So you’ve written (or nearly finished writing) a book—congratulations! That’s a huge accomplishment and deserves to be celebrated. But now you might be wondering… what’s next?

How do you go from Word doc to printed masterpiece—or at least a polished eBook ready for Amazon?

Here’s a straightforward guide to help you move from manuscript to publication without wasting time, energy, or money.

Step 1: Editing (and Yes, You Need It)

Before you think about formatting, cover design, or uploading anything to Amazon, your manuscript needs editing. And not just running spellcheck.

There are several types of editing, and not every manuscript needs all of them—but knowing which one(s) you do need is key:

  • Developmental Editing: This is the big-picture edit. It focuses on structure, plot, pacing, character arcs, consistency, and clarity. It’s especially important for fiction and narrative nonfiction.
    ✨ For dev edits, I highly recommend:

  • Line Editing: Focuses on language, tone, sentence flow, and voice.

  • Copyediting: Looks for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and consistency.

  • Proofreading: The final polish before publication. It catches surface-level errors missed in previous rounds.

✨ For line editing, copyediting, or proofreading, head over to:
👉 wordwiserink.com

WordWiser Ink has an amazing team of professional editors who’ll help you present your best work to the world.

Step 2: Book Formatting & Cover Design

Once your manuscript is professionally edited, it’s time to make it look like a book.

Book Formatter

A good formatter will design the interior of your book (print and/or digital) so it reads beautifully on every device or page. You want clean margins, properly styled chapter headings, and consistent formatting.

You can find reliable formatters through:

Cover Designer

Please do not DIY your book cover unless you’re a professional graphic designer. Your cover is your book’s first impression—it matters.

Great places to find cover designers:

  • 99designs

  • Reedsy

  • Instagram – Search hashtags like #bookcoverdesigner to find portfolios

  • Trusted referrals in author communities

Always look at the designer’s portfolio before hiring anyone. Make sure they have experience designing for your genre.

Step 3: Avoid Vanity Presses 🚨

Do not pay thousands of dollars to a vanity publisher.
These companies often promise to “help” you publish, but they overcharge, limit your rights, and offer little return.

You don’t need them. You can do this yourself with a small team of trusted professionals—and maintain complete control.

Step 4: Get Your Own ISBN

If you’re self-publishing a print book or want to list your eBook with multiple retailers (not just Amazon), you need your own ISBN.

👉 Visit Bowker to purchase ISBNs directly.

You’ll need:

  • One ISBN for each format (print, eBook, audiobook, etc.)

  • Your own publishing imprint name (you can make one up or use your own name)

This keeps your book registered under your ownership—not a third party.

Step 5: Choose How to Publish

eBook Only? Best Practices:

  • Format your file as ePub or Mobi (many formatters can do this)

  • Create a killer cover (even more important for eBooks!)

  • Write a strong book description

  • Add metadata and keywords for searchability

  • Upload to Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
    kdp.amazon.com

  • Consider also distributing to Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble via Draft2Digital or Smashwords

Print Books? I Recommend IngramSpark

While Amazon KDP Print is fine, I recommend using IngramSpark for:

  • Better distribution to bookstores and libraries

  • Higher quality printing

  • Expanded global reach

You can use both IngramSpark and KDP simultaneously—just be sure to deselect “Expanded Distribution” on Amazon if you’re using IngramSpark for that.

Bonus Tips

  • Get a barcode: If you buy ISBNs from Bowker, you can also get your barcode there.

  • Copyright your work: Not required but gives added protection.

  • Build your author platform: Even before your book is published, start sharing your journey on social media, blogs, or newsletters.

  • Hire a launch team: People who can review your book and help promote it at launch.

Final Thoughts

Publishing a book is a marathon, not a sprint. But with the right professionals and tools, you can release a book you’re truly proud of—and one that readers will take seriously.

If you’re ever unsure about your next step, don’t hesitate to ask for help—but now you’ve got a one-stop resource to guide you from manuscript to masterpiece.

Save it, share it, and finish that book!