From written manuscript to a published book, the process of publishing requires a lot of different steps through the process that can feel overwhelming to a first-time author. However, it can be helpful to break it down into phases and smaller tasks in an organized book publishing timeline to make it easier and more manageable. Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you, my Indie Publishing Timeline! This timeline is a book publishing process I created for myself specifically for my book publishing as an indie author to ensure I have done all of the necessary tasks required for a published book.
I was inspired to create my own publishing timeline outline based on a video I watched by book editor and publishing consultant Jodi Brandon titled "How to Calculate Your Book Publishing Timeline" and the important factors she mentioned. Writing and publishing a book takes time, patience, and discipline, and having an outlined layout of the book process is beneficial in things being done in an organized manner. Let's check out the three main phases of book publishing and their tasks in a chart of my Indie Publishing Timeline below.
INDIE PUBLISHING TIMELINE:
THE THREE PHASES OF PUBLISHING
Within book publishing, there are three main phases: writing and drafting, editing and design, and publishing and marketing. Below is a listed chart of tasks for each of the phases.
PHASE 1: Writing/Drafting | PHASE 2: Editing/Design | PHASE 3: Publishing/Marketing |
Task 1: Pre-writing | Task 1: Pro-editing | Task 1: Newsletter |
Task 2: Research | Task 2: Cover Design | Task 2: Pre-launch |
Task 3: Drafting | Task 3: Book Trailer | Task 3: Marketing Campaign |
Task4: Critique/Beta Readers | Task 4: Making Corrections | Task 4: Book Launch Day |
Task 5: Self-editing | Task 5: Formatting | Task 5: Long-term Marketing Plan |
Task 6: Revision - 2nd Draft | Task 6: Final Proofread | Task 6: Upgrade Source |
(📌Note: The sixth tasks in phase two (final proofread) and phase three (upgrade source) are additional and optional tasks I recently included. Writers should also use calendars with the indie publishing timeline to set and track their deadline dates for all the tasks of each of the three phases, giving themselves at least 2-3 months to complete each phase.)
💙📹 WATCH EPISODE 13 OF MY WRITING CHANNEL,"JOURNEY OF A CHRISTIAN WRITER" ABOUT MY INDIE PUBLISHING TIMELINE: MY BOOK PUBLISHING METHOD, IF YOU WISH TO SKIP READING THE REST OF THE BLOG POST.
⤵️ DOWNLOAD FREE RESOURCES:
(📌Note: These free resources can be placed in a three-ring binder as I demonstrated in the above video episode "Indie Publishing Timeline: My Book Publishing Method" from my "Journey of Christian Writer series" writing channel. I've since updated them, so these look much better than the original copies.)
💻PHASE 1: WRITING & DRAFTING (2-3 Months)
The first phase of my Indie Publishing Timeline is for writing and drafting. This phase is the one that takes the longest out of all of the three phases and includes, pre-writing, research, drafting, critique or beta readers, self-editing, and revision or the second draft.
✏️Task 1: Pre-Writing
This first task of phase one is for brainstorming one's main story idea, characters, topics, themes, etc. Although some writers object to outlining, having an idea of what you're going to write before you write it can be beneficial.
✏️Task 2: Research
This second task could possibly be skipped if writers don't need to evaluate or analyze important information in your story. For example, if their stories take place in a certain time period, they may need to research to be sure their facts line up correctly with the era.
✏️Task 3: Drafting
This third task is writing the first draft. Whether by hand, a typewriter, a laptop, or a computer, this is where writers finally write their stories and bring them to life.
✏️Task 4: Critique or Beta Readers
This fourth task is when writers give their book manuscript to other writers, critique partners, or anyone who can read and give them constructive criticism to improve their stories.
✏️Task 5: Self-Editing
The fifth task is when writers edit their manuscripts themselves based on the feedback and suggestions from readers. If they use Microsoft Word, they can use "Track Changes" and comments to edit their work.
✏️Task 6: Revision - 2nd Draft
This final and sixth task of phase one is when writers rewrite a second draft.
📕PHASE 2: EDITING, PRODUCTION, & DESIGN (2-3 Months)
The second phase of my Indie Publishing Timeline is for editing, production, and design. This phase includes pro-editing, cover design, book trailer, making corrections, formatting, and final proofread, which is an additional task I recently added and honestly suggest authors do before publishing their books.
✒️Task 1: Pro-Editing
This first task of phase two is when authors send their finished manuscript to a professional editor for developmental edits of the story content, line edits, or copyediting corrections.
