You finished your first draft. Here’s what to do next

You finished a draft. Whether it took thirty days in November or three years of early mornings, that is a big deal. Most people who say they want to write a book never get this far. You did.

Now comes the part that turns a draft into a book you can hold. It is a different kind of work from drafting, and it goes best in a clear order. Here is the path most authors follow, from the last page of the draft to a box of printed books at your door.

1. Let it rest

Put the manuscript away for a few weeks. Don't edit, don't reread it, don't send it to anyone yet. Time gives you fresh eyes, and fresh eyes catch what tired ones miss. When you come back, you will read it more like a reader and less like the person who wrote it.

2. Revise the big picture first

Start with the large questions before you polish a single sentence. Does the story or argument hold together? Is anything missing? Is anything there that the book doesn't need? Do the chapters come in the right order?

Fixing structure first saves time. There is no point perfecting a paragraph you might cut next week.

3. Ask a few trusted readers

Once you are happy with the shape, share it with a small group of readers you trust. They are often called beta readers. Ask them specific questions: where they got bored, where they got confused, and what stayed with them. You don't have to take every suggestion, but when several readers stumble in the same place, it is worth a closer look.

4. Edit in layers

Professional editing usually comes in three layers, from big to small:

• Developmental editing looks at the whole book: structure, pacing, characters or argument.
• Copy editing works line by line on clarity, consistency, grammar and word choice.
• Proofreading is the final check for typos and small errors, ideally on the laid out pages.

Not every book needs all three from a professional, and budgets vary. Even so, a second set of trained eyes on the final text is one of the best investments you can make in your book.

5. Make the book decisions

While the text is being polished, decide what your book will be as an object:

• Size. The trim size shapes how your pages look and how many there are.
• Binding. Paperback, hardcover or both. See hardcover vs paperback.
• Paper and cover finish. See paper weights and finishes and cover finishes. A sample pack lets you feel them before you choose.
• ISBN. If you plan to sell your book, you will want one for each format. See ISBNs, barcodes and copyright.

6. Lay out the pages, then the cover

Interior layout comes before the final cover, because the page count decides your spine width, and the spine width decides the size of your cover file. See how to calculate spine width.

Set up your pages with bleed and a safe area so nothing gets cut. Our file setup guide and the free file checklist walk you through it. If you would rather hand this part off, our design team can format your pages and design your cover. See need help with your files.

7. Plan your print date backward from your launch

Pick the day you want books in hand, then count back. Standard printing typically takes 45 to 60 days from approval to delivery, and a short run usually arrives in a week or two. Leave time for your quote, your proof and a little breathing room. See standard or short run.

If your draft is finished now, a spring launch is a realistic and exciting goal. It gives you time to rest, revise and edit without rushing the book you worked so hard on.

8. Print it and hold it

When your files are ready, start your book. We check every page the moment you upload, explain anything that needs a fix in plain words, and show you a free digital proof of every page and your cover. Then a real person prices it: one all in price with shipping included, within 2 to 3 business days.

You wrote the book. The next time you hold it, it will be printed and bound, with your name on the cover. We can't wait to help you get there.