Is your book ready to go?

So you’ve written your book, and it looks like it’s time to get it out there for people to read. But how do you know if it’s ready to go?

How to use this quiz

This quiz will help you recognize some of the main requirements for self-publishing your book. By answering the questions, you’ll be able to identify what you’ve already done and the things that you may still need to work on.

Your personalised checklist will update as you answer the questions.

Has your book had a manuscript assessment?

Yes

I’m not sure what a manuscript assessment is.

Well done. Let’s keep going.

It’s important to get this done because an assessor will give you early feedback on any major issues.

A manuscript assessment will highlight any major issues, such as readership, writing style and how your topic sits with similar books.

✓ Manuscript assessment

Get manuscript assessment

How are you going to fund your book?

I’m using my own funds.

I’m looking at getting a sponsor or crowd funding.

I’m planning to approach a publisher.

I haven’t really thought of this yet.

Okay. This is the easiest scenario.

Great! You’ve given some thought on how to fund your book.

Good idea as this will also give you some honest feedback, but it may take some time.

It’s really important to think of this, since you’ll need funds for costs like printing fees or paying your book designer or illustrator.

✓ Funding

Look into funding

How has your book been edited?

I’ve read through it a number of times.

A trusted family member, friend or colleague has had a look at it.

A professional editor has looked at it.

It’s important to get someone else to check your book for any errors. Poor editing is a sign that the author didn’t care enough about their own work to treat it well before launching it into the world.

You may think no one will notice if you haven’t had a professional editor go over the manuscript, but you’d be surprised. Book reviewers, bookstore buyers and other publishing people will pick up on it at once.

Great! You have given yourself and your book the best chance of success.

Get book checked by a professional editor

✓ Professional editing

Have you thought about a cover for your book?

I’ve already got a cover image.

I’ve looked at similar books and have an idea of what I might like.

I haven’t really thought about it yet.

Great! Your book designer will be keen to see it.

That’s good. You can talk to your book designer about these ideas, and they can work with you to give your book a great cover.

A book designer can help to give your book a great cover.

✓ Cover image

Talk to book designer about a book cover

Have you sourced any supplementary material (like images or reference material) and gained copyright approval to use them?

My book doesn’t need any of extra images or reference material.

My book needs these, but I haven’t gotten any of them yet.

I have these already, but I’m not sure what copyright approval is or whether I need to get it.

I’ve sourced these and have copyright approval for them.

All right then, let’s move on.

You’ll need to source these and then gain copyright approval to use them in your book.

If your book contains any material or images created or owned by someone else, you’ll need to get permission from this person or organisation to use it in your book (this is known as copyright approval).

Great! You’ve definitely done your homework.

✓ No images or reference material needed

Source images or reference materials and get copyright approval

Check or get copyright approval for images or reference materials

✓ Source images or reference materials and get copyright approval

How will you sell your book?

Online through stores like Amazon

Through business contacts and seminars

By using a distributor to place in bookshops and at bookfairs

Through friends and family

I'm not sure.

Remember, there are many ways to sell a book, and you’ll need to think about distributors, libraries and booksellers, as well as reviewers.

Great! Looks like you’ve already given this some thought.

Remember, there are many ways to sell a book, and you’ll need to think about distributors, libraries and booksellers, as well as reviewers.

This will work if you only have a small quantity as there’s no point having a fabulous book stacked up in your spare room. We recommend looking into wider-reaching methods; talk to our team if you’d like to find out more.

There are many ways to sell a book, and you can talk to our friendly experts to discover more options and to explore which ones would suit your book best.

✓ Research ways to sell

Research ways to sell

How will you let people know about your book?

Through a professional book publicist

Through a website, blog, or social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

Friends and family will spread the word

I’m not sure how this will happen yet.

Great, you’ve put some thought into this. Remember, there are plenty of ways to market your book, and press advertising is just one of them.

Great, you’ve put some thought into this. Remember, there are plenty of ways to market your book, and this option is just one of them.

In order for your book to sell, it’s important to get a wide reach so more people know about it. You can talk to us to find out more ways of marketing your book.

If you’re not sure how to go about marketing your book, you can talk to our team of experts to sort this out.

✓ Marketing my book

Look into how to market my book

Thanks for taking the quiz!

Have a look at your checklist to see what you’ve already done for your book and what you may still need to do.

Whether your book is nearly ready or still has a long way to go, you can talk to our friendly team of experts to help you get it sorted.