The 6 Stages of Publishing a Book (From Writing to Launch & Beyond)

Описание: Your Publishing Plan: The 6 Stages of Production & Launch

Virtual Summit tickets: https://WomenInPublishingSummit.com/t...
WIPCON in person conference: (Columbia, SC): https://WomenInPublishingSummit.com/c...

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by publishing—like you’re missing steps, wasting money, or realizing “oops… I should’ve known that earlier”—this training lays it all out.

In this session, Alexa Bigwarfe breaks down the 6 stages of publishing (and explains why it’s less of a straight line and more like a giant bowl of spaghetti). You’ll learn what happens in each phase—from writing and editing to production, distribution, launch, and long-term marketing—plus how your chosen publishing path (traditional, hybrid, self-publishing, or self-pub assist) impacts everything from ISBNs to distribution decisions.

You’ll also hear practical guidance on budgeting for a professional book, building an ARC/launch team, making smarter metadata choices, and why post-launch marketing is what keeps sales alive long after release week.

Overview: The Complete Book Publishing Roadmap

Why Publishing Isn’t Linear (What Most Authors Don’t Expect)

The Mindset Shift: Writing vs Building an Author Business

Choosing Your Publishing Path (Traditional vs Hybrid vs Self-Publishing)

Budgeting for Publishing (What It Really Costs)

Writing Stage

Drafting, Outlining & Surviving the First Draft

Writing Coaches, Critique Groups & Author Community

Writing & Self-Editing Tools

Editing Stage

Alpha vs Beta Readers Explained

The 4 Types of Book Editing

Manuscript Critiques & Revision Strategy

Production Stage

Book Cover Design & Interior Formatting

Metadata: Keywords, Categories & Pricing Strategy

ISBNs Explained (What Authors Need to Know)

Building an ARC & Launch Team

Publication & Distribution Stage

Print-on-Demand vs Print Runs

KDP, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital & Distribution Options

Ebook vs Print vs Audiobook Strategy

Book Distribution & Discoverability

Launch Strategy Stage

Pre-Launch Marketing Timeline

How to Get Book Reviews & Awards

Paid Promos, PR & Email List Growth

Post-Launch Marketing Stage

Long-Term Book Marketing Strategy

Seasonal Promotions & Ongoing Visibility

Podcasts, Speaking & Collaboration

Audiobooks & Rights Expansion

Collaboration & Community for Authors

Upcoming Events: Women in Publishing Summit & WIPCON

Live Q&A Highlights
Resources mentioned:

Editing resources page: https://WomenInPublishingSummit.com/e...
Publishing Resources page: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/p...

Want support + community while you publish? The Women in Publishing Summit is March 8–11 (virtual), and your ticket includes recordings through the end of the year plus access to ongoing networking and collaboration opportunities.

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