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Some Common Mistakes New Children's Authors Make Before Publishing
- TSE Team
- Oct 2
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 6
First of all, congratulations on reaching this step! Publishing your first children's book is an incredible milestone!
The journey from idea, to outline, to manuscript, to published work is full of potential pitfalls. Many authors make avoidable mistakes before publishing that can affect the quality, reception, and success of their book. Understanding these common errors can save time, money, and frustration.
Overlooking the Importance of Manuscript Editing and Developmental Feedback
One of the biggest mistakes authors make is underestimating the value of all the different kinds of editing. Editing is not just about fixing typos or grammar errors; it can involve refining the structure, flow, clarity, and consistency of your story or content. Many authors skip professional editing to save money or time, but this feedback is a valuable tool in creating the most cohesive and magical book you can.
For example, a chapter book with inconsistent characters or plot holes can confuse young readers and lead to poor reviews, which then leads to poor sales. Similarly, a rhyming picture book that hasn't had its cadence and beat reviewed can leave the reading parent confused too.
To avoid this calamity, you could hire a professional manuscript editing service to review your work. (We offer an incredible Pro Upgrade Service, as well as copy and line editing as standard with our writing packages!) And consider -
Developmental editing to improve story structure and content flow.
Copy and line editing to fix grammar, punctuation, and style issues.
Consider proofreading as the final step before publishing.
Not enough research into your Target Audience and Market
Another common mistake is failing to consider who the book is for and what the market demands at every step. Authors often write what they want*** without considering the preferences, needs, or expectations of their potential readers. Fads come and go. If you're aiming for a niche that's super popular right now, you may have already missed the boat. This can lead to a mismatch between the book’s story and the audience’s interests.
For instance, a finance picture book like crypto for kids or savings for beginners book written in overly complex language may intimidate young readers. A sci-fi novel that ignores popular tropes or reader expectations might struggle to find a fan base.
Ideas to help with this are:
Check out the current market and narrow down your target audience’s demographics (age, interests, overlapping niches) and preferences.
Read books similar to yours to understand what works and why a particular author is so popular.
Tailor style, tone, and content to meet your audience’s expectations.
Our Developmental Editing/Pro Upgrade can help with this!
🌟***With that being said, there's absolutely nothing wrong in writing a story JUST FOR YOU! Sometimes the market expectations aren't as important as following your dreams. Sure, it might not become a best seller, but someone out there will resonate with your story, because YOU do. You're not alone in thinking your message is important, sometimes niche audiences are harder to connect with. And all that takes is time. 🌟
Skipping Professional Manuscript Editing Services
Many authors try to self-edit or rely on friends and family for feedback. This is a great idea at the start, but professional editors bring expertise, objectivity, and experience that non-professionals lack. Their impressive attention to detail can spot inconsistencies, plot holes, pacing issues, and language problems that friends of the author might miss. And friends and family might hold back from truths to spare feelings or awkward conversations.
Using a professional manuscript editing service can dramatically improve the quality of your book. It also increases your chances of positive reviews, better sales, and even catching the attention of literary agents or publishers.
VERY IMPORTANT Top Tip!
Be open to constructive criticism and willing to revise your manuscript accordingly.
Ignoring Formatting and Design Details
Formatting and design are often overlooked with the focus being on the idea and the individual illustrations. But formatting and layout are crucial for a professional polished appearance. Poor formatting can make a book difficult to read and give a 'cheap' impression. This includes inconsistent fonts, spacing, and poor text placement. You'll know what we mean if you take a moment to look through some of the newest children's books published on Amazon KDP. You can tell which ones took time on their covers and used professionals, and which ones used some AI generated images and popped them on top of each other with a Comic Sans font title 😬
Cover design and typesetting are equally as important as the story idea and illustrations. A bland or amateurish cover and text fonts can turn away readers, even if the content is excellent. The cover is the first thing a child sees, so it must be eye-catching and magical
Use professional formatting tools or hire a formatter to prepare your manuscript for print and digital formats.
Invest in a professional cover designer who understands your genre. (We know someone who can help with this 😉 And no, not us this time! See link above)
Test your book’s appearance on different devices and print sizes.
And finally, this is the biggy! - 🚫Rushing the Publishing Process!🚫
It's SO exciting to finally see your book in full colour and hold it in your hands - we know! Many authors are so keen to see their book in print and rush through the final stages. This eagerness can lead to so many unnecessary errors and reprints, ultimately saving no time at all, AND missed opportunities for improvement. Publishing too quickly without the necessary prep can harm your book’s reputation too. You don't want stale reviews about little errors littering your selling platform.
You can avoid all of this, by taking your time and not rushing the very fun, exciting process that is publishing your children's stories.
Publishing a book is a complex process that requires attention to detail and careful planning. Avoiding common mistakes like neglecting manuscript editing, ignoring your audience, and rushing the process can make a significant difference in your book’s success. Remember, investing time and resources in professional editing and preparation is an investment in your book’s future.
