60-Day Mega Post: 60 Things to Do to Prep for Publishing

Welcome to the 60-Day Prep on the 85K Writing Challenge

We’ve completed the 90-Day Write (Jan-Mar) and the 30-Day Finish that followed (April). Next, we moved on to the 60-Day Edit (May-Jun) and the 30-Day Finish that followed (July).

Our focus for the next sixty days is the 60-Day Prep (Aug-Sept), during which we prepare for the fourth and final work cycle, the 60-Day Publish (Oct-Nov). After that, the final 30-Day Finish cycle (December) will allow us to wrap up the year’s work and prepare for 2020.

Tasks performed and topics discussed during the 60-Day Prep

Because we address writing during the 90-Day Write, editing during the 60-Day Edit, and publishing during the 60-Day Publish, if it’s not writing, editing, or publishing, a topic is “fair game” for the 60-Day Prep. Therefore, topics discussed during the 60-Day Prep (August and September) will be as varied as establishing a marketing plan, attending writers conferences, writing your professional bio, designing a media kit, online networking, and more.

Helpful resources

Stay organized during the 60-Day Prep by downloading these helpful resources HERE.

Ready to get started?

Back by popular demand, our mega list of things to do . . .

Every day for sixty days, a new “prep” item will post below to our 60-Day Prep “60 Things To Do” List. Complete one item per day throughout August and September, and enjoy the feeling of being sixty steps “more prepared” and therefore sixty steps closer to pursuing your unique path toward publishing.

60-Day Prep “60 Things To Do” List

ONE ITEM ADDED EVERY DAY

Part 1: Essentials (Days 1-10)

Day 1: Organize your desk. #85K90 Click To Tweet

Enjoy this C.S. Lakin Live, Write, Thrive step-by-step guide to getting organized including infographics for organizing your workspace.

Day 2: Write a 100-word professional bio. #85K90 Click To Tweet

This should help – examples with fill-in-the-blank templates: 100-Word Bio Examples from BioTemplates.com.

Day 3: Open an author email account. #85K90 Click To Tweet

Author Media explains why author email addresses make a difference.

Day 4: Register your author domain name. #85K90 Click To Tweet

Three items to help you get started:

1. How to do it – what’s important.

“How to Choose a Domain Name for Your Author Website” by Joel Friedlander on The Book Designer website.

2. Author name or book title?

“Your Author Website: Should It Focus On You As A Writer Or On One Book?” by Web Design Relief.

3. Blog post by 85K Writing Challenge Social Media Editor, Ari Meghlen: “How to Create an Awesome Author Website.”

Day 5: Order business cards. #85K90 Click To Tweet

Quite possibly the best article on the subject: “How to Design an Author Business Card” by Alyssa Hollingsworth.

Day 6: Schedule professional press photos. #85K90 Click To Tweet

5 Poses Checklist

Here’s a checklist of five poses (body positions) to use when shooting your professional press photos.

1. Change hair position

Hair on the shoulders.
Hair behind the shoulders.
Hair in front of the shoulders.
Hair all on one side.
Hair all on the other side.
Hair up.

2. Chin forward

Rather than bring the nose forward, bring the chin forward. Chin forward produces a more attractive jawline.

3. Lift arm away from the torso

Arms often lay flat when you’re standing in a natural position. This may feel comfortable but causes problems in a photo because your arm is pressed against your torso, making your arm look larger than it actually is. Lift your arm an inch or two away from your body so it’s “floating” and not pressed against your side.

4. Turn your shoulders

Looking straight at the camera (head-on) can make you appear bigger. This is good for “power” photos (football players and CEOs) but not good for friendly, “attractive” shots. Turning slightly will give a softer, more approachable shot and a slimmer appearance.

5. Color (not the whites) of your eyes

Dreamy shots are okay (when the subject is looking off into the distance) but try not to show too much of the whites of your eyes or you’ll appear hollow. Better to look “dreamy” and creative by staring at something beyond the shoulder of your photographer. You want to see the irises (color) of your eyes.

