5 Mistakes First-Time Authors Make When Printing Their 1st Book (and how to avoid them)

5 Mistakes First-Time Authors Make When Printing Their 1st Book (and how to avoid them)

Are you a first-time author printing your children’s book for the first time? If yes, writing might be starting to feel like the easy part! Don’t fret. Help is here.

Learn from those who came before you

Sheri Fink is a world-famous, best-selling author of 14 children’s books including The Little Rose, a #1 Amazon Best-seller for over 60 weeks, a #1 Top-Rated Children’s eBook on Amazon and adapted stage play.

As a successful author and President of Whimsical World, Sheri is frequently asked how to publish and market a new book. Here are her 5 recommendations for avoiding common mistakes first-time authors make.

  1. Check the trim sizes (book dimensions).

    BEFORE hiring an illustrator to design your book, check the available trim sizes of your printer. Make sure they offer the size you want and find out what it will cost to print it.

  2. Use your printer’s template.

    Have your illustrator design your book according to your chosen printer’s exact template for the trim size you selected. This will save everyone time, money, and headaches in the future.

  3. Make sure you and your illustrator are on the same page.

    Ensure your illustrator is designing artwork to the correct high-resolution (300dpi) and in CMYK colors for print. RGB images will not print so ensure all colors are converted to CMYK when the final PDF of your book is saved.

  4. Think long-term.

    Focus on your ROI (return on investment). Depending on your goals and your particular book, a larger upfront printing cost now may net you a larger profit for years to come. Bookstores and customers will judge your book based on its quality and illustrations. Be wary of the lowest cost printers as the money saved in printing could prove quite costly later.

  5. Make sure your order includes a physical proof (even if it costs extra).

    This is an important step. You want your book to look and feel the way you envisioned. A physical proof is the last chance to make changes before printing your production run for readers.

Sheri Fink | New to self-publishing? Learn more from our client.

New to self-publishing?

  • Get more of Sheri’s resources here
  • Download our “Children’s Book Printing 101 Guide”
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