✒️Task 2: Cover Design
This second task is when authors themselves or professional cover designers make the book cover for an e-book, paperback, or hardback book. This task can be done simultaneously while the actual book is getting edited by a professional editor.
✒️Task 3: Book Trailer
The third task is when authors or other professionals creates a book trailer to advertise and market a book to the public audience. Most book trailers are typically no longer than 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Just as book covers, book trailers can also be done simultaneously or prior to professional editing of the book.
✒️Task 4: Making Corrections
The fourth task is when authors make corrections after getting their edited novel or book manuscript from a professional editor, taking their editors' notes into consideration and making whatever adjustments that need or may need to be made in the manuscript. Authors can use tools, such as Grammarly, the Hemingway Editor, and ProWritingAid to assist with these changes.
✒️Task 5: Formatting
This fifth task is when authors or professional designers format the interior layout of the book, including chapter headers, body text, drop caps, scene breaks, and other details of the inside book design.
✒️Task 6: Final Proofread
Lastly, this final and additional task, is when authors proofread their manuscripts for the last time, ensuring as much as possible there's no typos or grammatical errors in their book. For my final proofread, I like to use an online text-to-speech tool called Naturalreader so I can hear my story read aloud back to me. This can help authors to pick out typos or any other writing mistakes easier. Since the first time I used this online tool, they've really upgraded the software, including A.I. voices which authors could use to create their own audiobooks.
💰PHASE 3: PUBLISHING & MARKETING (2-3 Months)
The third and final phase of my Indie Publishing Timeline is for publishing and marketing. This phase includes newsletter, pre-launch, marketing campaign, book launch day, long-term marketing plan, and upgrade source, an additional and optional task that can be useful within authors' long-term marketing plan over time.
📢Task 1: Newsletter
This first task is optional, but when authors write a newsletter either on their author website or through their email newsletter announcing the new release of their book, what their book is about, and any other additional information, such as available pre-orders and their dates.
📢Task 2: Pre-launch
The second task is also optional and when authors allow their book to be available for order prior to the actual release date of their books. Sometimes preorders can get messy, but they are a good technique when done right for authors to quickly get reviews on their books.
📢Task 3: Marketing Campaign
The third task is however writers choose to advertise their books through promotion services, their book trailer, book advertisements, local newspapers, social media, and any other resources or methods they use to promote their book.
📢Task 4: Book Launch Day
This fourth task is the day authors release their books and have it available for purchase.
📢Task 5: Long-term Marketing Plan
This fifth task is how authors intend to market their books after they've been released. This can range from chapter readings and free giveaways, to requesting reviews and special sales, to discounts on their book.
📢Task 6: Upgrade Source
Lastly and finally, this sixth task is optional and when writers update their published book after a certain amount of time to drive more traffic, improve visibility, get more readers, and increase book sales. These things can be done by changing up book cover designs, altering keywords and metadata, or updating search engine optimization.
(📌Note: Even despite using this publishing process, it may take more than 9 months for authors to complete their books, but it can help them stay organized and ensure their books are closer to perfection while going through all of these steps.)
INDIE PUBLISHING TIMELINE:
CREATING A KANBAN BOARD
If writers would like to get even more organized and have a visual board, they can create a kanban board of my Indie Publishing Timeline as I have done in my room, which can be seen in the video below. In the bulleted list are the basic supplies needed to create the board:
Omnibuy felt stick-on squares
Adhesive index card pockets that are size 3x5
3x5 colored index cards (At least three or four colors)
Colored Sticky notes (At least three colors to match index card columns)
3x5 white index cards (For book project cards. These can be made however you like)
Colored Thumb tacks or map pins. (At least three colors to match each column)
🦋 📹 WATCH THE SHORT VIDEO VLOG FROM MY AUTHOR CHANNEL TO SEE HOW I PUT IT TOGETHER AND HOW OTHER WRITERS COULD DO THE SAME.
CLOSING REMARKS:
When it comes to the book publishing process, there's a lot of steps that authors have to go through from story idea to a published book, but having a detailed outline layout can help authors estimate when they should be doing each task and keep them on a deadline to certify their actual release date (their books' birthdays) and create a less chance of having to change it due to mishaps during the publishing process. All right, this latest post ends here. If you found it informative and helpful, please, give it a (heart❤️), take part in the poll 🤔, and share your thoughts or comments 💬 below.)
Happy Publishing! 😊✍🏽📚
🤔Hey, writers, what's your favorite phase of the book publishing process?
💻Phase 1: Writing & Drafting
📕 Phase 2: Editing, Production, & Cover Design
💰 Phase 3: Publishing & Marketing
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