What to Know, What to Prepare, and What to Expect
A guide for business owners publishing their first book
So you are writing a book. Maybe you are close to done, or maybe you just know it is coming. Either way, at some point you are going to need a book designer, and most people have no idea what that actually means or how to prepare for it. This guide is here to help.
Questions to ask a designer before you start
Not all book designers work the same way. Before you hire anyone, get clear on how they work and whether they are the right fit for your project.
- Can I see your portfolio, specifically books for business authors?
- Do you handle both print and ebook formatting?
- What does your process look like from start to finish?
- What do you need from me, and when?
- What happens if I need to make changes mid-project?
- What file formats will I receive at the end?
What to bring to your first conversation
You do not need to have everything figured out. However, coming prepared makes the first conversation much more productive.
- Your manuscript (even a rough draft is fine)
- Your brand guidelines, if you have them (logo, fonts, colors)
- Books you admire, visually not just content-wise
- A sense of your timeline and your budget
- An open mind
What keeps a project moving
Good collaboration is what gets a book across the finish line. Here is what that looks like in practice.
- Respond to feedback requests within the agreed timeframe
- Consolidate feedback from all stakeholders before sending (design by committee stalls projects)
- Trust the process, your designer has done this before
- Communicate early if something comes up that affects your timeline
- Do not upload or submit files to any platform without your designer’s sign-off
What derails a project
On the other hand, these are the things that slow a project down or stop it entirely.
- Disappearing mid-process
- Changing the concept or scope after work has begun
- Making design decisions without looping in your designer
- Uploading files to KDP or IngramSpark on your own
- Waiting until you are “fully ready”. Momentum matters more than perfection
Print vs. digital: know the difference
Print files and ebook files are not the same. They have different resolution requirements, different margin rules, and different color specifications. As a result, make sure your designer prepares both formats if you need both.
A word on covers
Your cover is your number one marketing tool. It is what stops someone scrolling, what makes a buyer pick it up, and what signals your credibility before a word is read. Invest in it. Do not DIY it.
Ready to talk?
If you are working on a book and want to understand what comes next, I would love to have a conversation, no pitch, just a helpful chat. Contact me here.
Image: Markus Winkler @Unsplash