Dispelling the 5 Lies Authors Tell Themselves
Are you an author or business owner stuck in a cycle of good intentions but little progress? In this article Porsché Mysticque Steele—a renowned book coach and independent publishing expert—reveals the 5 lies authors tell themselves
Aspiring authors often find themselves stuck in a cycle of good intentions but little progress. According to recent research from late 2024, while 96% of adults want to write books, only 10% actually do. This persistent gap can often be attributed to several common misconceptions that, if left unaddressed, hinder individuals from transitioning from aspiring to published authors. It's time to directly confront these "lies" and pave a clearer path to publication.
Lie 1: "Everyone Will Benefit From Hearing My Story"
The belief that one's personal story is universally beneficial is a pervasive lie among aspiring authors. While every individual's story holds power, not all stories are meant for public consumption, and some are primarily for personal healing. As highlighted in the experience with an author named Charity, who wrote about overcoming an abusive marriage, the act of writing itself can be the most significant part of the journey. For Charity, realizing that the book was a healing tool for herself, rather than a narrative meant to be publicly released, prevented potential future complications.
Before embarking on a book project rooted in personal experience, authors are encouraged to ask: "Why am I writing this book?" and "Who is it going to benefit and how?". A mere narrative, no matter how inspiring, is often insufficient to prompt readers to take action and apply lessons to their own lives. To be truly impactful, a personal story must be combined with wisdom and presented as a solution to a problem people have, often structured within a framework that readers can understand and apply. While human interaction and personal stories are crucial for connection, the world's most impactful books are solutions-oriented.
Lie 2: "I Can Design My Own Cover Using Canva"
In the digital age, tools like Canva make graphic design accessible, leading many aspiring authors to believe they can create their own professional book covers. However, this is a significant lie because people absolutely judge books by their covers. Book cover designs follow trends that change every two to three years, often specific to genres. For instance, the current trend in non-fiction, business development, and self-help books favors simple color backgrounds with large, bold text and minimal imagery.
Relying on a personal vision without market research can result in a cover that fails to resonate with the target audience. Authors are advised to research current trending styles by looking at New York Times bestseller lists in their genre. The cover should ideally be designed once the initial manuscript draft is complete but before full production, as it will be essential for marketing efforts.
Lie 3: "I Have a Friend or Relative Who Can Do a Good Job Editing What I've Written"
Entrusting editing to a friend or relative, even one with strong grammar skills, is a common pitfall. Professional editing is a complex process involving four distinct types:
Developmental editing: Focuses on the overall structure, flow, and content of the manuscript, chapter by chapter, ensuring it resonates with both the author's intent and the reader's needs.
Copy editing: Concentrates on clarity, consistency, and correctness at the paragraph level.
Line editing: Deals with the language style, word choice, and rhythm, line by line.
Proofreading: The final check for grammatical errors, typos, and punctuation, word by word.
All four types are crucial to ensure a book's quality and impact. A single person might handle multiple types, but using different professional editors for each round (e.g., developmental, then copy/line, then proofreading) ensures a "fresh set of eyes" and helps eliminate errors. The adage "you get budget-friendly results" when seeking "budget-friendly editors" holds true. Resources like Reedzy.com can help authors understand the nuances of these editing types when considering hiring a freelance editor.
Lie 4: "I'll Publish My Book By The End of This Year"
This common declaration, often made regardless of the actual progress, is a lie that perpetuates delays. With proper support, the entire process of writing, producing, and publishing a book should take no longer than 90 days. If an author has been talking about publishing a book for more than six months without significant movement, it indicates that "the brakes have been applied".
The missing element for many is often a book coach, not just an accountability partner. An accountability partner might help with writing, but they typically lack the expertise to navigate the multifaceted journey of book creation, which includes:
Writing the manuscript.
Producing the book (editing, formatting, cover design).
Publishing it on platforms.
Strategically launching it.
Marketing and ongoing monetization.
