What I Wish I'd Known as a First Time Author (So You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way)

I made every rookie mistake in the book when I started my author journey. Every. Single. One. Like a walking cautionary tale with a laptop and unrealistic expectations about overnight success.

If I could go back and shake some sense into my past self, here's what I'd tell her (and what I'm telling you now, so you can skip the face plant phase of your author journey).

Write What Your Readers Want, Not What You Think They Need

I thought I could be different. In my first book, Tattered, I made my main female lead have no magic. Why? Because I was so tired of seeing magical heroines everywhere. I was thinking about what I liked, not what my readers wanted.

Big mistake.

The biggest advice I can give you as a writer of any genre: find out what your readers want and deliver it.

Yes, put your unique spin on things. Yes, make it fresh. But don't throw out what readers love just because you're bored with it. Readers want magical heroines for a reason - they're escapist fantasy fulfillment. Give them what they crave, then surprise them with HOW you deliver it.

Master the Microtropes of Your Genre

Fantasy romance has specific microtropes that readers devour like their favorite addiction:

Enemies to lovers (the classic hate to love pipeline)

Slow burn (torture your readers with delayed gratification)

One bed (forced proximity at its finest)

One horse (sharing a mount equals sharing personal space)

Touch her and die (protective violence is pure catnip)

Grumpy/sunshine (opposites attract with serious attitude)

Who did this to you? (protective rage mode activated)

Training together (sparring sessions equal sexual tension)

Healing scenes (tender care disguised as medical necessity)

Ancient magic bonds (fate with mystical paperwork attached)

Morally gray MMC (bad boys with selective soft spots for one person)

These tropes exist because they WORK. Don't avoid them, embrace them and find your unique angle.

The secret: Layer multiple microtropes per book. Don't just write enemies to lovers. Write enemies to lovers WITH one bed AND training scenes AND protective instincts. Think of it as microtrope lasagna, where every layer adds more deliciousness.

You Need More Than a Trilogy

I planned a trilogy because that felt "complete." Wrong. The biggest reason you need more than three books? Read-through and revenue.

Three books don't create enough income impact. Readers who love book one will binge your entire backlist. More books equals bigger paychecks.

Why longer series make financial sense: Compound reader investment (fans get more attached over time)

Better advertising ROI (more books to sell to the same reader)

Sustainable income (multiple revenue streams from one fanbase)

Series momentum (each new release boosts sales of previous books)

Plan for the long game, not just the satisfying ending.

Add Characters as You Go (Readers Want Options)

Your book one cast is your starter pack, not your complete universe. Readers want an expanding world of people to love, hate, and ship.

Start planting seeds early. That mysterious warrior in chapter three? Future love interest material. The rival healer who challenges your protagonist? Perfect setup for enemies to lovers in book four. The mentor with the tragic backstory? Hello, spin off potential.

More characters equals more shipping possibilities equals more engaged readers equals more book sales.

Cliffhangers Work (Sorry, Not Sorry)

Everyone claims to hate cliffhangers. Everyone also immediately one-clicks the next book when faced with a good one. (I know, I know. There are plenty of those who actually do hate the trope, but that's all right. They're not your target audience)

Good cliffhangers that drive sales: Romantic reveals (love confession overheard by the wrong person) Identity secrets exposed (hello, plot twist) Characters in immediate danger (nothing like mortal peril for motivation) Relationship status changes (break ups, make ups, or shocking proposals)

The key: Resolve the emotional tension while setting up the next plot problem. Satisfy readers while making them desperate for more.

Start Building Your Platform Yesterday

I thought I'd build my audience after publishing. That's like planting a garden after you need vegetables.

Where to start: Email list (even 10 engaged readers beats 1000 random strangers) Social media (pick 2 platforms and actually use them) Writing community connections (other authors are allies, not competition) Beta reader relationships (early fans become your street team)

Find your people before you need them to buy books.

Learn to Format Yourself

Don't pay $200+ for formatting when you can learn it yourself. Vellum (Mac), Atticus (PC), or even Canva can handle basic formatting. Save that money for professional covers and editing, the things that actually sell books.

Don't Chase Trends (But Know Your Genre)

I tried to make my voice "marketable" instead of authentic. Trends change faster than publishing schedules. By the time you chase a trend, it's over.

Instead: Master your genre's expectations, then add your unique voice. Readers want familiar comfort with fresh surprises. Give them the microtropes they love, but serve them in a way only you can.

The Emotional Rollercoaster is Real

Nobody prepared me for the whiplash of author life. One day you're flying high from a five-star review, the next you're questioning everything because someone called your book "mid" on Goodreads.

Survival strategy: Remember why you started. It wasn't for reviews or sales, it was because you had stories to tell.

Learn the Business Side

Writing is art. Publishing is business. You don't need an MBA, but you absolutely need to understand the basics. This includes basic marketing (you're your own marketing department whether you like it or not), your genre and competition (know what you're up against), and financial basics like royalties, taxes, and expenses.

The Bottom Line

The most successful authors aren't necessarily the most talented, they're the ones who understand what readers want and deliver it consistently. Master your genre's expectations, then surprise readers with your unique execution.

Stop trying to revolutionize romance. Start trying to perfect it.

What's the biggest mistake you made (or fear making) as a new author? Drop a comment and let's learn from each other's face plants.