If you’ve been writing a book for awhile now and are hoping to make the leap into independent publishing in 2026, here’s the most important truth we can share with you:
A successful self-published book takes time. A lot more time than most authors expect.
I want to be upfront about this particular point because we talk to authors every single week who have a manuscript and are hoping to have a book in their hands in a month or two. But the reality is this: to self-publish a book correctly, you need at least six months—and more realistically, nine to twelve.
That means if a 2026 launch is your goal, now is the time to start thinking about the self-publishing process, the timeline, and the groundwork you need to lay to make sure your manuscript is ready for publication, and you are ready to launch a book.
If you want to get your book ready to publish in 2026, here are six tips:
1. First, Your Manuscript Must Be 100% Finished
This is the non-negotiable foundation of every smooth publishing experience. If you are still tweaking with your manuscript then it is not ready for publication. Before you even start researching your publishing options you need to be able to check these three things off:
✔️ I am completely done tweaking my manuscript.
✔️ The book has gone through professional copyediting.
✔️ There will be no more major structural or tonal changes.
If you’re still adjusting chapters, rewriting scenes, removing redundant content, or having “Aha” moments in the middle of the night that you need to incorporate, then you are still in the writing and developing stages. Don’t jump into publishing prematurely.
We see countless authors make this mistake and it ends up being incredibly costly. That’s because when you pay someone to format your manuscript into a book, anytime they have to go in and make edits to the text they are more-than-likely going to charge you fees. Those fees go up if they’ve already uploaded your files to platforms like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark and have to do it again. Even if the fees sound minimal at first, the less revisions you have after the design process has begun, the better.
Remember that everything downstream—from layout to cover design to metadata—depends on final text. Not semi-final, or close-enough. Your manuscript needs to be 100% finished to the point you don’t even want to read it anymore. That’s when you know you are ready to publish!
2. Get Clear on the Format: How Do You Want Your Book to Exist in the World?
Before production begins, it’s best to gain some understanding about the practical decisions that shape your book’s physical and digital identity. Because just like the actual words that make up your book, these technical decisions are very hard to change once the book design process has started.
Now, if you are hiring a company like ours to self-publish your book for you, they can help guide you on some of these decisions. But you can also do your own research. Start thinking about elements like:
Trim Size
What size fits your genre? This may be a different answer for a children’s book versus a genre fiction or non fiction business book. Your trim size affects page count, printing cost, and the entire feel of your book.
While the most common sizes are 6×9 and 5.5 x 8.5, there are many other options depending on your distribution platform. It’s important to know what the options are and, if you are planning to publish on more than one platform (for example, Amazon KDP and IngramSpark,) you will need to pick a trim size that is compatible with both.
Also, don’t try to just visualize the size. Go to your bookshelf and hold some books in your hand. Get out a ruler or tape measure and measure the ones you like so you can be sure. Even better is finding books relatively the same length as yours. If you imagine a printed page is generally 250 words, you can divide your word count by 250 to determine the approximate number of pages your finished product will have. Page count will affect how thick your book is, and longer books might want a bigger trim size so they aren’t as page heavy.
Make notes of the books you like and their trim size. This will help you make an informed decision when it’s time to start design.
Margins and other Style Elements
Trim size isn’t the only thing that will affect the page count and readability of your book. You will also want to give some thought to your margins, font, and font size. Again I want to emphasis that professionals can help guide you through some of these decisions, but knowing what your options look like can help you make an informed decision. Going back to your bookshelf, take a look at the different use of margins, the spacing between lines of text, if they are using a serif or sans serif font, etc. Make note of what you like and would like to incorporate in your own book. Having a clear picture will ensure that when you finally see your book in print you aren’t disappointed in the final product, because any changes you need to make to the style (including margins, font choices, etc.) will require costly revisions.
Book Formats
When using Print on Demand technology, you have the option of printing your book in up to four different formats, but they might not all be right for you. Some formats might also require additional fees from your designer, and every single one will require a different version of y our book cover.
Most authors now release at least two formats, and many release all four:
- Paperback
- Hardcover (case laminate or dust jacket)
- Ebook
- Audiobook
Each format has its own timeline, trim size availability and requirements. Audiobooks, in particular, need early planning because they can take much longer to produce, depending on if you are reading it yourself or hiring a narrator.
Deciding early which formats you want to offer will allow you to plan for additional costs and also set realistic timeline expectations.
Paper Types & Print Specs
Amazon KDP and IngramSpark each offer specific options for their paper and covers—white vs. cream, standard vs. premium color, matte vs. glossy cover. The interior of your book will drive a lot of these decisions; for example a children’s book will almost always be printed in color. Each option comes with its own implications on what it will cost to print that book, with color printing being the most expensive. Do your research so you aren’t caught off guard.
