5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Publishing My First Novel

By Books by Knight

Publishing your first novel feels a little like skydiving—you’re excited, terrified, and not entirely sure if you’ve packed your parachute correctly. I poured my heart into my first book, thought I knew what to expect, and learned—quickly—that the writing is just one part of the story.

If you’re thinking about publishing your first novel, or if you're just curious about what the behind-the-scenes journey is really like, here are 5 things I wish someone had told me before I hit “publish.”

1. Writing the Book Is Only Half the Battle

I used to think finishing the manuscript was the hard part—and it is. But what comes next is a whole new mountain: editing, formatting, cover design, uploading, distribution, and marketing. It’s a process that requires just as much patience, energy, and focus as the writing itself.

🛠️ Tip: Plan for post-writing just like you plan your plot. Give yourself time, and don’t rush to hit “publish” the moment you finish the last sentence.

2. You’ll Read Your Own Book More Than Anyone Else Ever Will

Between revisions, proofreading, formatting checks, and final reviews, I must have read my first novel twenty times before it ever hit shelves. And yes, I still found typos. It’s a humbling (and exhausting) experience.

🖊️ Tip: Get fresh eyes on your work. Beta readers and a professional editor are worth their weight in gold.

3. Your Book Will Never Feel ‘Perfect’—Publish It Anyway

Perfectionism almost killed my first release. I kept tweaking things—sentences, chapter breaks, the ending—because I was terrified of putting something “unfinished” into the world. But truthfully, no book is ever perfect. Even the ones on bestseller lists.

📚 Lesson: At some point, you have to let go. Give it your best, trust the process, and release it into the wild.

4. Marketing Isn’t Optional—Even for Great Books

I thought if I wrote something powerful, people would just... find it. Spoiler alert: they won’t. Publishing is about more than craft—it’s about connection. You need to talk about your book, show your face, and put it in front of readers in every way you can.

📢 Tip: Start building your audience before you publish. Social media, an email list, or a blog (like this one) can go a long way.

5. The First Book Teaches You Everything the Hard Way

There’s no way around it: your first book is a learning experience. You’ll mess things up. You’ll hit “publish” and find a typo on page two. You’ll doubt yourself. You’ll grow. You’ll get better.
And if you stick with it, your next book will be smarter, stronger, and smoother.

❤️ Truth: You only get one first book. Embrace the chaos. You’re doing something brave.

Final Thoughts

Publishing your first novel isn’t just about the book—it’s about becoming the kind of person who can share their work with the world. Mistakes will happen, lessons will be learned, but nothing compares to the feeling of holding your story in your hands for the first time.

And if you're working on your first novel now? You’ve got this. One page at a time.

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