Creating Your Writing, Production, & Publication Schedule

Happy Thursday once again!

In talking with a fellow author recently, we were discussing the differences between how people perceive publishing (specifically self-publishing) their books and their "real life" corporate careers or even entrepreneurship. While it is tempting to write and publish by the seat of your pants, proper planning and preparation really does pay plenty!

The truth is, the process of writing, producing, and publishing your book is best done on a schedule—which means, of course, ya gotta have a schedule.

While it might seem effective to write your book over the course of a year as the mood strikes you, finish your first draft, schedule your editorial team, and then work on your book cover. Inking dates for each of these will alleviate unnecessary stress and uncertainty. Why not buy your ISBNs and barcodes and have your back cover copy written at the proper time in the production process so you can rest easy knowing they are ready to go? The truth is each of these tasks (and dozens more, in fact) have an exponentially higher probability of getting done easier, faster, and better if you take even a few minutes to sketch out your plan.

Here is an example of one of my actual schedules:

Timeline:

7/30/21 : Final First Draft Due* 8/10-27/21 : Send book to editor (allow 3 weeks) [TS – YES/confirmed 4/11/21] 8/30-9/1/21 : Review edits (allow 3 weeks/2 days) Who? HC 9/1-8/21 : Send book to proofreader (allow 1 week) {JD – YES/confirmed 4/12/21] 9/8/21 : Honorée Corder reviews proofreaders marks 9/9/211 : Send book to formatter (allow 10 business days) {DM-confirmed 5/1/21} 9/25/21 : Send book for audio (RA – Confirmed 4/30/21) 9/25/21 : Order proof copies 10/8/21 : Order advance review copies (for SPs/featured/media, etc.) 10/1/21 : Call for Advance Review Team (ART) 10/8/19 : Books to ART 10/22-25/21 : Secret Launch (Fri-Sun—ART buys and reviews) 10/25/21 : Launch

It will make sense to you that (a) there are a lot of other action items and tasks not on this schedule, (b) what this provides are the building blocks upon which all of those other necessary items are based (marketing, retail page setup, website and email preparations, etc.), and (c) this allows plenty of time for team members to be booked well in advance.

Here's an important note: anyone you want working on your book is scheduled months in advance. A side benefit for reserving time on someone else's schedule is it provides accountability for you to get that book written!

The good news is there are multiple tracks (writing, production, publishing), so some tasks can occur concurrently (you can have your book description written once the title, subtitle, and TOC have been finalized; and you can have a cover designed even while you're still writing or while the book is being edited). In fact, there is plenty of white space you can maximize while you're waiting for other members of your team.

It boils down to this: a well-planned schedule can alleviate pain and suffering and allow you to enjoy the process of becoming an author! I'd love to know your burning questions about the process—and chances are I address them all in here, so if you'd like an experienced guide I'm here to help.

Happy writing, and I'll see you tomorrow!

Honorée Corder | I help professionals write, publish, market, and monetize their books.?

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