I don’t know what it is like where you are living, but people in the D.C. area can’t stop talking about the two Fyre Festival documentaries. I went to two parties this weekend, and it was the main topic of discussion at both events (at the cost of the Superbowl and game night). 

In case it isn’t as hot a topic where you are, I will give you a chance to check out the Wikipedia article here. Looked at it? Good! I am so glad you came back.

After talking about it for days, I have come to the conclusion that I think that Billy McFarland really thought he could pull off such an elaborate festival in such a short amount of time. He was really that delusional.

What would have (hopefully) burst his bubble and prevented this whole disaster from occurring?

Research.

If he actually looked into how much everything cost, how long things took to implement, or even what events were happening on the island that weekend, it all could have been saved.

But he didn’t.

And he went to jail.

Now, I am not saying that not researching before launching your book will mean you will go to jail, but it can save you a headache. I can’t tell you how many people come to me asking me for three rounds of edits before their book launch. In a month.

Please, please, please do your research before setting your book release date. Talk to your editor, cover designer, and formatter before you set the date. They are probably booked out several months in advance. They also know how long the process takes. Once you get a timeline from them, determine your book launch date and then add a month to it. Because life happens.

You don’t want your book to be the equivalent of a FEMA tent. You want it to be a villa.