The value of a book coach is exemplified by a recent success story where an author, not an influencer and with a small email list, achieved #1 bestseller status in two categories and #1 new release in six categories within 24 hours, organically, with the support of a book coach. This demonstrates that dedicated, expert guidance can dramatically accelerate the publishing timeline and success.
By confronting these common lies and understanding the realities of the publishing landscape, aspiring authors can shift their mindset, make informed decisions, and move confidently from the 96% who only dream of writing to the 10% who actually publish.
Lie 5: "Readers will automatically find and read my book."
• The Misconception: There was a time when people would pick up books just for the fun of it, and bookshelves would be filled with actively read books. Authors might assume that if their book is out there, readers will engage with it.
• The Reality in 2025:
◦ Increased Selectivity: Readers are becoming much more selective about the books they purchase and actually read. Many people now have shelves full of books they bought but never finished.
◦ Reasons for Purchase vs. Reading: Books are often bought because they were seen on social media, went viral, or to support a particular author. However, readers often get enough "tea" or content from social media reels and TikToks, leading them to feel they don't need to read the full book. This trend has been observed over the last decade, intensifying since 2020-2021, when many purchased books during lockdown but didn't finish them.
◦ Economic Impact and ROI: In the current economy of 2025, people are more intentional with their spending and are not doing large "book hauls". The concept of "Return on Investment" (ROI), traditionally reserved for business owners, is now applied by the average reader. They are looking at purchases, including books, asking, "Am I going to make money back on this?" or "What will I walk away with?". This selectivity is predicted to worsen between 2025 and 2028.
◦ Beyond Bestseller Status: While achieving an Amazon bestseller can be as simple as getting 50 people to purchase a $0.99 ebook, this doesn't mean those readers are selective about the content itself, as these digital files are often unread, like other "lead magnets". True selectivity applies to "actual books that are meant to change your life," which people seek to improve their business, relationships, personal lives, or finances.
• Author's Imperative: For new authors entering the market in 2025, this heightened selectivity presents an opportunity to "make all of the right moves" and create books that genuinely change lives based on the world's current needs. For existing authors, it's crucial to review and potentially update their existing books, including keywords, genres, or even releasing new editions to remain relevant. The author's job is to "give them what they're looking for"
Frequently Asked Questions about Publication
1. Why are non-fiction books, especially self-help and personal development, gaining significant traction in 2025?
Non-fiction books, particularly those focused on self-improvement, personal development, business, and "how-to" guides, are experiencing an all-time high in popularity. This trend is driven by a societal shift towards individuals seeking solutions to their problems and practical ways to "level up" themselves and their businesses. Unlike memoirs or purely personal stories, impactful non-fiction books offer a clear solution, wrapped in the author's personal story for connection, and presented within a repeatable framework. Readers in 2025 are becoming more selective with their purchases due to economic shifts, looking for a clear return on investment (ROI) from the content they consume, even if they are not business owners.
2. How has the perception of self-published books changed, and what are the implications for aspiring authors?
The negative connotation previously associated with self-published books has largely disappeared. Five years ago, self-publishing often implied a lack of quality, but advancements in technology, including AI, have significantly improved the production quality of independently published works. This shift allows self-published authors to gain credibility and be recognized as experts in their fields, which was once reserved for traditionally published authors. However, this positive change comes with a downside: the self-publishing space is now incredibly competitive, even more so than traditional publishing. With a significant increase in the percentage of adults actively writing and publishing books, authors must ensure their work is exceptional to stand out among thousands of similar titles.
