YOUR WRITE PATH

CHECKING
YOUR PATH TO
PUBLICATION

by
 YOUR WRITE PATH
HOW THIS WORKS
This is an interactive
checklist to help you
find out where you
currently are in the
publishing journey
and what your next
steps are.
Ready to get
started?

YES, LET'S GO »
 Step 1: Come up
with a Book Idea!
Don’t have a book idea yet?
Here's a free guide:
30+ Better Book Ideas

Scroll to continue »
Check In: What kind of
book are you writing?
This will affect your
publishing path.

Fiction
A novel about imagined events or
events "based on a true story"

Memoir
A completely true account of your
personal experiences

Nonfiction
An informational or inspirational
book about real-life topics
 Step 2: Choose your
publishing path
Click the path you want to
take.

Traditional Publishing
Fiction or Memoir
You're writing fiction or memoir and
want to publish with a traditional
publisher.
Click to choose »

Traditional Publishing
Nonfiction
You're writing nonfiction and want
to publish with a traditional
publisher.
Click to choose »

Self-publishing
You're writing any type of book and
want to self-publish
(fiction/memoir/nonfiction)
Click to choose »
 Path: Traditional Publishing Fiction or Memoir

Step 3: Develop Your

Story Idea
Before you start writing,
develop your story idea.

Summarize your story as

a 1-sentence premise

Optional: Outline your

plot

Create a book plan

 Path: Traditional Publishing Fiction or Memoir

Step 4: Write Your

First Draft
Once you've developed your
book idea and created a
plan, start writing!
Don't worry too much about
making everything perfect.
The goal of the first draft is
simply to get the story down.
Need help? Get coaching on
writing your first draft in
100 Day Book.
 Path: Traditional Publishing Fiction or Memoir

Step 5: Write a
Second Draft
After you've finished your first
draft, it's time to rewrite your
book as a second draft
focusing on big-picture
changes to the plot and
structure.
You may also focus on
strengthening your
characters or themes and
improving the pacing of the
story.
Don't worry too much about
proofreading at this point.
That's next.
Need help? Get coaching on
writing your second draft in
100 Day Book.
 Path: Traditional Publishing Fiction or Memoir

Step 6: Edit Your

Book
Now that you have a strong
second draft, it's time to edit.
This involves making
smaller-scale changes like
correcting grammar and
punctuation errors, improving
sentence structure, and
refining your language and
style.
Need help? Get coaching on
editing your book in
100 Day Book.
 Path: Traditional Publishing Fiction or Memoir

Optional: Hire an
Editor
It's always a good idea to
have a professional editor
review your manuscript.
They can give you fresh
perspective, teach you more
about story structure, and
maybe spot issues you might
have missed.
Need an editor? Inquire
here.
 Path: Traditional Publishing Fiction or Memoir

Step 7: Write a
Query Letter
A query letter is a one-page
letter that pitches your book
to literary agents. It should
include a brief summary of
your story, some information
about you as an author, and
why you think your book
would be a good fit for the
agent.
Query Letter Guide »
 Path: Traditional Publishing Fiction or Memoir

Step 8: Submit to
Literary Agents
Send your query letter to
literary agents who represent
books in your genre.
Be sure to follow each agent's
submission guidelines
carefully.
How to Find a Literary Agent »
 Path: Traditional Publishing Fiction or Memoir

Step 9: Work with

Your Agent and
Publisher
After you submit, much is out
of your hands. If you find an
agent you like and you both
agree to work together, they
will submit your book to
publishers, and if picked up,
they will give you next steps.
If you don't make progress,
you may choose to self-publish
(click to switch to self-
publishing path, otherwise
continue).
Path: Traditional Publishing Fiction or Memoir

Step 10: Prepare for

Publication

Identify your author

brand

Build an author website

Start an author
newsletter

Promote your author

newsletter (social media,
direct ask to friends and
family, etc)

Create a book marketing

and promotion plan
Path: Traditional Publishing Fiction or Memoir

Before Publishing
Review the Steps
1 Come Up With a Story
Idea
2 Choose Your
Publishing Path

3 Develop Your Story Idea

4 Write Your First Draft

5 Write a Second Draft

6 Edit Your Book

Optional: Hire an Editor

7 Write a Query Letter

8 Submit to Literary Agents

9 Work With Your Agent

and Publisher
10 Prepare for Publishing

Next, when you're ready, move to the

final step!
 Path: Traditional Publishing Fiction or Memoir

Step 11: Publish

Congrats! You did it.

Getting published is a huge
accomplishment. Don't forget
to celebrate.
Now that you've published
traditionally, your publisher will
handle producing and
distributing your book. They'll
also assist with marketing and
promotion, but they'll expect
you to promote yourself as well
(see step 10 activities).
Congratulations again!
 Path: Traditional Publishing Nonfiction

Step 3: Develop Your

Book Idea
Before you start writing,
develop your book idea.

