📚 Countdown to Publication: My Pre-Launch self-publishing checklist

If you're reading this, there’s a good chance you’re curious about how to publish a book—or you're just here for emotional support as I spiral into the final stages of self-publishing my debut poetry collection, Feelings Unbound (launching in just a couple of weeks—cue nervous laughter and celebratory snacks 🍫).

As a first-time indie author, I can confirm: self-publishing is not for the faint of heart. There are so many moving parts, and honestly, my to-do list keeps side-eyeing me from across the room. But despite the chaos, there’s something wildly beautiful about holding the reins of your creative journey.

This blog post is part confession, part guide—a behind-the-scenes look at my self-publishing checklist as I prepare to launch my first book into the world. Whether you’re dreaming of publishing your work someday or just here to cheer me on, I hope this helps demystify the process.

So grab a cup of tea, light a candle, and join me in the final countdown. Because poetry deserves to be published with intention—and maybe a little bit of glitter.

✍️ Final Edits & Manuscript Proofing

Let’s be honest: there’s a point where reading your manuscript starts to feel like rereading your high school diary—equal parts cringe and “wait, did I really write that?” But trust me, this stage matters more than ever.

Before Feelings Unbound could take its final form, I had to put on my editor hat (and occasionally my therapist hat) and get brutally honest with every line. Poetry is intimate. Every word counts. Which is why this step is less about tweaking and more about tightening.

Here’s what I focused on:

• Line-by-line clarity – Does each poem say what I meant, or just what I felt in the moment?
  
  

• Read it aloud – The rhythm of a poem matters. If your tongue trips, your reader probably will too.
  
  

• Beta readers & feedback – I sent the manuscript to a couple of trusted voices who weren’t afraid to lovingly point out awkward phrasing or emotional dead zones.
  
  

• Spellcheck is not enough – Yes, I ran it through Grammarly. No, it didn’t catch everything. Human eyes matter.
  
  

• Print it out (or upload a KDP proof copy) – Seeing it in print shows everything you missed on screen. It’s magical. And horrifying.
  
  

If you're anything like me, you’ll be tempted to tinker forever. But perfection is the enemy of publishing. At some point, you’ve got to say, “This is ready.” And then—breathe.

🖋️ Formatting for Print & eBook

Formatting: that magical (and slightly maddening) stage where your manuscript turns into an actual book, and suddenly fonts, margins, and page breaks feel like high-stakes decisions. Poetry doesn’t just get read—it gets felt—so the way it’s presented on the page really matters.

For Feelings Unbound, formatting was a team effort. While I obsessed over line breaks and pacing, my incredibly patient husband stepped in like a formatting wizard and worked his magic in Adobe InDesign to help shape the print version. (Let’s just say he deserves an honorary poetry degree at this point.)

Here’s the combo of tools that brought it all together:

• InDesign (courtesy of my husband) for the print layout: It allowed for precise control of typography and spacing, crucial for poetry’s rhythm and flow.
  
  

• Reedsy’s free formatting tool for the eBook: It’s user-friendly, clean, and makes converting to EPUB/MOBI surprisingly smooth.
  
  

• Microsoft Word for drafting and organizing: I lived in Word during the early stages. It was my planning playground before exporting to the final formats.
  
  

Some formatting tips from the trenches:

• Print and eBook formats are not twins: What works beautifully on a printed page may rebel on a Kindle. Think flexibility, not perfection.
  
  

• Stick to a standard trim size: I went with 5” x 8”—a popular and elegant size for poetry collections.
  
  

• Mind your margins and spacing, especially on Amazon KDP. Double-check bleed and gutter settings so nothing gets awkwardly cropped.
  
  

• Give each poem room to breathe: Page breaks between pieces help preserve the emotional pacing.
  
  

Was it time-consuming? Yes. Did it make the book feel real? Absolutely. Seeing Feelings Unbound take shape page by page made all the late-night formatting decisions totally worth it.

🎨 Cover Design Finalization

Let’s be real—people absolutely judge a book by its cover. And with poetry, the cover isn’t just decoration—it’s a reflection of the emotion inside. I knew that Feelings Unbound needed a design that felt raw, introspective, and intentional… not like I slapped some moody font on a stock photo at 2 a.m. (though I was tempted).

Luckily, I had help: my husband, who happens to be creatively gifted and incredibly patient, stepped in as my cover designer. He used Photoshop and Illustrator to bring my vision to life, taking my vague instructions like “soft but powerful… you know, like a whisper and a thunderstorm at the same time?” and somehow turning them into actual visual art.

