The publishing roadmap

The Indie Publishing Roadmap

Every step from manuscript to launch — tracked, in order, with the how-to for each one.

37 tasks across 5 phases. 25 step-by-step guides with UK-accurate detail. A launch tracker that keeps your progress, book by book.

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Try free for 10 days. No card required. or view the plans.

Inside the roadmap

More than guides — a launch tracker

The guides show you how. The tool keeps you on track — every task, every platform, every book.

Timeline

Tick off every task and watch your launch take shape, phase by phase.

Included with the Roadmap

Distribution

Launch countdown, platform-by-platform status, and wide vs KDP Select guardrails.

Included with the Roadmap

Metadata

ISBNs, categories, keywords and pricing kept consistent across every retailer.

Included with the Roadmap

This is the complete path from finished manuscript to a launched book, broken into five phases. Read the free sample guide in full; the other 24 guides, and the tools that track your own launch, unlock with the roadmap.

Phase 1

Foundations & Setup

12 to 9 months before release

Choose your imprint nameFree to read Register for ISBNs with Nielsen Set up your KDP and IngramSpark accounts Build your project folders and cloud backups Draft your copyright page and metadata sheet
Phase 2

Editing & Metadata Lock

9 to 6 months before release

Send your manuscript for line and copy editing Work through revisions and finalise the text Finalise your front and back matter Lock your metadata: title, keywords, categories, pricing Set up your ebook and print preorders
Phase 3

Formatting, Proofing & ARCs

6 to 3 months before release

Send your manuscript to a formatter Review your EPUB and print PDF proofs Create your ARC files Run your ARC reviewer campaign Send the formatted files to a proofreader Prepare your full cover wrap with barcode Order print proofs from KDP and IngramSpark
Phase 4

Final Uploads & Marketing

3 to 1 month before release

Approve your physical proofs Upload your final files to KDP and IngramSpark Test your Read Sample previews and retail links Prepare and schedule your launch assets Lock your files and metadata with final backups
Phase 5

Launch & Post-Launch

Launch week and beyond

Announce release day across your platforms Engage your ARC team to post reviews Monitor your sales dashboards

Unlock the full roadmap

Phases 2 to 5 and every guide open up inside the roadmap tool, which also tracks your own launch: tick off tasks, save notes and target dates, and manage metadata and distribution across every book.

Start your free trial

Try free for 10 days. No card required. Or view the plans.