The Complete Self-Publishing Checklist
By Jen Clapman, Entrada Publishing · Published September 21, 2026
This checklist walks through everything between a finished draft and a published book, in the order it typically needs to happen. Every step links to a full article if you want more detail. Not every book needs every item exactly in this order, but skipping a step entirely is usually where problems show up later.
This is part of the Complete Guide to Self-Publishing.
Manuscript Preparation
- Revise your own draft as far as you can on your own
- Send it to beta readers for honest, structural feedback
- Revise based on beta feedback
- Decide which type(s) of editing your manuscript needs (developmental, line, copy)
- Complete editing, then proofread the final text
See the Complete Guide to Beta Reading and the Complete Guide to Book Editing.
Publishing Path
- Decide between traditional submission, self-publishing, or hybrid publishing
- If considering a hybrid publisher or paid service, verify it's legitimate before paying anything
See Self-Publishing vs. Traditional vs. Hybrid Publishing and How to Avoid Vanity Press Scams.
Cover and Interior
- Research your genre's cover conventions
- Commission or design your cover (front, spine, and back for print; separate front-facing file for ebook)
- Decide on your stance on AI-generated cover elements, if relevant, including Amazon's disclosure requirement
- Format your interior for print (fixed layout, margins, chapter starts)
- Format your interior for ebook (reflowable text, working table of contents)
See the Complete Guide to Book Cover Design and Interior Layout.
Publishing Setup
- Decide whether you need your own ISBN or can use a platform's free option
- If buying your own, register with your country's official ISBN agency and choose a publisher name
- Choose your print-on-demand platform(s): KDP, IngramSpark, or both
- Decide on ebook distribution: KDP Select (Amazon exclusive) or wide distribution
- Decide which formats to launch with: ebook, print, and/or audiobook
- Set your pricing for each format and platform
See What Is an ISBN, and Do You Need One?, Print-on-Demand Explained, What Is KDP?, Wide Distribution vs. Amazon Exclusive, and Ebook vs. Print vs. Audiobook.
Technical File Checks
- Confirm ebook file passes platform validation (working table of contents, no formatting errors)
- Confirm print file meets exact trim size, bleed, color mode (CMYK), and resolution requirements
- Confirm spine width matches your final page count
- Order a physical proof before finalizing a print run, if your platform offers one
- Disclose AI-generated content (text, images, translations) during the publishing platform's workflow, if applicable
See What "Print Ready" Actually Means.
Metadata and Discoverability
- Write your book description
- Choose accurate categories
- Research and select keywords
- Set up your author page/profile on the platforms you're using
Pre-Launch
- Line up ARC readers, bloggers, journalists, and librarians ahead of your publication date
- Order a professional review if you want one ready to quote at launch
- Set up your book's pre-order or launch-day listing
See Book Reviews 101, What Is an ARC?, and Book Launch Timeline: From Beta Readers to Reviews.
Launch Day and After
- Publish across your chosen platforms
- Remind ARC readers the book is live and ask for honest reviews
- Add the book to your website, newsletter, and social profiles
- Keep requesting reviews and building distribution over time, not just in launch week
A Note on Timing
Several of these steps have real lead times, editing, professional reviews, and ARC outreach all take weeks, not days, so working backward from a target launch date and starting early matters more than most first-time authors expect.
Ready to Work Through This List?
Entrada Publishing can help with editing, cover design, layout, and publishing guidance at any stage of this checklist. Email us to talk through where you are.
Learn More About Publishing With Entrada →
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