Journal Prompts
What seasons do you have the most energy?
What months do you have big commitments (work, family, etc.)?
When are important holidays or birthdays?
Who are you making your project for? When might they be available?
How long do you want your campaign to last?
Publishing Timelines
It’s worth considering a traditional publisher will take 2-3 years to publish a book.1
My first book was completely written when I crowdfunded. I had proof editions of both Discover Your Creative Ecosystem and Your Creative Ecosystem the Companion. I fulfilled orders 6 months later so they would arrive before Christmas. In retrospect I wish I’d given myself more time to refine some minor issues in the printing and proofing process. There’s always a delay before proofs arrive and everything felt a bit rushed at the end.
It’s so important to give time and space to the publishing process itself. For authors we can feel like the book is “done” once we’ve written it, but there are so many little steps that need to be taken care of to bring a book to life.
Moving forward I will always give myself at least one year between crowdfunding and the projected date to fulfill orders.
Why do we expect ourselves to publish faster with fewer resources, collaborators, and experience?
Let’s discuss.
Share your reflections or questions about this part of the process below.
Crowdfunding 101 (Scheduling)