How it works
How publishing with Quill & Reed works.
Seven stages, from finished manuscript to published book and beyond. At each one you can see what happens, who does what, and what you approve.
Direct answer
What are the steps to publishing a book?
The main publishing stages are manuscript review, editing, design, production preparation, platform setup, proofing, publication, launch and ongoing marketing. The exact process depends on how ready the manuscript is and which formats and distribution routes the author wants.
Stage 1 — Review
Review the manuscript and publishing goals
Before production begins, we need to understand what the book is, what stage the manuscript is at, who it is for, which formats you need, where you want it available, and whether you want publishing only or ongoing growth support.
What happens
- You share the manuscript and what you want from publishing
- We look at readiness and likely production needs
What Quill & Reed does
- Assess manuscript readiness and likely production needs
- Identify whether editorial work may be needed
- Recommend a publishing route and the package that fits
What you do
- Provide the manuscript, working title, genre and word count
- Tell us your target reader, formats and objectives
- Share any previous publishing history
You approve
- The publishing plan and package
Likely outputs
- Publishing Plan
Specialists
None at this stage. This is a practical readiness review, not a commissioned editorial assessment.
Stage 2 — Refine
Make sure the manuscript is ready
Editing is recommended only where it is genuinely needed. If it is, we explain what kind, why, and what it costs before anything is commissioned.
What happens
- Any recommended editorial work is agreed and carried out
- You revise, then the final manuscript is locked
What Quill & Reed does
- Explain which kind of editing, if any, is recommended
- Quote specialist editing separately
- Coordinate editors and schedule revisions
What you do
- Decide whether to commission editing
- Make revisions
- Approve the final manuscript
You approve
- Editorial route
- Final manuscript
Likely outputs
- Developmental edit, copy edit or proofread — where commissioned
- Author revisions
- Continuity check
- Final manuscript
Specialists
Professional editors, only when required. AI does not replace human editorial judgement.
Stage 3 — Design
Design the book
Front cover, spine, back cover, interior layout, typography, chapter styling, ebook formatting and illustration where relevant. A cover is not decoration: it signals genre, tone, quality and audience.
What happens
- Cover direction is agreed, then developed and revised
- The interior and ebook are typeset
What Quill & Reed does
- Brief and manage designers and illustrators
- Produce print cover, interior and ebook files
What you do
- Share references and preferences
- Review concepts and revisions
You approve
- Cover direction
- Final cover
- Interior
Likely outputs
- Cover concept and revisions
- Print cover
- Interior
- Ebook
- Illustrations where relevant
Specialists
Specialist designers and illustrators where appropriate.
Stage 4 — Prepare
Prepare the book for publication
We prepare the information retailers and distributors need: ISBN, title and subtitle, author name, description, categories, keywords, pricing, format, trim size, publication date, contributors and imprint details.
What happens
- Metadata is drafted and checked
- Publishing accounts are prepared in your name
What Quill & Reed does
- Prepare metadata, description, categories and keywords
- Advise on pricing, formats and trim size
- Support KDP and IngramSpark account setup
What you do
- Own your KDP and IngramSpark accounts
- Review and approve metadata and pricing
You approve
- Metadata
- Pricing
Likely outputs
- ISBN
- Metadata
- Retailer description
- Categories and keywords
- Pricing
- Trim size and formats
- Publishing accounts prepared
Specialists
Usually none.
Stage 5 — Publish
Publish the finished book
Final files approved, metadata checked, proofs reviewed, platform setup completed, publication date confirmed, listings checked, book released. Nothing goes live before your final approval.
What happens
- Files are uploaded and proof copies ordered
- Final quality checks, then release
What Quill & Reed does
- Upload files and manage proofs
- Run final quality checks
- Check live listings
What you do
- Review proof copies
- Give final approval
You approve
- Final files
- Publication date
Likely outputs
- Uploaded files
- Proof copies
- Final quality checks
- Live listings
- Publication
Specialists
Usually none.
We do not publish anything before you have approved it.
Stage 6 — Launch
Give the book a proper launch
Publishing a book and marketing it are different jobs. A launch may include website updates, mailing list, social content, review outreach, ARCs, a launch calendar, retailer checks, author profiles, media materials and Amazon optimisation.
What happens
- A launch plan is agreed and delivered, depending on package
What Quill & Reed does
- Launch calendar
- Website, social and newsletter content
- Review activity and media materials
- Amazon optimisation
What you do
- Approve launch content
- Take part where your voice matters
You approve
- Website
- Launch content
Likely outputs
- Depends on package
Specialists
Occasionally, for specific media or design work.
