Last reviewed by Robert Prime — July 2026
Quick Answer: 47 steps across 7 phases: manuscript prep → editing → cover & design → interior formatting → publishing setup → launch → post-launch. The UK-specific steps most authors miss: Nielsen ISBN registration, Legal Deposit with the British Library, HMRC Self Assessment registration, and the KDP tax interview (W-8BEN). Full numbered checklist below — print it, tick as you go.
Table of Contents
- How to use this checklist
- Phase 1 — Manuscript preparation (Steps 1–8)
- Phase 2 — Editing (Steps 9–14)
- Phase 3 — Cover and design (Steps 15–20)
- Phase 4 — Interior formatting (Steps 21–27)
- Phase 5 — Publishing setup (Steps 28–36)
- Phase 6 — Launch (Steps 37–42)
- Phase 7 — Post-launch (Steps 43–47)
- Frequently asked questions
- Final thoughts
How to use this checklist
Work through each phase in order. Some steps can run in parallel (you can commission your cover while editing is happening), but don't skip phases. The most common self-publishing disasters come from jumping to "upload to KDP" before steps 1–27 are done.
Each step is marked with an estimated time and, where relevant, a typical UK cost range.
Phase 1 — Manuscript preparation (Steps 1–8)
1. Finish the manuscript. Not "nearly finished" — finished. Last chapter written, ending resolved, no placeholder scenes. Everything after this point assumes a complete draft.
2. Let it rest. Put the manuscript away for 2–4 weeks. When you come back, you'll see problems you couldn't see while writing. This is the cheapest editing pass you'll ever do.
3. Self-edit the full manuscript. Read the entire book aloud (or use text-to-speech). Fix pacing, repetition, inconsistencies, and anything that made you wince. See our self-editing checklist for a structured approach.
4. Fix formatting basics. Single space after full stops. Consistent chapter headings. No double paragraph breaks. Smart quotes ("curly"), not straight quotes ("straight"). British English spelling throughout (colour, realise, centre).
5. Choose your publishing name. Decide whether you're publishing under your real name or a pen name. This affects your copyright page, your KDP account, and your ISBN registration. You can't easily change it later.
6. Decide on formats. Will you publish ebook only, paperback only, or both? Hardback? Audiobook later? Each format needs separate setup. Most UK indie authors start with ebook + paperback.
7. Research your categories and keywords. Identify 2–3 Amazon categories and 7 keywords for KDP. Look at the bestsellers in your genre — what categories are they in? See our Amazon categories guide for the process.
8. Write your book description (blurb). 150–200 words for the back cover and Amazon listing. This is sales copy, not a summary. Hook, conflict, stakes — no spoilers. Study the blurbs of the top 20 books in your category.
Phase 2 — Editing (Steps 9–14)
9. Hire a developmental editor (if needed). For fiction: story structure, character arcs, pacing. For non-fiction: argument flow, chapter organisation, gaps. Typical UK cost: £500–£2,000 depending on manuscript length. Not every book needs this — but every debut probably does.
10. Revise based on developmental feedback. This is often a substantial rewrite. Budget 2–6 weeks.
11. Hire a copy editor. Line-by-line editing for clarity, consistency, grammar, and style. Typical UK cost: £400–£1,200 (5–8p per word). Ensure they use British English conventions.
12. Revise based on copy edits. Review every suggestion. Accept most, query the ones that change your voice.
13. Hire a proofreader. Final pass for typos, punctuation, formatting errors. Typical UK cost: £200–£600 (3–5p per word). This is a different person from your copy editor — fresh eyes catch what familiar eyes miss.
14. Final read-through. Read the proofread manuscript one last time yourself. You're looking for anything the proofreader missed and any last-minute changes. After this, the text is locked.
Phase 3 — Cover and design (Steps 15–20)
15. Hire a cover designer. Professional cover design is non-negotiable. Study the top-selling covers in your genre — your cover needs to belong on that shelf. Typical UK cost: £200–£800 for ebook + paperback cover. Fiverr is an option from £50, but quality varies wildly.
16. Brief the designer properly. Send them: your genre, 5 comparable titles ("comp titles"), your blurb, your target reader demographic, and any imagery you absolutely hate. Let them design — don't art-direct pixel by pixel.
