Not every book needs to be an epic tome. However, some self-publishing authors consistently create stories that could be improved by adding to the story. While shorter books have some advantages, such as the cost of publishing a book, the reader experience often could be enhanced by creating a longer work and adding more substance to the story. Self-publishing writers whose stories need more substance are underwriters.

A self-publishing author might wonder if they fall into the camp of an underwriter. Here are five indications.

1. Book Length Shorter Than Genre Norms

For self-publishing authors writing genre fiction, a good measure of whether a story is underwritten can be made from the accepted genre norms.

Most genre fiction has expected word counts. Sometimes novels might be outside those counts because it is necessary to the story. Still, if a self-publishing author finds their stories consistently fall outside the genre norms, they are likely an underwriter.

2. Underdeveloped Characters

One common symptom of underwritten books is that the characters are two-dimensional. They might lack backstory, personality, or life outside the pages of the story. Self-publishing authors are often too close to their work and too familiar with their characters to recognize this issue independently. If a self-publishing author frequently gets feedback from editors and beta readers that their characters are flat or two-dimensional, that might be a sign they are an underwriter.

3. Fast-Paced

A book that moves along at break-neck speed can be the norm for some genres, such as thrillers. However, the majority of books are more balanced. It is common for a book to have a fast-paced scene followed by a slower scene where the characters have time to regroup and plan their next move.

If editors and beta readers frequently tell a self-publishing author that their pacing is too fast, that may indicate they are an underwriter.

4. Telling

Showing rather than telling isn’t easy for many self-publishing authors.

Underwriters frequently tell stories to their audience rather than paint a picture. This can be as extreme as summarizing important scenes or as subtle as naming a character’s emotions rather than showing their reactions and letting the reader determine that a fist punched into the wall is a sign of anger.

5. Lack of Atmosphere

Not every story needs to be profoundly atmospheric, but almost every story needs a firm sense of setting.

Underwriters often fail to describe settings beyond the most necessary for understanding. For instance, they might indicate to the reader that their character is in a hotel without differentiating whether it is a high-end hotel where bellhops take bags upstairs for visitors or a seedy hotel where the sheets have unidentified stains and characters are at risk of bed bugs.

Underwriting is likely the culprit if a writer frequently gets feedback that their editors and beta readers can’t picture the setting.

Knowing one is an underwriter is the first step to improving the writing craft and creating stories that better connect with readers.

Once those stories are written, InstantPublisher offers authors a wide variety of self-publishing services. Whether authors need custom book covers or digital printing services, InstantPublisher can help with all of an author’s self-publishing needs. Visit our website today to learn more about the book publishing process and see how InstantPublisher can help bring your self-publishing dreams to life.