Summarize your story as

a 1-sentence premise

Outline your book

 Path: Traditional Publishing Nonfiction

Step 4: Write a Book

Proposal
To traditionally publish a
nonfiction, before you write
the book you must create a
book proposal. This includes
a detailed outline, information
about you and your target
audience, as well as two to
three sample chapters.
Learn how to write a book
proposal here.
 Path: Traditional Publishing Fiction or Memoir

Optional: Hire an
Editor
Book proposals are very
specific documents, and you
might not be sure if you've
done it right. It's a good idea
to have a professional editor
review your proposal before
you submit.
They can give you fresh
perspective, teach you more
about story structure, and
maybe spot issues you might
have missed.
Need an editor? Inquire
here.
 Path: Traditional Publishing Nonfiction

Step 5: Submit to
Literary Agents
Send your book proposal to
literary agents who represent
books in your genre.
Be sure to follow each agent's
submission guidelines
carefully.
How to Find a Literary Agent »
 Path: Traditional Publishing Nonfiction

Step 6: Work with

Your Agent and
Publisher
If you find an agent you like
and you both agree to work
together, they will submit your
book to publishers, and if
picked up, they will give you
next steps.
If you don't make progress,
you may choose to self-publish
(click to switch to self-
publishing path, otherwise
continue).
 Path: Traditional Publishing Nonfiction

Step 7: Write Your

First Draft
Once you've developed your
book idea and created a
plan, start writing!
Don't worry too much about
making everything perfect.
The goal of the first draft is
simply to get your ideas
down.
Need help? Get coaching on
writing your first draft in
100 Day Book.
 Path: Traditional Publishing Nonfiction

Step 8: Write a
Second Draft
After you've finished your first
draft, it's time to rewrite your
book as a second draft
focusing on big-picture
changes to structure.
Don't worry too much about
proofreading at this point.
That's next.
 Path: Traditional Publishing Nonfiction

Step 9: Edit Your

Book
Now that you have a strong
second draft, it's time to edit.
This involves making
smaller-scale changes like
correcting grammar and
punctuation errors, improving
sentence structure, and
refining your language and
style.
Need help? Get coaching on
editing your book in
100 Day Book.
Path: Traditional Publishing Nonfiction

Step 10: Prepare for

Publication

Identify your author

brand

Build an author website

Start an author
newsletter

Promote your author

newsletter (social media,
direct ask to friends and
family, etc)

Create a book marketing

and promotion plan
Path: Traditional Publishing Fiction or Memoir

Before Publishing
Review the Steps
1 Come Up With a Book
Idea
2 Choose Your
Publishing Path

3 Develop Your Book Idea

4 Write a Book Proposal

Optional: Hire an Editor

5 Submit to Agents

6 Work With Your Agent

and Publisher

7 Write Your First Draft

8 Write a Second Draft

9 Edit Your Book

10 Prepare for Publishing

Next, when you're ready, move to the

final step!
 Path: Traditional Publishing Nonfiction

Step 11: Publish

Congrats! You did it.

Getting published is a huge
accomplishment. Don't forget
to celebrate.
Now that you've published
traditionally, your publisher will
handle producing and
distributing your book. They'll
also assist with marketing and
promotion, but they'll expect
you to promote yourself as well
(see step 10 activities).
Congratulations again!
 Path: Self-Publishing

Step 3: Develop Your

✔ Book Idea
Before you start writing,
develop your book idea.

Summarize your story as

✔ a 1-sentence premise

Optional: Outline your

plot or nonfiction book

Create a book plan

 Path: Self-Publishing

Step 4: Write Your

✔ First Draft
Once you've developed your
book idea and created a
plan, start writing!
Don't worry too much about
making everything perfect.
The goal of the first draft is
simply to get your ideas
down.
Need help? Get coaching on
writing your first draft in
100 Day Book.
 Path: Self-Publishing

Step 5: Write a
Second Draft
After you've finished your first
draft, it's time to rewrite your
book as a second draft
focusing on big-picture
changes to the plot and
structure.
Don't worry too much about
proofreading at this point.
That's next.
Need help? Get coaching on
writing your first second draft
in 100 Day Book.
 Path: Self-Publishing

Step 6: Edit Your

Book
Now that you have a strong
second draft, it's time to edit.
This involves making
smaller-scale changes like
correcting grammar and
punctuation errors, improving
sentence structure, and
refining your language and
style.
Need help? Get coaching on
editing your book in
100 Day Book.
 Path: Self-Publishing

Highly Recommended!
Hire an Editor
It's always a good idea to
have a professional editor
review your manuscript,
especially if you are self-
publishing.
They can give you fresh
perspective, teach you more
about book structure, and
maybe spot issues you might
have missed.
Need an editor? Inquire
here.
 Path: Self-Publishing

Step 7: Choose Your

Publishing Platform
There are many platforms
you can use to self-publish
your book depending on your
needs and goals, including
direct-to-market channels like
Amazon's KDP, distributors
like Draft2Digital or Ingram
Spark, hybrid publishers like
Paper Raven books, or
audiobook publishers like
ACX.
 Path: Self-Publishing

Step 8: Assemble
Your Publishing
Materials
Create your publishing
materials using contractors
(see our preferred publishing
contractor list here) or your
own efforts.
Book Cover

Book Description &

Author Bio

Formatted Book File for

eBook and Print (see
Book Formatting
Software)
 Path: Self-Publishing

Step 9: Prepare for

Publication

Identify your author

brand

Build an author website

Start an author
newsletter

Promote your author

newsletter (social media,
direct ask to friends and
family, etc)

Create a book marketing

and promotion plan
 Path: Self-Publishing

Before Publishing
Review the Steps
1 Come Up With a Book
Idea

2 Choose Your
Publishing Path

✔ 3 Develop Your Book Idea

✔ 4 Write Your First Draft

5 Write a Second Draft

6 Edit Your Book

Recommended: Hire an
Editor

7 Choose Your Publishing

Platform

8 Assemble Your
Publishing Materials

9 Prepare for Publishing

Next, when you're ready, move to the

final step!
 Path: Self-Publishing

Step 10: Publish

Congrats! You did it.

Getting published is a huge
accomplishment. Don't forget
to celebrate.
Now that you've published,
you will need to market and
promote your book (see step 9
activities).
Good luck and congratulations
again!