Self-publishing Checklist

My chores list for self-publishing my book (X indicates finished):

1. Write the book (this took 5 months but it was bare-bones)  X
2. Get 6 or more friends to read the manuscript and give me feedback and work the book over (8 months) X
3. Find an editor and give her the manuscript–I posted a request on Facebook and a social website and found several within a few hours! Thanks Kathleen and Kathryn! X
4. Find a cover artist–my social website was full of these guys and I found two great artists who are working as a team on my cover. I can’t wait to see what you are cooking up Heidi and Erik! X
5. Choose a pen name X
6. Establish an email address, a WordPress site, a Facebook profile, and Twitter account for my pen name and a Facebook profile for my book.(3 days) X
7. Sign up on CreateSpace with my pen name and new email. X
8. Work with my cover artists to fine-tune the cover. X
9. Once my editor has finished, implement her changes to my manuscript. X (This took a lot longer than I thought. I reccommend having a deadline whether or not you need your book quickly.)
10. Finalize contracts with my editor and cover artists. X
11. Publish my book on CreateSpace. CreateSpace provides an ISBN number for my book. X (Complicated and easy at the same time!)
12. Register my copyright at http://copyright.gov/ . This can be done online and there is a small fee. X (Still have to mail in a copy.)
13. Publicity, publicity, publicity. (This is what the WordPress site and Facebook profile are for!)
14. Submit my book to popular book blogs for them to review.
15. Possibly publish my book on additional publishing sites.
16. Resarch appropriate websites and expand my web presence for publicity.

Here is a great checklist (simpler than mine) and a comprehensive website about self-publishing complete with extra services you can buy if any of this is too much for you.

http://www.self-publishing-coach.com/self-publishing-books.html