Module 5 · Getting Ready to Publish
Publication and what comes after
What you'll understand: Understand initial publication as a milestone rather than a finish line.
Publication is a genuine achievement and worth marking. It's also the point where your book starts existing for other people, which is a different job from writing it.
Reasonable preparation
- Have your listing link ready to share, along with a short description you can paste anywhere.
- Tell the people who already care — they're usually your first readers. Any reviews must be left independently and in line with the platform's review policies.
- Have a few author copies in hand for the people who should have one.
- Keep a simple note of anywhere you'd like the book mentioned.
What to expect afterwards
Most books build slowly, and early interest often comes from people who already know you. Anything further is up to you: Self Publish Me prepares and sets up the book and does not provide marketing or promotion. Keeping your listing details accurate is worth doing whenever something changes.
Why this matters
Authors who treat publication as the end are disappointed. Authors who treat it as the start of the book's life keep improving what they can control.
What to do with this information
Write down the first three people or places you'll tell when the book is live. Any promotion beyond that is yours to choose.
Add to my publishing plan
Anything you record here appears in your Publishing Action Plan.
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