Getting published doesn't have to be perfect

Let me tell you a secret that shouldn't be a secret

Let me tell you a secret that shouldn’t be a secret at all: most people who say they’re “writing a book” aren’t. Not really. They’re thinking about writing a book. Or talking about writing a book. Or they’ve written three slightly different introductions and a title page that says “WORKING TITLE – DO NOT READ”.

And that’s OK. But if you’re one of the rare creatures who’s actually typed The End (even if it was with clenched teeth and a bit of panic), then you’ve already done the hard part. I mean it. You’re 90% there.

Here’s what I know, from my own experience, and from sitting alongside authors at every stage from “I’ve written a thing” to “why is my paperback cover showing up as a pixelated mess on Amazon?”

You don’t have to be perfect to publish. You just have to keep going.

Most people get stuck at the wobbly bit

There’s a moment that happens to almost everyone I work with. It usually comes right after the first wave of “I’ve finished my book!” adrenaline wears off. It sounds something like this:

“I’m not sure it’s any good.”
“Should I hire a proofreader or just burn it and start again?”
“I hate my title. And probably myself.”

This is the wobble. And it’s normal. I’ve seen people spiral for weeks over whether to use one or two spaces after a full stop (one, by the way). I’ve watched brilliant minds freeze because they weren’t sure where to put the ISBN barcode.

Perfectionism is sneaky like that. It dresses up as professionalism and says, “I just want it to be the best it can be”, but what it really means is, “I’m afraid to press publish because then it’s real.”

Publishing doesn’t reward perfection, it rewards progress

Here’s something else I know. The books that get published are rarely the ones that are “perfect”. They’re the ones that are done. Edited, yes. Polished, ideally. But not flawless. Flawless is a fantasy. If you wait for flawless, you’ll be waiting forever.

When I published my first book, I found three typos in the printed proof and I nearly cried. Not because I’m afraid of typos (not now), but because I’d convinced myself that being a “proper author” meant catching everything. What nonsense.

The truth is, readers don’t care about minor imperfections. They care about connection. They care about a story that speaks to them, a voice they recognise, something real. Your job is to be real.

The finish line is never flashy, but it’s worth it

Most of the publishing journey happens quietly, off-camera, in dressing gowns and with cold coffee on the desk. It’s not glamorous. It’s not fast. But when you hit ‘Publish’ and hold your own book in your hands for the first time, that moment is magic. Not fairy dust magic - real magic. Like, “I did this even when I didn’t think I could” magic.

You don’t need a fancy launch or to go viral. You need a plan, a little bit of patience, and someone who won’t let you chicken out when the imposter syndrome creeps in.

That’s what I bring. Not razzle-dazzle or empty hype, just grounded help, a calm voice when you’re spiralling, and the know-how to walk you through the steps that seem designed to break people. I’ve created a 96-page Guide to Self-Publishing FREE ebook to help people just like you.

So, if you’re sitting there with a half-finished manuscript or a finished one that’s gathering digital dust, hear this: you don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep going. And if you want a hand, I’m right here.

J. x