When beginning the journey toward a traditional publishing deal, authors often feel like they’re navigating a maze full of hidden traps. Even well-prepared writers can fall into pitfalls that delay—or worse, derail—their path to publication. Below, I walk through several of the most common mistakes authors make when dealing with traditional publishing, and offer practical steps to avoid them. (And yes, if you’re considering routes in the UK, you may want to explore some of the best UK book publishers for traditional publishing.)
1. Rushing submissions before polishing the manuscript
The trap: You’re eager. You believe in your story. You send query letters out even though your draft is rough, underdeveloped, or hasn’t been workshopped or proofed.
Why it matters: Agents and editors see many manuscripts; a sloppy submission can get you filtered out fast, and you may never get a second glance. First impressions carry weight.
How to avoid:
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Let your manuscript rest for a while before revising it.
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Share it with critique partners or beta readers and revise based on feedback.
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Hire a freelance developmental editor or proofreader (if you can) before you submit.
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Prepare a clean, professional submission packet (cover/query letter, synopsis, sample chapters) in the formats the agent or publisher requests.
2. Choosing the wrong publishers or agents
The trap: Submitting to any publisher or agent with an open call, regardless of whether they publish your genre, size of authors, or geographic reach.
How this backfires: Even if they read your work, it’s unlikely to be a good match. You waste time and may develop a poor reputation (for example, one agent may see your query later, remember the mismatch, and dismiss it).
How to avoid:
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Do your homework: Look at their backlist, author list, and recent releases.
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Make a short list of publishers/agents who accept your genre or niche.
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Follow their submission guidelines strictly (file formats, maximum pages, subject line style etc.).
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Be selective: better to query 10 well-matched agents than 100 random ones.
3. Neglecting to understand contract terms
The trap: Signing a publishing contract too quickly without fully exploring rights (world rights, translation rights, audio rights, subsidiary rights), reversion clauses, exclusivity periods, and royalty structure.
How this backfires: You might inadvertently give away rights for formats or territories you wanted to retain. You may get trapped in a contract where the publisher doesn’t actively exploit the rights but still holds them.
How to avoid:
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Always read the contract in full (not just the summary).
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When in doubt, ask for clarification or consult a publishing lawyer or a knowledgeable author in your network.
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Negotiate: it’s okay to ask for rights reversion clauses (for example, if the book is out of print or sales drop below a threshold).
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Try to limit advances of rights you don’t intend to exploit (for example, keep audio or dramatic rights, or limit them to a period).
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Clarify how long the publisher has to publish or exploit before rights revert.
4. Overestimating the publisher’s marketing support
The trap: Assuming once you sign, the publisher will handle all marketing, publicity, advertising, and author platform-building.
The reality: Many traditional publishers, especially smaller or mid-size ones, will offer only limited marketing support. They might arrange a launch event, send to reviewers, or include your book in catalog listings, but the heavy lifting (social media, promotions, building your audience) often falls on you.
How to avoid:
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Ask in advance: what marketing and publicity will the publisher provide (and what will you be responsible for)?
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Build your own author platform (email list, social media presence, blog or newsletter) well before signing.
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Be proactive: plan marketing ideas, outreach, and initiatives you can lead.
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Clarify budget expectations: is there a marketing budget or ad spend? Who pays?
5. Ignoring timelines and lack of patience
The trap: Expecting fast turnarounds. From submitting a query, to getting offers, to editing, to release, the timeline in traditional publishing can stretch across months or even years.
Why this is tough: Some authors feel frustrated by delays and may abandon the process prematurely.
How to avoid:
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Prepare mentally: understand that publishing is a long game.
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Request timelines from agents or editors (e.g. how long submissions will take, how many rounds of editing, expected publication window).
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Use the waiting time productively: write new work, build your author platform, make connections in the industry.
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Keep communicating politely if deadlines slip, but don’t push unduly — delays are common in publishing.
6. Failing to retain relationships and professionalism
The trap: Treating rejection poorly (e.g., rude replies), burning bridges, or disappearing after publishing.
Why it matters: Publishing is a small world. Editors move, agents switch firms, and good relationships can lead to future opportunities (reissues, sequels, new projects).
How to avoid:
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Always respond courteously to agents or editors, even when rejecting or declining offers.
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Maintain communication after contract signing: send timely revisions, meet deadlines, be responsive.
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After your book launches, stay in touch with the publisher and agent, send updates, share sales data or successes.
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Be courteous in negotiations and contracts — leave room for future interactions.
7. Underestimating the value of subsidiary rights
The trap: Not paying attention to subsidiary rights (translations, foreign editions, film/TV rights, audiobook rights).
How this backfires: You might sign away those rights cheaply or irrevocably, missing potential future revenue streams.
How to avoid:
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Ask which rights the publisher will exploit, and which revert to you.
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Negotiate for sharing income from subsidiary rights or having the right to sell them.
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Keep rights reversion clauses in case a right isn’t being actively used.
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Work (or insist your agent work) to negotiate good terms on those rights.
A wrap-up and parting guidance
Going the traditional publishing route is often romanticized — and for good reason: the prestige, distribution reach, and professional polish can be enormously rewarding. But the path is strewn with pitfalls: rushed submissions, poor contract terms, unrealistic expectations about marketing, or loss of rights.
If you proceed thoughtfully, doing careful homework, being patient, asking the right questions, and retaining your professionalism, you can avoid many of these hazards. And when you’re investigating potential UK publishers to work with (especially if you’re in or targeting the UK market), it’s wise to vet publishers carefully, looking for those with strong distribution, clear rights policies, solid reputations, and fair contracts.
In the end, the goal is not just to get published—but to build a sustainable writing career. That means making deals that serve you, understanding what you’re giving away (and what you keep), and staying active and engaged throughout the publishing journey. And if you’re seeking reliable traditional book publishers to work with, give preference to those who have transparent contracts, a track record you can verify, and a respect for authors’ long-term interests.