Day 7: Optimize your email signature. #85K90 Click To Tweet

Tips for what to include in your email signature:

“How to Write a Great Email Signature: 9 Tips With Real Examples” by Lindsay Kolowich

Want a graphic email signature? Lots to choose from here:

“19 Professional Email Signature Templates: With Unique Designs” curated article by Sean Hodge

Day 8: Write a six-word author tagline. #85K90 Click To Tweet Day 9: Note your three highest priorities. #85K90 Click To Tweet

Note your three highest priorities.

Where do you want to be in ten years?

1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________

Five years?

1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________

One year?

1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________

Day 10: Save a copy of your novel on a USB Flash Drive. Place a printed hard copy in a safe. #85K90 Click To Tweet

Part 2: Author Website (Days 11-17)

Day 11: Self-host your website. Select a provider. Set up an account. #85K90 Click To Tweet

Advantages of self-hosting your author website:

1. You own it. The fate and future of your site is in your hands. No one can shut you down or discontinue service.

2. Greater capabilities in custom design. You decide the look, the layout, the colors, fonts, etc.

3. Greater capabilities in function. Wider selection of plugins and tools. Greater ability to analyze traffic.

4. More opportunity to monetize your site through advertising, e-commerce, and special landing pages for your books. (Without self-hosting, your website provider may prohibit advertising and selling on their platform.)

5. Easier to integrate an e-mail sign-up list, social media share buttons, and Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram feeds.

Disadvantages of self-hosting your author website:

1. Management of the site is up to you. If there’s a problem, it’s up to you to fix it.

2. Site security is up to you. You may need to pay a security provider to protect your site.

3. Site backup is up to you. You may need to pay a backup provider to backup your site.

Most issues that come up as a disadvantage can be solved with a plugin or added feature. Check with your host provider for services they provide in management, security, and backup.

Day 12: Write, edit, update the About page of your author website. #85K90 Click To Tweet Day 13: Establish a system for building an email list. Research providers. Open an account. #85K90 Click To Tweet

16 providers to consider (in no particular order):

Mailchimp
ActiveCampaign
ConvertKit
Constant Contact
AWeber
MailerLite
Benchmark
Newsletters2Go
Drip
Sendinblue
GetResponse
Wishpond
Robly
Infusionsoft
Autopilot
Omnisend

Day 14: Install an email signup form onto your website. #85K90 Click To Tweet

Wondering where to place the email sign up? Consider these locations: “14 High Converting Places to Add Email Signup Forms to Build Your List” by Mary Fernandez.

Day 15: Install a security/firewall plugin on your author website. #85K90 Click To Tweet Day 16: Add a share buttons plugin to your website. #85K90 Click To Tweet Day 17: Prep website Book page for covers, blurbs, reviews, buy links, excerpts. #85K90 Click To Tweet

Part 3: Identifying the Market for Your Book (Days 18-20)

Day 18: Research comp titles. #85K90 Click To Tweet

Complete the activities and the Comparable Titles Spreadsheet found in this post: Prep for Publishing: Know Your Comparable Titles by Kristi Tuck Austin.

Day 19: Collect and analyze audience-specific descriptors. #85K90 Click To Tweet

Complete the activities and create a spreadsheet to collect and analyze the 21 audience-specific descriptors found in this post: Publishing Your First Book? Know Your Audience by Kristi Tuck Austin.

Day 20: Starting w/comp titles, research Amazon's Also Bought. Create a list of reader preferences. #85K90 Click To Tweet

Come back August 21 for the Day 21 item. A new task added every day.

Table of Contents
Part 1: Essentials (Days 1-10)
Part 2: Author Website (Days 11-17)
Part 3: Identifying the Market for Your Book (Days 18-20)
Part 4: Author Platform (Days 21-28)
Part 5: Book Assets (Days 29-30)
Part 6: Networking (Days 31-33)
Part 7: Building a Media Kit (Days 34-43)
Part 8: Connecting with Book Tribes (Days 45-48)
Part 9: Social Networking Book Sites (Days 49-55)
Part 10: Legal & Tax Issues (Days 56-58)
Part 11: Self Assessment (Days 59-60)