One Month as a Published Author: My Advice for Other Newbie Writers
As of April 11th, The Half of It has been out in the world for a month! The experience of seeing people buy it, read it, and review it has been nothing short of surreal. There’s so much anticipation and build-up to publishing a book that when it finally happens, it’s a bit disorienting—I felt like I’d stepped into a whole new identity overnight.
I’ve made mistakes, learned a lot, and had a few humbling moments along the way. So I figured I’d share what the first month has really been like, what I’d do differently, and what advice I’d tell other new or aspiring authors who are just beginning this wild, wonderful ride.
The Biggest Surprises of Becoming a Published Author
I started writing my debut back in 2020, so I had years to prepare for this moment—or so I thought. There were still a few things that completely caught me off guard. For one: I felt physically ill when my ARC copies went out. I’m not exaggerating. I believed in the story, but knowing it was in readers’ hands brought on a wave of anxiety I didn’t expect. It was suddenly real, and terrifying in the most vulnerable way.
What surprised me even more was how deeply moved I was by reader feedback. ARC readers and reviewers who rated the book after the release took the time to share their thoughts—some even messaged me directly to say how much they loved the book. Others posted about it on social media, and every kind note or post absolutely floored me. Connecting with readers who felt like exactly the right audience for The Half of It has been an indescribable joy of this whole process.
That said, I wasn’t fully prepared for the post-release emotional dip. I savored the excitement of launch week, but things moved on so quickly that by April, it almost felt like my book was already old news. I also realized there were some strategic things—like newsletter swaps or ongoing promo planning—I should’ve lined up earlier. Figuring everything out solo has been empowering in many ways, but also frustrating when I look back and think, “If only I’d done this a little differently.”
My Advice for New Authors
Publishing a book is truly a whirlwind—and while no two journeys look exactly the same, there are definitely a few things I would have appreciated knowing ahead of time. Whether you’re still drafting, querying, or prepping for release day, here are some lessons I’ve picked up during my first month as a published author.
Hire a good team - Whether it’s the agent you sign with or the editor you hire, make sure your team shares your vision. These are the people helping bring your book into the world, and their influence is significant—and while it will be noticed, it’s primarily your name attached to this book. I trust my editor and proofreader wholeheartedly, which makes the editing process feel exciting rather than terrifying. If you're self-publishing, the right team can make your book better without destroying your voice—and that’s exactly what you want.
ARC readers are probably the best marketing - If you only have the time, energy, and/or money to do one type of marketing effort, make it ARC copies. Release day I had 60+ reviews already on Goodreads, thanks to NetGalley and my own ARC readers. I could have done all the sponsored Insta posts or podcast interviews I wanted, but nothing compares to reviews from real readers. They create credibility, spark curiosity, and help the right people find your book.
Create a media kit for yourself - Media kits are pretty easy to make, thanks to resources like Canva or Adobe Express, and they are a quick-and-easy way to share information about you and your books. You can send it to bookstores, podcasts, blogs—anywhere you’d like to be featured. Media Kits are typically highly visual, making it a lot more interesting of a way to get to know you vs. just reading an intro in an email.
Have someone else read through reviews - Once reviews start rolling in, it can be sooooo tempting to see what people are saying. Proceed with caution and always remember that reviews are for readers. Can authors still glean valuable information from reviews? I think so. I had someone mention they’d love to see a follow-up on June and Aidan’s love story, like a novella that lets us see them in the future, which is a great idea! I’m not the type of author to ignore reviews completely, but I glance at them only when I feel mentally ready to accept and consider critique. If that’s not you, have a loved one or friend sift through reviews for you instead.
Set your own goals - I didn’t really have any particular goals for sales or page reads when I published. This was nice in a way, because every sale and page read felt incredible; but it also meant that I would often compare my progress to another author’s progress. Keep your eyes on your own paper—focus on you, your goals, and your capabilities. Your goals are yours, and that’s what makes them powerful.
It’s a marathon, not a moment - We’ve all seen those runaway successes of books—ones where an unknown author self-publishes their debut, and now they’ve signed with an agent and gotten a huge book deal and their book is on everyone’s TBR. These experiences can happen, but it’s much more common for a book to be published and…for the world to just keep on spinning. The launch is thrilling—but it’s just the start. Your book will find readers over time, not all in the first week. Keep showing up on social media, keep sharing your book, and keep reminding yourself that a writing career is a long game. There’s beauty in the slow burn.
What I Plan to do Differently Moving Forward
Publishing your first book teaches you a lot—sometimes the hard way. I’m proud of how things turned out with The Half of It, but there are definitely a few things I’d do differently now that I’ve been through it once.
One big mistake I made with The Half of It was not giving myself enough time between my copy edit notes coming in and me sending the book to my proofreader. This was right in the middle of moving abroad, and I really wish that I’d had a little more time to simmer with those changes so I could tackle them when I wasn’t so preoccupied. Instead, less than two weeks before launch, I found myself frantically doing another pass—tweaking, second-guessing, panicking. While the changes improved the book, the stress? Not worth it. Never again.
Another thing I’m planning for the future is bringing in someone to do a content pull. After reading my own book exactly a billion times, it’s shockingly hard to spot the lines or scenes that make great social media snippets. A content pull helps identify those moments readers might highlight, quote, or swoon over—which makes promoting the book way easier (and more fun!).
I’m not all that great at celebrating the small milestones in my writing career, and I would like to get better about that. Finished a first draft? Celebrate! Sent the book to beta readers? Celebrate! I think I’m always looking ahead, planning the next steps and not taking quite enough time to honor the hard work that I’ve put into a manuscript.
Lastly, I’ve been reflecting on who connected most with The Half of It—and how to better understand my ideal reader moving forward. It’s something I’m still figuring out, but I know that finding the right audience is key to getting my stories into the hands (and hearts) of the people who will love them.