3. What is the current stance on using AI in book creation and its implications for copyright?
The publishing industry, particularly platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), is cracking down on the undisclosed use of AI in book creation. While there are currently no explicit laws prohibiting AI use, publishing platforms now require authors to disclose if and how AI was utilized. The U.S. Copyright Office's policy, based on a 2018 ruling, states that copyright protects works of authorship by human authors. This means that entirely AI-generated content is not eligible for copyright and falls into the public domain. If AI is used in co-authorship, authors must disclose the human contribution, and only that human-created portion will be protected by copyright. This policy suggests that excessively using AI could result in a book losing its copyright protection, making it public domain and vulnerable to unauthorized use. The strong recommendation is for human authors to write their content and use human editors, while AI can be a tool for brainstorming and outlining.
4. What challenges does traditional publishing face, and why is self-publishing becoming a more attractive option?
Traditional publishing is experiencing a significant decline, largely due to several factors: its slow process, the revelation of gatekeeping against authors of color and female authors, and the shift in marketing responsibilities. Traditional publishers often pick up unknown authors only if they have a decent following, and even then, they provide an advance that functions as debt, requiring authors to sell a certain number of copies to repay it. Furthermore, smaller traditional publishing houses often lack the marketing budget, placing the burden of promotion on the author. In contrast, self-publishing offers authors full control, retains 100% royalties and rights, and allows for quicker market entry without the concerns of gatekeeping or discrimination. While a traditional publishing offer might be beneficial if it comes after a self-published book's success, independent publishing is generally the more advantageous route in 2025.
5. What are the key elements of an impactful non-fiction book that readers seek?
Impactful non-fiction books are essentially solutions to the problems people have. While an author's personal story is crucial for human connection and makes the information relatable, it alone is not enough to drive action or transform lives. Readers are looking for practical takeaways. Therefore, a successful non-fiction book must combine the author's personal wisdom and story with a clear framework or actionable plan that helps readers understand how to achieve what the author has. This framework should be easy to understand, replicable, and shareable, allowing readers to remember, repeat, and apply the solutions to their own lives.
6. What are common pitfalls aspiring authors should avoid, particularly regarding book content and production?
Aspiring authors often make several common mistakes. Firstly, the belief that "everyone will benefit from hearing my story" is a lie; personal stories, especially those wrapped in trauma, are not for everyone and can even cause unintended backlash or be solely for the author's healing. Secondly, designing one's own book cover on platforms like Canva without researching current genre trends is a mistake, as covers significantly impact sales. Thirdly, relying on friends or relatives for editing is ill-advised. Professional editing involves developmental, copy, line, and proofreading, requiring trained professionals and multiple fresh sets of eyes to ensure quality. Lastly, authors often overestimate their ability to publish quickly, taking years instead of the recommended 90 days with proper support.
7. What is the difference between copyright and trademark for books, and why are both important for authors building a legacy?
Copyright protects the internal content of a book (words, chapters, structure), legally recognizing the author as the creator. Trademark, on the other hand, protects elements like brand names, logos, slogans, and crucially, the book's title. While copyrighting the content is essential, trademarking the title is highly recommended for authors, especially entrepreneurs, who aim for longevity and leverage their book beyond sales (e.g., turning it into a podcast, course, or even a Netflix series). Although not legally mandatory to publish, trademarking provides crucial protection against others using the title and facilitates future scaling and legacy building for the author's brand and family.
8. What alternative funding methods exist for self-published authors, and what are their benefits and considerations?
Beyond self-funding through savings or credit cards, crowdfunding has become a popular method for financing self-published books, especially given the significant investment (often $5,000 to $10,000) required for professional production. Platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow authors to raise funds from "backers" who receive perks in return. Benefits include financial support, validation of the book idea (as public interest translates to funding), and built-in marketing and audience building. While Kickstarter typically uses an "all or nothing" model, Indiegogo offers flexible funding, allowing creators to keep raised funds even if the goal isn't met. Niche platforms like Publishizer cater specifically to authors, connecting them with traditional publishers, while Patreon allows authors to fund their work through subscription-based communities, releasing content incrementally. Authors are advised to thoroughly review the terms and conditions of any crowdfunding platform to understand fees, withdrawal policies, and other fine print.
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