardcover and paperback, order physical proofs of both.
The Bottom Line
I believe that anyone with a story to tell or expertise to share can turn their ideas into a beautiful book. Publishing quality books is entirely within reach, but it requires an honest awareness of your strengths and an openness to seek outside help when you need it.