17. Get the ebook cover. Minimum 1600 × 2560 pixels, RGB colour, JPEG or PNG. Amazon's recommended ratio is 1:1.6.
18. Get the paperback cover. Full wrap (front, spine, back) as a print-ready PDF. The designer needs your final page count and trim size to calculate the spine width. KDP provides a cover template calculator — send this to your designer.
19. Write the back-cover copy. Blurb (from Step 8), author bio (2–3 sentences, third person), barcode space (KDP adds this automatically), and any endorsement quotes you have.
20. Get ISBN barcode added to the back cover. If you're using your own ISBN (not Amazon's free one), your designer needs to place the barcode. Nielsen provides barcode files when you purchase your ISBN.
Phase 4 — Interior formatting (Steps 21–27)
21. Choose your trim size. UK standard for fiction: 203 × 127 mm (5" × 8") or 216 × 140 mm (5.5" × 8.5"). Non-fiction can go larger. Check what other books in your genre use. See our KDP paperback formatting template for the full settings.
22. Format your interior or hire a formatter. Options: DIY with Word/Atticus/Vellum (Mac only), or hire a professional. Our formatting service handles this from £69 with a 3-day turnaround. For a comparison of tools, see our formatting software guide.
23. Set up front matter. Half-title page, title page, copyright page (see our copyright page template), dedication, contents page (non-fiction — optional for fiction).
24. Set up back matter. Acknowledgements (see our acknowledgements template), about the author, also-by page, resources/bibliography (non-fiction).
25. Export your ebook file. EPUB format for KDP. Validate it using the Kindle Previewer — check every chapter, every image, every link.
26. Export your print-ready PDF. Embedded fonts, CMYK colour (or greyscale for fiction), PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-3 standard, crop marks off (KDP adds its own). Run a free KDP Readiness Score to check for common errors before uploading.
27. Order a printed proof. Always. Screen PDFs lie. Colours shift, margins feel different in hand, and you'll spot things on paper you missed on screen. KDP lets you order a proof copy before publishing — use it. Budget £5–£10 + postage.
Phase 5 — Publishing setup (Steps 28–36)
28. Buy your ISBN (optional but recommended for UK authors). In the UK, ISBNs come from Nielsen. A single ISBN costs £89; a block of 10 costs £164 (better value if you're publishing multiple formats or books). You need a separate ISBN per format. See our ISBN requirements guide for the full breakdown.
29. Register your ISBN with Nielsen. Once purchased, register your book's metadata (title, author, format, price, publication date) on Nielsen's ISBN portal. This feeds into UK bookshop databases and library catalogues.
30. Send Legal Deposit copies. UK law requires you to send a copy of every published book to the British Library. For print books, send one copy within one month of publication to: Legal Deposit Office, The British Library, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7BQ. For ebooks, use the British Library's e-legal deposit service. Five other UK legal deposit libraries can also request a free copy — this is handled via the Agency for the Legal Deposit Libraries.
31. Create your KDP account (if you haven't already). Go to kdp.amazon.com. Use your real name and UK address.
32. Complete the KDP tax interview. This is the W-8BEN that stops Amazon withholding 30% of your US royalties. See our KDP tax interview walkthrough for the exact fields.
33. Set up your bank account and payment details. KDP pays by bank transfer. Enter your UK bank details (sort code + account number). Set your preferred currency to GBP for UK marketplace royalties.
34. Create your KDP book listing. Enter title, subtitle, author name, description, keywords, categories, and upload your cover and manuscript files. Preview everything using KDP's online previewer.
35. Set your price. For ebooks: £2.99–£9.99 qualifies for the 70% royalty rate in the UK. Below £2.99 or above £9.99 drops to 35%. For paperbacks: set a list price that gives you a reasonable royalty after print cost — use KDP's royalty calculator. Check competitor pricing in your genre.
36. Register for HMRC Self Assessment. If your publishing income exceeds £1,000/year (the trading allowance), you need to register as self-employed with HMRC and file a Self Assessment tax return. Register at gov.uk/register-for-self-assessment. See our UK author tax checklist for the full process.
Phase 6 — Launch (Steps 37–42)
37. Set your publication date 2–4 weeks out. Don't publish the moment you upload. Give yourself time for the pre-order period, ARC distribution, and launch-week planning.
