on Writers Helping Writers:

Publishing your own book is a lot like juggling—and not those harmless little balls, either. Try a couple of balls, a chainsaw, a set of Ginsu knives, and a litter of kittens. There are so many things to remember, and they’re all vital to getting your book into readers’ hands in a reasonable timeframe. Drop any of those balls and you end up with a messy or unfinished product that doesn’t reflect the time and energy you’ve put into it.

One thing Angela and I started doing early in our career was creating a publication timeline for each book. This allowed us to track the things that had to get done, plan how long each step would take, and determine a reasonable launch deadline.

These timelines have been crucial to us being able to release our books in a timely fashion without forgetting anything important. And eight books later, we’re still using the same template. Today I’d like to share my process with you so you can do the same.