How To Publish A Book In Australia in 2026: Self-Publishing Checklist

This is a self-publishing checklist for writers who would like to self-publish their books in 2026. It includes ebook, print-on-demand and audiobook formats. It also includes information on legal deposits and promoting your work. I’ve also marked the areas where I need external help.

Self-publishing checklist

Creation This stage covers the creative and editorial work of bringing a book into existence: writing the first draft, refining the story through developmental editing, and preparing the surrounding text — blurb, acknowledgements, and audiobook scripts. The focus here is on the words themselves, before production begins.

1. First draft
2. Developmental edit
   o Self-developmental edit
   o Final developmental edit of all stories (external)
3. Blurb
4. Acknowledgements
5. Text for audiobook opening credit, end credit, sample

Production With the manuscript and supporting text in shape, this stage moves into production: external copyediting and proofreading, audiobook recording and post-production, cover design, and interior formatting across print, ebook, and audiobook formats. It ends with a final external proofread before anything goes live.

1. Copyedit, proofread all stories, front matter, back matter, audiobook text (external)
2. Audiobook
   o recording all stories,
   o editing,
   o check against manuscript
   o mixing/mastering (external)
3. Cover design artwork
4. Format
   o Font licenses
   o Interior
    Print (PDF)
    Ebook (EPUB)
   o Cover
    ISBN
    print ingram spark
    print kdp
    ebook
    audiobook

Publication & Distribution The book is ready — now it needs to reach readers. This stage covers uploading to all retail and distribution platforms, updating metadata and registration records across ISBN, PLR, library, and booklink services, negotiating any physical consignments, and coordinating the release across social media and your mailing list.

1. Proofread (external)
2. Upload
   o Print
    Ingram Spark
    KDP
   o Ebook
    KDP
    Draft2Digital
    Google Play Books
   o Audiobook
    INaudio
   o Pre-publication
3. Update
   o NED
   o ISBN Thorpe-Bowker myidentifiers.com.au
   o Booklinker
   o Books2read
   o Website marketing page
   o Google Merchant centre
   o PLR/ELR
   o Library distributors
   o Copyright.com.au
4. Consignments negotiate
5. Release
   o Date
   o Socials
    FB
    FB groups
    Twitter
    Instagram
    Threads
   o MailerLite

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