What's included
A book launch is really five projects stacked on one date: editing, production, pre-launch, marketing and the release. This template lays them on a single timeline so nothing collides, organized into six stages:
- Manuscript, Finish the draft and run a self-edit pass so the manuscript is ready to hand to an editor. Milestone: manuscript complete.
- Editing, Developmental edit for structure, then copyedit for line and consistency, then a final proofread. Milestone: manuscript final.
- Production, Cover design, interior formatting and typesetting, and ISBN and metadata so the files are ready for print and ebook. Milestone: files print-ready.
- Pre-launch, Recruit ARC and beta readers, send review copies and gather blurbs, and set up the pre-order. Milestone: pre-order live.
- Marketing, Build the author platform and email list, assemble a launch team, and book promotions and ads for launch week.
- Launch week & follow-up, Release the book, run launch-week promotions, chase reviews and ratings, then review what worked. Milestone: launch complete.
Who uses this template
Self-publishing authors, indie presses and hybrid publishers use this plan to coordinate a book launch across editing, cover and interior production, ARC reviews, pre-order and launch week. It fits fiction and non-fiction authors who need editing, marketing and the release date to line up rather than collide.
How to customize it
- Set the launch date and work backwards; editing and cover design almost always need more runway than first-time authors expect.
- Give ARC readers at least three to four weeks before release, reviews that land in launch week matter far more than late ones.
- Overlap production with the end of editing: cover design does not need the final proofread, so start it early.
- If you are traditionally published, replace the production phase with your publisher’s milestones and keep the marketing and launch stages.
- Mark "manuscript final", "files print-ready" and "pre-order live" as milestones so nothing downstream starts before its inputs exist.
Scheduling tips
- Editing is the usual critical path. Developmental → copyedit → proofread is a strict sequence, and slippage here pushes everything; protect it and start early.
- Cover design can run in parallel with editing. It depends on the concept, not the final text, so overlapping it buys weeks back on the schedule.
- Build the email list before you need it. A launch-week email to an engaged list outperforms almost any ad, but the list takes months to grow, start it in the marketing phase, not launch week.
- Send ARCs early and track them. Reviews need reading time; a review that posts on launch day is worth far more than one that arrives a month late.
- Schedule the follow-up. The two weeks after release, review chasing, ad adjustments, a post-launch review, are where many launches quietly lose momentum for lack of a plan.
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Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I plan a book launch?
Most self-publishers work back three to six months from the release date. The template spreads editing, production, pre-launch, marketing and launch week across a timeline so you can see whether your date leaves enough runway for editing and reviews.
When should I set up the pre-order?
As early as your retailer allows, often several weeks to months before release. The template makes the pre-order a milestone because ARC reviews and marketing momentum are timed against it, and retailers reward early sales.
Can I show dependencies between launch tasks?
Yes. Open the template in the free gantts.app editor to link finish-to-start relationships (developmental edit → copyedit → proofread → formatting) so downstream work shifts automatically and the critical path to your release stays visible.
Is the book launch plan template free?
Yes, free to download as Excel, PowerPoint or CSV, and free to edit online with no sign up.