Publishing

Publishing turns a manuscript into an edition with a reader, a format and a route to market. Start by writing down those three choices. “An ebook for first-time gardeners who buy on their phones” produces different production requirements from an illustrated reference book for libraries.

Prepare an edition brief

DecisionEvidence to gather
Reader and promiseThree comparable books and the problem or experience your book offers
FormatSample pages on the devices or paper size your readers use
RightsYour agreements for text, illustrations, quotations and territories
DistributionA named retailer, distributor or direct sales route
ReleaseA budget, review owner and achievable publication date

Check the book and its listing together

The cover, title page, description and retailer fields should identify the same edition. Check contributor names and the table of contents after the final upload. Review a print proof for a print edition and a device preview for an ebook; one cannot stand in for the other.

Use self-publishing decisions to assign those jobs. If a second language is a realistic next edition, start with finding an international readership, then the book translation guide.

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