3 Reasons Why Writers Aren't Ready to Publish

Too many writers find themselves stuck at the finish line, unable to move forward to the published writing stage

So many writers dream of being published only to have obstacles blocking their way to reaching readers.

When we view obstacles that impede our publishing journey, they can range from the author's self-imposed limitations to the limitations within the publishing industry. Whatever the reason for the stall, there are always ways that authors can work their way around them.

Here are the three top reasons authors are ready to publish:

Industry Obstacles

The traditional side of the publishing industry has drastically changed in the last ten years for sure.

But what hasn't changed about the industry is how subjective it is. Not every book will fit into the industry's standards, leaving authors querying for a long time. Some authors spend years querying agents and small publishers as well as waiting through the response windows for each query.

Authors who choose the traditional publishing route over the self-publishing route may find that their book remains on their computer instead of in the hands of readers.

Ways that authors can avoid these obstacles include:

• Researching their genre and market to check the marketability of their book before querying

• Beta-testing it on readers before querying to see how readers respond

• Craft, test, and tweak your query pitches for the query letters, which means having someone read them and give feedback

Doing these three things will increase your chances of discoverability within the traditional publishing realm.

For more information about traditional publishing, see How the Publishing Industry Changes Affect Both Writers and Readers.

Self-Imposed Limitations

A large obstacle that authors face is self-imposed limitations.

What do I mean by this? This would be the unwillingness to learn and adapt to the industry. Or authors feel lost in the world of publishing and have a hard time learning it.

This obstacle does not encompass a large percentage of writers. However, it's substantial enough that it's worth mentioning.

For example, an author new to the world of self-publishing may be more willing to spend thousands of dollars for someone to do the cover design, edit, write a book description, and place the book on platforms like Amazon. However, the only things authors should spend money on from this short list are cover design and editing.

Even though it's easier to pay someone to do these tasks, learning them teaches you about the industry, speeds up the process, and saves money allocated toward editing or marketing.

For another example, an author new to the world of traditional publishing may grow tired of writing a new query letter for each individual agent because it requires researching what details may snag that agent. However, if you don't do the work to show that agent you are worth their time and care about them representing your book, your book may never be accepted into the traditional publishing world.

Despite having the best book idea in the industry, if the author doesn't follow the process to find an agent or publishing house correctly, there is a decent chance your book won't be published traditionally.

Ways authors could fix self-imposed limitations:

• Learn from seasoned authors in the industry. Believe it or not, many authors are willing to lend their insight.

• Take a course

• Dig into researching processes and publishing

• Read books on publishing and the industry

For more about cost-effective self-publishing, see I Lost Thousands Publishing My Book.

Being Too Shy To Share

A surprising number of writers write book after book and archive them, never publishing a single one.

Publishing a book is a brave thing to do when you think about it. To open your work and inner thoughts to strangers who will post or message you their opinion on it can be nerve-wracking. And this can intimidate people.

But the one thing authors who fall into this category should know is they aren't alone.

Here is how you can start warming up to the idea of sharing your work:

• Share your work with someone close to you to start. This will help boost your confidence and allow someone you care about to give feedback.

• Joining a writer's group is a great place to get to know writers and gather the courage to share tidbits of your work.

• Try publishing short stories or poetry anonymously to free sites like Wattpad.

If you find yourself pausing to publish, try figuring out what's stopping you and how you can overcome it.