Let me start by saying this: hitting publish on my first book was one of the most terrifying and exhilarating moments of my life—right up there with learning how to wing eyeliner and figuring out how to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew. But oh, the lessons I’ve learned along the way! And because I believe in full transparency (and maybe saving another writer from rocking in a corner), here are a few things I wish I had known before clicking "publish."

1. Just Buy Your Own ISBNs. Trust Me. 

Listen, I know it’s tempting to take the easy road and let Amazon hand you that free ISBN like it’s a gift from the book gods. But here’s the thing: owning your ISBN means YOU control your book—not just Amazon, but everywhere you want to publish. You get to be the boss of your book baby. So yes, it’s a little more upfront cost, but the control you gain? Chef’s kiss.

2. You Will STILL Miss Things. 

It doesn’t matter if you read your manuscript 472 times, have your mom, your bestie, and your cat read it—you will miss something. There is nothing more humbling than finding a typo in a book you thought was polished to perfection. But hey, perfection is overrated, right?

3. Kindle Reading = Game Changer 

Want to see every little thing wrong with your book? Send it to your Kindle and read it like a reader. Somehow, reading on a different device makes mistakes jump out at you like a plot twist you never saw coming. My eyes on a computer screen? Blind. My eyes on a Kindle? Ruthless editor mode.

4. Longer Timelines Are Your New Best Friend 

If I could write a love letter to anything, it would be to longer deadlines. Because as much as I like to think I can write a book in three months while running on caffeine and vibes alone, writers’ block and real life love to crash the party. Give yourself space for the unexpected. Future you will thank you.

So there you have it—my top lessons after diving headfirst into self-publishing. And spoiler alert: I’m still learning as I go. Stay tuned for even more chaos wisdom!

 Want more behind-the-scenes tea on writing and publishing? Hang out with me on Instagram and TikTok (@authoreverlysummers) for all the fun (and bookish drama).