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You’ve checked everything off of your pre-publishing checklist and now it’s time to start building your books. Here’s the next installment in your checklist. Let us know what we missed!

First Things First

• Secure your ISBN via www.myidentifiers.com

• Secure your Library of Congress Control Number by opening an account with the Library of Congress

Begin working with your book editor

• Review changes when they’re done. The editing and revisions process takes on average four to six weeks

• Start building your list of important contacts including friends, family, colleagues, media contacts, organizations, authors, and events coordinators

• Select your book designer

• Begin working with your designer to craft your book’s promotional materials (sell sheet, postcard, business card, and bookmark)

• Create your back cover or dust jacket flap copy

• Put together your list of reviewers for back-of-the-book testimonials or “blurbs.” Think about authors and other “key influencers” in your subject area

Begin the design process, which takes on average four weeks. In the meantime…

• Confirm book specifications (page count, trim size, paperback/hardcover, and other details)

• Collect printer quotes

• Write website content and secure photos for website pages

• Send book proof to proofreader

• Send 1st book proof files to galley printer (if applicable)

• Mail galleys to book reviewers and endorsers

• Send final corrections from proofreader to designer

• Send pre-publication endorsements and reviews to designer

• Approve final book proof from designer

• Send final book files to book printer if you’re printing  hard copies

• Investigate services like Lightning Source and CreateSpace for Print-on-Demand options

• Select and send files to your e-book distributor (Smashwords, Bookbaby, Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing Service)

Determine if your book is going to bookstores and libraries. If so do the following:

• Submit book information to Ingram Book Company (Indie authors with fewer than 10 titles have to work with book distributors who work with Ingram. For a complete list of distributors available to you, go here)

• Create an Author Central page on Amazon and set up a Amazon Advantage account (if you’re printing hard copies and not using CreateSpace)

   

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