Gathering everything the book needs

Production stalls more often over missing materials than over the manuscript itself. Most of these take an afternoon — but only if you start before you're asked.

Text you'll need beyond the chapters

• Title and subtitle as you want them printed.
• Author name exactly as it should appear.
• Dedication and acknowledgements, if you want them.
• Author bio, short and slightly longer versions, if used.
• Back-cover copy, where applicable — the description a browsing reader sees.

Visual material

• Photographs, illustrations, charts or maps, at print resolution rather than screen resolution.
• Captions and any required credit lines.
• An author photograph, if you plan to use one.

Permissions

If your book quotes song lyrics, poetry, substantial passages from other books, or uses images you didn't create, permission from the rights holder may be required depending on the rights involved and how the material is used. Verify permissions yourself and seek legal guidance when you're unsure — this course is educational and isn't legal advice. It's also the item that most often arrives late, because it depends on someone else replying.