What to check before publishing your book

The days before publication are when small mistakes slip through: a chapter number repeated, a character's name misspelled in the blurb, a broken link in the back matter. Readers forgive a lot, but early reviews often mention errors. Work through this checklist before you press publish.

1. The manuscript

• Every chapter is complete; no notes such as [CHECK] or [TODO] remain.
• Chapters are numbered and titled consistently.
• The story has been through structural, line and copy editing.
• The final text has been proofread, ideally in its final format.
• Scene breaks are consistent.
• There are no leftover tracked changes or comments.

Search the manuscript for "TODO", "CHECK", "XX" and double spaces before you finish.

2. Continuity

• Character names, ages and appearances match throughout.
• The timeline works, including travel times and the passage of days.
• World rules are applied consistently.
• For a series, the book is consistent with earlier books.
• Characters only know what they should know.

See how to maintain continuity in a book series for a fuller process.

3. Front and back matter

• Title page and copyright page.
• Dedication or epigraph, if used.
• Table of contents that links correctly in the ebook.
• About the Author.
• Acknowledgements, if used.
• Links or instructions for your newsletter or other books.
• A sneak peek of the next book, for a series.

4. Files

• The ebook (EPUB or the format your store accepts) opens correctly on several devices.
• The table of contents and chapter starts work.
• The print interior PDF uses the right trim size, margins and page numbers.
• Fonts and special characters display correctly.
• Every file is the final version, not an earlier draft.

5. Cover

• The title and author name are readable as a small thumbnail.
• The cover suits the genre: readers judge in seconds.
• Series books share a consistent design system.
• The print cover has the correct spine width and back cover text.

6. Metadata

• Title and subtitle match the cover exactly.
• Series name and number are correct.
• The book description hooks the reader and has been proofread.
• Keywords are specific phrases readers actually search for.
• Categories are the most specific relevant ones.
• The price suits your genre and goals.
• Your author name is spelled the same way everywhere.

7. Rights and legal

• You own or have licences for the text, cover images and fonts.
• Any quotations are permitted or properly credited.
• You understand each platform's terms, including any rules about AI-generated content disclosure.

8. Launch preparation

• Your website or author page is updated.
• Your newsletter announcement is drafted.
• Advance readers have their copies, if you are using them.
• You have a plan for the first few weeks after launch.

9. Keep a final copy

Download and store a complete final copy of the book and its files, separately from your working copy. You will need it for future editions, translations or audiobooks.

How Gold Prints helps

Gold Prints Publishing Studio brings much of this checklist into one place. The Book Health Report shows chapters still to write, unresolved continuity findings and open comments. The continuity checker compares your chapters with your Story Bible. The Formatting Studio exports DOCX, PDF, EPUB and text, publishing kits prepare descriptions, keywords and categories for each platform, and you can download a complete backup of the finished book.