Here’s what went into our cover journey:

• Concept first, colors later: We talked about what the book feels like and how to translate that into something visual. Minimalist, emotional, and reflective was the vibe.
  
  

• Designed for both print and digital: He made sure the cover would look good as a thumbnail on Amazon and full-size in print (fingers crossed 🤞).
  
  

• Back cover & spine layout: Even though I haven’t seen the physical proof yet, we planned out the back blurb and barcode space using KDP’s template specs to make sure it all fits. Let’s hope it lines up!
  
  

• Legibility is key: That poetic script font you love? It might vanish in thumbnail form. We tested a few options to make sure the title would still be readable online.
  
  

And here’s the truth: I haven’t held a copy of Feelings Unbound in my hands just yet. I’m trusting the process—and the pixels on screen—that it’ll be beautiful when it finally arrives. But even without the proof in hand, seeing the finished cover file gave me goosebumps. It made everything feel real.

🗂️ Metadata & Keywords Setup

Ah, yes, metadata—the behind-the-scenes magic that helps readers actually find your book. Not as glamorous as cover design, but just as important. Think of it as your book’s digital handshake with the world.

For Feelings Unbound, this step had me toggling between creative poet brain and strategic marketing brain (both slightly overcaffeinated). It’s the part where you stop thinking like the writer and start thinking like the reader: How would someone search for a book like mine?

Here’s what I focused on:

• The title & subtitle: I stuck with Feelings Unbound—clean, evocative, and emotionally open-ended. I debated adding a subtitle (like “a poetry collection on healing and heartbreak”), but ultimately kept it simple.
  
  

• The book description: Writing a blurb was weirdly harder than writing the book. It needs to be poetic, but also clear. Emotional, but not cryptic. I rewrote it at least five times.
  
  

• Choosing keywords: I did some research on Amazon’s search terms and picked keywords like poetry about healing, self-love poems, and poetry for mental health. The goal? Help readers who need this book actually find it.
  
  

• Categories matter: KDP lets you choose two categories, but there are secret extra ones you can request via email. I selected poetry categories that matched my themes—emotional, contemporary, and self-reflective.
  
  

• Author bio: This was a moment of “Oh right, I am the author now.” I kept it short, honest, and true to the tone of the book.
  
  

Metadata isn’t flashy, but it’s powerful. It’s how your book gets placed on the right virtual shelf. And while I might never know which keyword brings Feelings Unbound into someone’s life, I hope it lands exactly where it’s meant to.

🚀 Uploading to Amazon KDP & Other Platforms

So… full transparency: I haven’t uploaded Feelings Unbound to Amazon KDP just yet. We’re officially two weeks away from launch, and I’m in that delightful limbo of almost there but still obsessively checking file dimensions. But I have done all the prep—and let me tell you, it’s a process that deserves its own cup of coffee (or three).

As a first-time indie poet navigating this world, I’ve learned that while KDP is beginner-friendly, it’s also very particular. Here's what I've been doing to get everything ready behind the scenes:

• Creating separate files for print and eBook: With my husband’s help (a.k.a. design hero), we’ve finalized the print-ready PDF using InDesign and the EPUB version using Reedsy for Kindle. They’re looking beautiful… at least on screen.
  
  

• Cover design and KDP templates: We used Amazon’s downloadable cover template to ensure the dimensions were just right. The artwork’s done, the files are prepped, and now we’re just double-checking the specs. Because margins are not just a suggestion.
  
  

• ISBN planning: I’m planning to use Amazon’s free ISBN for the print edition—simple and budget-friendly for a debut.
  
  

• Pricing strategy: This part’s still up in the air. I’m looking into price points that feel fair and accessible while honoring the heart that went into this book.
  
  

• KDP preview tool (coming soon to my nerves): Once everything’s uploaded, I’ll be using the previewer to make sure formatting, spacing, and alignment look perfect across devices and formats.
  
  

No, I haven’t hit “publish” yet—but everything’s lined up, double-checked, and (nearly) ready. When I do finally click that button, it won’t just be a technical step. It’ll be a quiet, powerful leap. And I can’t wait to share that moment when it comes.

🤝 Building Your Launch Team

Confession time: When I first heard the term “launch team,” I pictured a group of professionals in headsets, counting down from 10 as my book blasted off into the literary stratosphere. Reality? A lot more casual—and a lot more heartfelt.

As a first-time indie poet, I’m figuring this out as I go. I didn’t put together an official ARC campaign or recruit beta readers from the wider world (still not sure how people do that without panicking). What did I do? I shared the early drafts of Feelings Unbound with people who matter to me—my family, my friends, the ones who’ve supported me long before I had a book to publish.

