Free Self-Publishing Launch Checklist — 20 Steps to Launch Your Book

Phase 1 — Manuscript Prep

Complete your final self-edit pass

Read the full manuscript aloud. Fix pacing, plot holes, and chapter flow before anyone else sees it.
Hire a developmental editor

Big-picture feedback on structure, character arcs, and pacing. Budget $500-$2,000 depending on length.
Get copy editing & proofreading done

Line-by-line grammar, punctuation, and consistency check. This is non-negotiable.
Send to beta readers

3-5 readers in your genre. Ask for honest feedback on pacing and engagement — not just typos.

Phase 2 — Design & Formatting

Commission a professional cover design

Your cover is your #1 marketing asset. Hire a genre-specific designer ($300-$1,200). Readers judge books by covers.
Format for eBook (EPUB/MOBI/KPF)

Use Vellum, Atticus, or Calibre. Test on multiple devices. Reflowable layout for fiction, fixed for image-heavy.
Format for print (PDF interior)

Set trim size (6x9" standard), margins, gutters, and bleed. Include ISBN barcode on back cover.
Write your back matter

Author bio, acknowledgments, "also by" page, and a call-to-action (mailing list, next book, review request).

Phase 3 — Legal & Metadata

Obtain ISBNs (one per format)

Buy from Bowker (US) or your national agency. KDP provides free ASINs but you lose portability.
Register your copyright

File with the US Copyright Office ($65 online). Protects against infringement — worth the cost.
Write your book description & blurb

Hook + stakes + why-now. Study bestsellers in your genre. This sells more books than any ad.
Select BISAC categories & keywords

Pick 2-3 BISAC codes. Research Amazon categories and choose 7 keywords that match reader search behavior.

Phase 4 — Distribution

Upload to Amazon KDP

Dominant marketplace. eBook + paperback + hardcover. Use KDP Select (exclusive) only if your strategy justifies it.
Upload to IngramSpark

Gets you into bookstores, libraries, and 40,000+ retailers. Set 55% wholesale discount for store stocking.
Set up wide distribution (Draft2Digital or direct)

Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Google Play. Go wide or KDP Select — decide your strategy first.
Set pricing across all platforms

eBook $2.99-$9.99 (70% royalty sweet spot). Print: cover production cost + reasonable margin. Compare genre pricing.

Phase 5 — Launch

Build your launch team (ARC readers)

20-50 readers who get advance copies in exchange for honest reviews on launch day. Start recruiting 4-6 weeks early.
Create a 4-week launch timeline

Week 1: teasers. Week 2: cover reveal. Week 3: pre-order push. Week 4: launch day blitz + promo stacking.
Submit to promo sites

BookBub (hard but worth trying), Freebooksy, BargainBooksy, Robin Reads, Book Gorilla. Apply 2-4 weeks early.
Plan your post-launch marketing

Launch is day one, not the finish line. Plan email funnels, Amazon Ads, social content, and your next book timeline.

The Self-Publishing
Launch Checklist