Stage 7 — Grow
Keep building after launch
Books rarely stop needing attention the day they are published. Ongoing growth can include social content, newsletters, your author website, reader list, reviews, Amazon Ads, seasonal campaigns, new editions and future books.
What happens
- Ongoing activity continues, depending on package
What Quill & Reed does
- Monthly content and social scheduling
- Newsletter distribution and website management
- Review monitoring and campaigns
- Amazon Ads management (ad spend separate)
- Future-book planning
What you do
- Keep writing
- Review plans and results
You approve
- Campaigns and content
Likely outputs
- Depends on package
Specialists
Rarely.
Who does what
Quill & Reed manages the work. You own the book, the accounts and the final decisions.
| Task | Author | Quill & Reed | Specialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manuscript ownership | Author | — | — |
| Publishing project management | — | Quill & Reed | — |
| Developmental editing | — | Coordinates | When required |
| Cover approval | Author | — | — |
| Cover production | — | Quill & Reed | Designer |
| KDP account ownership | Author | — | — |
| KDP setup support | — | Quill & Reed | — |
| IngramSpark account ownership | Author | — | — |
| Metadata preparation | Approves | Quill & Reed | — |
| Marketing content | Approves | Depends on package | — |
- Manuscript ownership
- AuthorAuthorQuill & Reed—Specialist—
- Publishing project management
- Author—Quill & ReedQuill & ReedSpecialist—
- Developmental editing
- Author—Quill & ReedCoordinatesSpecialistWhen required
- Cover approval
- AuthorAuthorQuill & Reed—Specialist—
- Cover production
- Author—Quill & ReedQuill & ReedSpecialistDesigner
- KDP account ownership
- AuthorAuthorQuill & Reed—Specialist—
- KDP setup support
- Author—Quill & ReedQuill & ReedSpecialist—
- IngramSpark account ownership
- AuthorAuthorQuill & Reed—Specialist—
- Metadata preparation
- AuthorApprovesQuill & ReedQuill & ReedSpecialist—
- Marketing content
- AuthorApprovesQuill & ReedDepends on packageSpecialist—
Can my book get into bookshops?
Independent books can be made available to bookshops through trade distribution, but availability is not the same as guaranteed shelf space.
Physical retailers decide what they stock.
Factors may include reader demand, local relevance, sales history, wholesale terms, returnability, author activity and buyer interest. We can prepare your book for trade availability; we cannot promise placement, and nobody honestly can.
IngramSpark & distribution guidesPublication is the start of the next job.
A live Amazon listing does not create an audience by itself. After publication, authors need to think about discoverability, reviews, reader relationships, content, a mailing list, media, future releases, and advertising where appropriate.
Which publishing package suits you?
Publish
£99/month × 12 = £1,188
- Suits you if…
- You have a finished manuscript and want it professionally published
- What it helps with
- Preparation, design, cover and publication, with you keeping every right
- Not designed for
- Ongoing marketing after launch
Publish + Grow
£199/month × 12 = £2,388
- Suits you if…
- You want to publish and build an audience around the book
- What it helps with
- Everything in Publish, plus launch planning and audience growth
- Not designed for
- Fully hands-off support
Managed Author
£299/month × 12 = £3,588
- Suits you if…
- You want more hands-on support before, during and after publication
- What it helps with
- Ongoing managed support with the author platform
- Not designed for
- Authors who want to do most of it themselves
Publishing terms, plainly
- ISBN
- A unique number identifying a specific format and edition of a book.
- Metadata
- The information retailers, distributors and search systems use to understand what your book is, who wrote it and where it belongs.
- KDP
- Kindle Direct Publishing, Amazon’s platform for publishing ebooks, paperbacks and hardbacks.
- IngramSpark
- A print-on-demand and distribution service that makes books available to a wider trade network.
- EPUB
- The standard file format for most ebooks.
- Typesetting
- Laying out the interior text and pages of a book for print.
- Trim size
- The finished page dimensions of a printed book.
- ARC
- Advance reader copy, shared before publication to gather early reviews.
- Proof copy
- A printed test copy checked before a book goes on sale.
- Retailer discount
- The share of the list price a retailer or wholesaler keeps.
- Distribution
- Making a book available to order through retailers, wholesalers and libraries.
- Copyright
- Legal ownership of the work you created.
- Royalties
- The money paid to the author from each sale.
- Imprint
- The publisher name that appears on a book.
Ready for the next step?
I’m not sure my manuscript is ready
Check My ManuscriptMy manuscript is ready
Compare Publishing PackagesI need editing first
Explore Editing