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Checklist for serious self-publishing

Once a book’s published, it’s out there for all the world to read, so you want to get it right first time. Take self-publishing seriously: use the following checklist to publish like a professional.

(Note: if you’ve written a book for the sheer love of it and are publishing it just for fun, not as a serious business venture, then that’s fine. Feel free to pick and choose from these pointers as you like.)

The manuscript

  • Is it as good as you can possibly make it?
  • Are you absolutely sure it’s as good as you can possibly make it?
  • Are you sure the idea is good?
  • Are you sure the idea is original?
  • Are you sure a market exists for the book?
  • Are you sure the book fits neatly into its genre?
  • Has the book been thoroughly edited and proofread? 

The cover design

  • Is it as good as you can possibly make it?
  • Are you absolutely sure it’s as good as you can possibly make it?
  • Is it eye-catching?
  • Does it convey the essence of the book?
  • Does it convey the genre of the book?
  • Has it been (or does it look as though it’s been) professionally designed?
  • If printing, is the quality good enough? 

The typesetting

  • Is it as good as you can possibly make it?
  • Are you absolutely sure it’s as good as you can possibly make it?
  • Has it been (or does it look as though it’s been) professionally typeset?
  • Are the layout and style sensible and appropriate?
  • Have you checked the layout carefully, page by page? 

The publishing

  • Is it a good-quality product (decent print job, ebook works on all devices)?
  • Is the price reasonable and comparable to similar titles?
  • Is the book available to buy in a wide range of outlets?
  • Is all information about the book accurate in descriptions?

The marketing

  • Do you have a detailed marketing strategy?
  • Have you written compelling back cover copy?
  • Have you lined up plenty of reviews?
  • Do you have a website/blog that’s regularly updated?
  • Are you engaging regularly in social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads)?
  • Are you exploring local marketing opportunities?
  • Are you coming up with original, attention-grabbing ideas to market the book?
  • Are you putting a decent, sustained effort into getting your book noticed?

The next book

  • Are you already planning this?
  • Will it sit beautifully alongside the current book?

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