Here’s what “launch team” looks like for me:

• Trusted eyes on my work: A few friends and family members read my manuscript and gave honest, supportive feedback. Just knowing they were reading it gave me the confidence to keep going.
  
  

• Emotional support squad: This team isn’t about marketing strategies or algorithms—it’s about the people who send a “you’ve got this” text when I start second-guessing everything.
  
  

• DIY energy: I’m planning to handle most of the launch promo myself—social media posts, emails, and quiet celebrations. No polished launch kit, no influencer campaign. Just me, sharing something real.
  
  

Would a more structured team help with visibility and reach? Probably. But for this debut, I’m keeping it simple. Personal. Genuine. And honestly, that feels just right.

📣 Book Launch Marketing Prep

Marketing. The word alone made me want to hide under a blanket. I’m a poet, not a publicist! But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that sharing your book doesn’t have to feel salesy or fake—it can just be you, talking about something you created with heart.

With Feelings Unbound launching soon, I’ve been slowly and quietly getting my ducks in a row. I’m not doing anything flashy, but I do want to give this book a gentle nudge into the world. Here’s what my marketing prep looks like so far:

• Instagram & social media posts: I’ve been sharing little bits of the journey—writing struggles, snippets from the book, updates on formatting, etc. It’s helped me connect with readers and other creatives who are on similar paths.
  
  

• Launch day countdown: I’m planning to do a few simple posts leading up to the release—maybe a 3-day countdown with quotes or reflections from the book. Nothing overwhelming, just something to mark the moment.
  
  

• My website blog (hi, you’re here!): Writing this post has helped me process the journey and give others a glimpse into what self-publishing really looks like. It’s also a great way to create a digital space that the book can live in.
  
  

• Email newsletter: I’ll be sending a launch announcement to my subscribers. It’s not a massive list, but it’s full of real people who care about poetry and personal storytelling—and that’s more than enough.
  
  

What I’m not doing: ads, press releases, blog tours, influencer outreach… not this time. Maybe one day. But for this debut, I’m focusing on authenticity over algorithms. I just want the book to reach the people who need it, however it finds its way to them.

📅 Scheduling the Official Launch Date

Choosing a launch date for Feelings Unbound felt a bit like picking a birthday for something that already had a soul. There’s no “perfect” day, but I wanted a moment that felt intentional—a day to pause, breathe, and release something deeply personal into the world.

Right now, I’m about two weeks out from that moment. No pre-orders, no big online party (yet), just a quiet countdown and a whole lot of feelings.

Here’s how I’ve been approaching this final step:

• Choosing a date that felt right: I picked a launch day that gave me breathing room—enough time to finish the final checks, upload everything to KDP, and emotionally prepare to hit “publish.”
  
  

• Avoiding chaos: I looked at my calendar to make sure I wouldn’t be juggling too many life things that week (because stress + launch = not a vibe).
  
  

• Planning a soft countdown: I’m not going full-on promo blitz, but I do plan to mark the days with a few reflections and maybe share behind-the-scenes bits leading up to release day.
  
  

• Giving myself permission to adjust: If something needs more time—whether it’s formatting, cover tweaks, or just me—I’m allowing flexibility. Deadlines are helpful, but peace of mind is better.
  
  

I haven’t held the book in my hands yet, but when I do, I hope it feels like the exact right moment. Launching a book—especially your first—doesn’t have to be loud. It just has to be honest.

📝 Conclusion

As I write this, Feelings Unbound is just weeks away from stepping into the world—and honestly, I’m somewhere between proud, nervous, and emotionally exhausted (with a dash of excitement thrown in).

Self-publishing has been equal parts creative joy and logistical learning curve. There were moments I felt like I was winging it (because I was), and others where I surprised myself with how much I knew deep down. This checklist? It’s not perfect. But it’s mine—a real, raw reflection of what it’s taken to get this book from a quiet draft to a soon-to-be published poetry collection.

If you’re reading this because you’re thinking about self-publishing too, go for it. You don’t need a massive team, a marketing budget, or a flawless plan. You just need heart, patience, and the courage to keep showing up for your words.

And if you’ve been following along on this journey, thank you. I can’t wait to share Feelings Unbound with you.

The countdown is on. 💫

📥 Grab Your Free Checklist!

Feeling overwhelmed with all the steps it takes to self-publish your book? I created a printable Self-Publishing Checklist for Indie Authors to help you stay focused and organized as you move from final edits to launch day.

This is the exact checklist I used while preparing to publish my debut poetry collection, Feelings Unbound—and now, I’m sharing it with you 💛

👉 Click here to download the free checklist (PDF)

No email sign-up required—just something to support you on your creative journey.