Author Resources

Practical guides for independent authors.

The questions we answer most often in our studio, written up properly: what to do first, which edit you need, how to brief a designer, how to format a book and what the stores will ask you for. No jargon, no guarantees, just the steps.

Getting started

The first-time author's self-publishing checklist

A step by step checklist for publishing your first book: manuscript, editing, cover, formatting, ISBN, metadata, platforms and launch, in the right order.

9 min read. Updated 3 November 2026. Editing

Developmental, line, copy editing and proofreading: what each one does

The four levels of book editing explained with examples, the order they happen in, what you receive from each, and how to tell which one your manuscript needs.

8 min read. Updated 3 November 2026. Cover design

How to prepare a book cover brief your designer can actually use

What to put in a cover design brief: genre, comparable titles, trim size, text, mood, must-haves and must-nots, with a template you can copy.

7 min read. Updated 3 November 2026. Formatting

Print and ebook formatting checklist

Everything to check before uploading a book interior: trim size, margins, fonts, front and back matter, EPUB validation, images, page breaks and proofs.

8 min read. Updated 3 November 2026. Publishing

Publishing files, ISBNs and metadata: what to prepare before you upload

The files and information every store asks for: ISBNs per edition, imprint, categories, keywords, description, pricing and the file formats each platform accepts.

9 min read. Updated 3 November 2026.

Platform guides