Self-Publishing Timeline

Wondering how long the book production and publishing process takes? This timeline summarizes the major steps involved, to give you a sense of the typical order and duration of events. But because every book project is unique, your mileage may vary.

Week 1 Editing Front Cover Design

Week 2

Week 3 Interior Design and Layout

Week 4

Week 5 Proofreading

Week 6 Back Cover and Spine Design

Week 7 Indexing (if any)

Week 8 Ebook Formatting

Week 9 Printing and Publishing

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12 Book Launch!

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“The End” Is Just the Beginning

When the writing is done, what’s next? This checklist will help you keep track of the many tasks involved in the design and production of your book.OMPLETING THE CONTENT

Editing — The only page that doesn’t need Back Matter — Elements that typically follow editing is a blank one. Seriously, even the the main narrative may include: best writer needs an editor to polish their • References / Endnotes / Bibliography words. Interview editors to find one who is • Appendix a good fit for your project and personality, • Index then have them assess your manuscript to • About the Author determine the level of editing it needs and an estimate of cost and time. Back Cover — Elements may include a book description, reviews, author photo and short Proofreading — When editing is complete, bio (2-3 sentences), price, ISBN bar code, a final round to proofread for typos, genre/category and publisher contact info punctuation errors and other details is recommended. While your editor may do Trim size — The physical dimensions of your this work, hiring someone who specializes book determine the trim size. Popular print- in proofreading is a good idea. Ideally, the on-demand sizes include 6”x9”, 5.5” x 8.5”, proofreader will also review the final layout 5”x8” and other variations. for formatting issues. Formats — In what format(s) will your book Permissions — If your book includes images be published? Choices include paperback/ or other original material (such as song softcover, hardcover, ebook, audio book. lyrics) created by others, be sure to get permission to use them. Cover finish — You will typically choose between a gloss or matte finish for your Front Matter — The material that appears book’s cover. A hardcover book may have a before the main narrative may include: laminated cover or a dust jacket with flaps. • Title page • Copyright page Paper color — For the interior of your book, • Dedication print-on-demand options include white or • Table of Contents cream paper. White paper is brighter and • Acknowledgments provides a modern feel. Cream paper is • Preface easier on the eyes and has a warmer feel.E • Foreword BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING • Introduction

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Publishing Company — Will you publish Price — To determine the price of your book, under your own name or a business name? consider the price of books similar to yours, A company name, even if it’s your own as well as the manufacturing cost. Price is an DBA, lends legitimacy to the book. Make important marketing decision and can be this decision early on to ensure consistent adjusted for special promotions and/or to branding and metadata for your book. test market response.

Contact Information — These details will go Copyright — Your work is copyrighted from on the copyright page and possibly the back the moment it is published. Your book should cover. The information may be as minimal as include a copyright page that lists you as the a website, or include an email, street address, copyright holder, the year of publication and phone number and/or social media links. a statement of rights. For added protection in the event that legal action is warranted, ISBN – Purchase at myidentifiers.com. $125 consider registering your work with the U.S. each or 10 for $295. Each format of your Copyright Office (copyright.gov). book, i.e. paperback and ebook, should have its own ISBN. Library of Congress — If you plan to market your book to libraries, consider obtaining a Keywords — Developing this list of words Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) and phrases to use as search terms for your (loc.gov). book is an important marketing task that should be given careful attention. Consider Printer/Distributor — In the print-on-demand working with a book marketing specialist for world, the key players are KDP (Kindle help with keywords, or at the least, devote Direct Publishing) and IngramSpark. KDP is your own time and energy to researching the print and distribution arm of Amazon. how to choose the more relevant words to IngramSpark is the self-publishing division make your book discoverable. of Ingram Book Group, the world’s largest book distributor. Authors can publish with Categories — Another search-related topic, either or both KDP and IngramSpark. categories also deserve strategic focus and possibly guidance by a marketing expert. Expert Resources — To put your best book Depending on the publishing platform, you forward, consider publishing pros such as: will typically choose 2-3 categories that align • editor and proofreader with BISAC (Book Industry Standards and • cover designer Communications) codes. • interior designer / typesetter / formatter • ebook formatter • audio book narrator • book marketing specialist / publicist • virtual author’s assistant • website designer

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