Who this guide is for
This guide is for authors with a completed or nearly completed manuscript who are preparing for professional formatting, cover design or publishing support, and want to understand the major decisions to make before release.
Key Steps
1. Manuscript readiness
Aim to finish major structural edits before final formatting whenever possible. Adding, removing or moving substantial content later can change page flow, page count and the production work still needed.
- Confirm that the manuscript is complete, or clearly identify what is still being edited.
- Finish major structural edits before final formatting whenever possible.
- Confirm the order of chapters and sections.
- Identify front matter, such as a title page, dedication or contents, and back matter, such as acknowledgments or author information, as applicable.
- Choose one current master manuscript and clearly label its version.
2. Book format and size
Print and digital editions may need different formatting. A printed page has fixed dimensions; an eBook may adapt to the reader's screen and text settings. If you are unsure about size or format, share your intended use and comparable books with LCM.
- Decide whether you want a print edition, an eBook or both.
- Identify a likely trim size—the finished width and height of the printed book.
- Note any images, charts, worksheets, tables or special layouts.
- Decide whether the print interior is primarily black-and-white or requires color.
3. Interior formatting
You do not need to specify every design detail in advance. Identify the structure and reading experience you want so the interior can be planned around your content and intended editions.
- Confirm how chapters, sections and subheadings are organized.
- Identify page-numbering needs, including front matter and any unnumbered pages.
- Discuss headers and footers, if appropriate for the book.
- Share preferences or examples for chapter opening styles.
- Flag special sections or page treatments, such as worksheets, image pages or tables.
- Discuss which layout details may need to work differently in print and eBook editions.
4. Cover preparation
Gather the wording and visual direction before cover production. Final spine width depends on the final interior page count and the printer's specifications, so a print cover cannot be finalized from an early page-count estimate alone.
- Confirm the final title and subtitle, if applicable.
- Provide the author name exactly as it should appear.
- Prepare back-cover copy or a book description.
- Prepare an author bio if it will be used.
- Gather imagery, concepts or style references.
- Share comparable books or other visual references if helpful, noting what you like about them.
5. Images and graphics
Well-organized originals make it easier to assess how images will work in the book. See the File Submission Guidelines linked below for file requirements rather than relying on this checklist for technical specifications.
- Gather original, high-quality image and graphic files.
- Avoid screenshots or heavily compressed copies when better originals are available.
- Confirm that you have permission to use each submitted image.
- Name files clearly and organize them so their intended placement is easy to identify.
6. ISBN and publishing details
ISBN requirements can differ by edition and distribution method. Check the requirements of your intended platforms; do not assume every format needs the same identifier. If you are unsure, flag the question during project planning rather than treating ISBN arrangements as already settled.
- Determine whether an ISBN is needed for each intended edition and distribution method.
- Identify any ISBN information the author or publisher has already obtained.
- Identify your intended publishing and distribution platforms.
- Confirm author and publisher names as they should appear in the book and listings.
- Prepare the book description and other listing information, such as categories or keywords requested by your platforms.
7. Proofing and approvals
Final approval is an important production milestone. Allow time to review the actual formatted pages and cover, not just the manuscript. Detailed proofing and revision terms belong in the applicable project policies, not this checklist.
- Review formatted pages carefully, including front matter, back matter and special sections.
- Verify names, dates, headings and page order.
- Review all cover wording carefully, including the title, subtitle, author name and back-cover copy.
- Submit revisions in organized batches with clear page or section references.
- Confirm that you have reviewed the current proof before giving final approval.
8. Launch preparation
Share launch plans early so production can be planned with them in mind. A target date is a planning input, not a guarantee of completion, platform availability or sales results.
- Prepare your author bio and book description for launch use.
- Identify the intended publishing and sales platforms.
- Share a target launch date, if you have one.
- Identify promotional graphics or content you may need.
- Flag events, announcements or other launch timing that could affect production planning.
Things to prepare
- Current or final master manuscript
- Final title and subtitle, if applicable
- Author name exactly as it should appear
- Front matter
- Back matter
- Author bio
- Book description or back-cover copy
- Cover ideas and reference images
- Original high-resolution images
- ISBN information, if already obtained
- Intended publishing platforms
- Preferred print and/or eBook formats
- Target launch date, if applicable
Common mistakes
- Starting final formatting while major editing is still underway can lead to avoidable layout rework.
- Sending conflicting manuscript versions makes it harder to identify the current text.
- Using low-resolution images when originals exist can limit image quality in the finished book.
- Changing trim size late can affect the interior layout, page count and cover.
- Forgetting back-cover copy or author information can leave essential cover details unresolved.
- Waiting until late to choose publishing platforms can mean revisiting file specifications.
- Spreading revisions across many messages makes changes harder to track than one organized batch.
- Assuming print and eBook files are identical overlooks differences in layout and reading behavior.
Further reading: Understanding Book Formatting · File Format Guide
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Last reviewed October 9, 2026