38. Set up a pre-order (optional). KDP allows ebook pre-orders up to 90 days before publication. Pre-order sales count towards your launch-day ranking. Upload a placeholder manuscript initially — the final file must be uploaded 72 hours before release.
39. Send ARCs (advance reader copies). Send your formatted ebook to 20–50 readers who've agreed to read and review. Use a service like BookSirens or NetGalley, or email directly. See our ARC guide for the process.
40. Set up your Author Central page. Go to author.amazon.co.uk and claim your author page. Add your bio, photo, and link to your blog/website. See our Author Central guide.
41. Publish. Click "Publish" on KDP. Ebooks typically go live within 24–72 hours. Paperbacks take 3–5 business days. Don't panic if it's not instant.
42. Launch-week push. Email your list. Post on social media. Ask ARC readers to post their reviews. Consider a launch-day price promotion (99p for the first 48 hours). See our book launch checklist for the day-by-day plan.
Phase 7 — Post-launch (Steps 43–47)
43. Monitor your first 30 days. Check your KDP dashboard daily for the first month. Watch sales rank, page reads (if in KU), and reviews. Respond to any reader questions or feedback.
44. Start Amazon Ads (optional). Sponsored Products ads on Amazon can drive discoverability. Start small (£5–£10/day), test different keywords, and scale what works. See our Amazon Ads guide.
45. Request editorial reviews. Submit to relevant UK book blogs and review sites. LoveReading, for example, reviews independently published books. Timing matters — most reviewers want 4–8 weeks' lead time.
46. Plan your next book. The single best marketing strategy for your first book is publishing your second. Backlist sells frontlist. Start writing.
47. File your Self Assessment tax return. Your tax year runs 6 April to 5 April. Keep records of all royalty income (KDP provides monthly reports), allowable expenses (editing, cover design, advertising, ISBN), and file by 31 January following the end of the tax year. See our UK author tax checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the whole process take?
From finished manuscript to published book: typically 3–6 months if you're doing it properly. Editing takes the longest (4–8 weeks if you include developmental editing). You can compress the timeline, but rushing the editing or skipping the proof copy is where most quality problems originate.
How much does it cost to self-publish in the UK?
A realistic budget for a quality self-published book: £1,000–£3,000. Breakdown: editing (£600–£1,800), cover design (£200–£600), formatting (£69–£300), ISBN (£89 single or £164 for 10), proof copies (£10–£20), launch advertising (£50–£200). You can do it cheaper by DIY-ing the formatting and skipping developmental editing, but the two things you should never cut are copy editing and cover design.
Do I need an ISBN if I'm only publishing on KDP?
KDP provides a free ASIN for ebooks and a free ISBN for paperbacks. But the free ISBN lists Amazon as the publisher. If you want your own imprint name listed, or if you plan to sell through other channels (bookshops, Ingram, libraries), buy your own ISBN from Nielsen. See our ISBN guide.
Can I publish on platforms other than Amazon?
Yes. Draft2Digital, IngramSpark, Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play Books all accept self-published titles. But Amazon controls roughly 75–80% of the UK ebook market, so most UK indie authors start there. If you go wide (multiple platforms), don't enrol in KDP Select/Kindle Unlimited — it requires Amazon exclusivity.
Do I need to register as a business?
Not necessarily. Most UK self-publishers operate as sole traders. You don't need to register a company — just register for Self Assessment with HMRC once your publishing income exceeds £1,000/year. A limited company only makes sense once your publishing income is substantial (typically £30,000+/year).
Final thoughts
Forty-seven steps sounds like a lot. It is. But most of them are one-time setup — you buy your ISBN once, you complete the tax interview once, you register for Self Assessment once. The second book is half the work.
The step where most self-published books fall apart is formatting. A beautifully written, professionally edited book that arrives on Amazon with wrong margins, missing headers, and a copyright page that says "[YOUR NAME HERE]" looks amateur — and readers can tell in the Look Inside preview. Run a free KDP Readiness Score on your formatted file before you upload, or let us format it for you from £69 and skip the guesswork.
Tick each box. Ship the book.
— Robert publishing.co.uk