Cover Design
Another area you can start prepping for is your book cover design. While no one should be trying to design their own book cover, you will still need to be engaged in the process. Any cover designer you do hire is not going to read your book, so you will need to give them a very clear but brief idea of what your book is about. Also go find 3-5 samples of book covers in your genre that you like, and get clear about why you like them. Is it the font, the color, the artwork? Come to the table ready to discuss ideas and what your non-negotiables are.
3. Understand Your Distribution Options
One of the most common mistakes new authors make is assuming Amazon is the whole picture and that by publishing their book on Amazon they will get discovered. Sorry, but that’s never going to happen. Too many books go live every single day on Amazon, and it is common for new books to get lost in the noise.
On the reverse side, many authors want to skip Amazon all together and go directly to managing their own fulfillment. That can be costly and overwhelming, especially in the beginning when you are just getting started. Instead of going one way or the other, consider all your options and how you may take advantage of all of them.
Here are some of our favorite options:
- Amazon KDP for Amazon-centric print and ebook distribution
- IngramSpark for bookstore, library, and international distribution outside of Amazon
- Direct sales through your website (utilizing your own storefront or a Purchase Link from IngramSpark)
- Bulk ordering for events, speaking, or organizational partnerships
The more you understand how each platform works and its benefits to you as the author, the smoother your publication path will be.
4. Start Mapping Out Your Marketing Plan
Many authors wait until their launch month to think about marketing. We cannot emphasize this enough: Marketing starts long before your book is printed, and lasts long after your book launches.
Now, you don’t need a fully built campaign this early, but you do need clarity around:
- Your marketing budget
- Your author brand and online presence
- Who your ideal reader is and where they spend time online
- How you will gather early reviews (ARC readers, influencers, launch team, etc.)
- How you will engage your own network and the people closest to you for early sales and reviews
- Whether you want to hire professionals to handle a portion of your marketing—and what tasks they’ll handle
Just remember: if you decide to hire a professional for a specific service, that is not a magic solution to sell more books. Marketing services of all shapes and sizes still require a good book in order to increase sales, and it’s not unusual to pay lots of money for something and still not sell many books. So keep your expectations in check and make sure you have a crystal clear understanding of the deliverables and goals of any marketing campaign before you pay for it.
The main takeaway here, though, is that a plan, even a rough one, keeps you from scrambling at the end and making hasty decisions.
5. Know the Timeline: Why Publishing Takes So Long
If you try asking CHatGPT how long it takes to self-publish a book you probably got an answer that it only takes a few weeks to a few months. And sure, there are probably softwares out there that could help you meet a timeline like that. But we believe in quality over getting something done quickly, and nearly everyone who hires us for self publishing will attest to the quality of our work.
So if quality is important to you, here is a rundown of the entire publishing process and why it takes so long:
- Final editing & proofreading (>2 months depending on word count and revision rounds)
- Interior layout/typesetting (>2 months after the final manuscript is approved)
- Cover design and revisions (>2 months)
- Proofreading (> 4 weeks)
- Proof copy review (10 days)
- KDP and IngramSpark upload + troubleshooting (2 weeks)
- Audiobook production, if applicable (2-4 weeks after the interior is fully laid out and approved)
- Pre-launch marketing (4-6 weeks)
- Building early reviews (4-6 weeks)
Every one of these steps involves waiting periods, revision cycles, and approvals. While some things you can get started on right away, others (like typesetting) can’t begin until the final manuscript is approved. And if something changes in your manuscript mid-process? Everything resets.
That’s why starting early isn’t just optional, it’s strategic and necessary.
6. If You Want to Publish in 2026, Start Laying the Groundwork Today
Here’s what you can do right now to make sure you are ready to publish in 2026:
- Finish your manuscript and get it professionally copyedited
- Stop revising—lock your text in and leave it alone!
- Research trim sizes, formats, and paper options
- Learn how Amazon KDP and IngramSpark differ, but also how they work together
- Think about your full distribution strategy, including bulk orders
Begin drafting your marketing plan - Sketch out your budget, leaving room for marketing
- Consider your timeline and who you want on your publishing team
Your book deserves the best chance you can give it to be successful. Rushing through the process will guarantee costly mistakes and a low quality product that turns off readers.
The Bottom Line
If you want your book published before the end of 2026, you should start preparing now.
Publishing isn’t something you do in a weekend—or even a month. When done right, it’s a methodical, steady, months-long process that honors the work you’ve put into writing your book.
If you prefer talking to a human to help you understand the publishing process, book a free consultation with Joel and he would love to talk to you about your book project!
