A Peek at my Production Schedule in 12 Steps

I am often asked about my publishing schedule, so I thought this might be helpful. Here is how I do it, start to finish.

As you will see, it mostly involves working backward.

1. Set a release date and cover reveal date. I set my release and cover reveal dates for an entire series in advance–so I know all these dates a year ahead. Each book will release roughly 90 days apart. I book my cover designer and hunt for photos.
2. Count backward 6 weeks from the release date–that’s the date I must have an edited “script” to my narrators if I want to release the audiobook simultaneously with the ebook. Then I contact the production company I use and book narrators. (You can ignore this step if you’re not doing audiobooks yet–I didn’t do them on my own until I’d been writing for 4 years.) I also book a paperback formatter. She usually gets the book about one month before release.
3. Count backward a week from that date–that’s the date I must have the book to Julia, my copy editor. Then I book her.
4. Count backward two weeks from Julia’s date–that’s when I must have the book to Nancy, my main editor. Then I book her.
5. Once I know when it must be turned in to my editor, I block off the prior 10 weeks for plotting/writing the book. Since I know that I can reliably write 10K words a week, this is plenty of time. Most of my books these days are around 80-90K words. I like to have a word count of 2K a day and give myself the weekends off. Of course, it never goes that neatly–there will be days I can write 4K and days I can’t write at all. Some days I DELETE more than I write. But a 10K per week goal is realistic for me, and I stick to it. I use Pacemaker to keep me on track.
6. The 10-week schedule gives me some time at the beginning to plot and plan. Before I write a book, I know the trope(s), the characters and their backstories (including their “emotional wound”), and the conflict (why can’t these two gorgeous, single, consenting adults be together?). I may or may not have a specific theme in mind… sometimes it’s very clear to me what I’m trying to say with a book when I start writing, and sometimes the theme emerges as I go along. (As romance writers, we’re lucky that our over-arching theme is always “Love conquers all” or “Love transforms” but we do need to get a little more specific about what it’s conquering or how love is transforming someone. More on that soon!)
7. I start writing. I keep going until I type THE END. (At some point during those 10 weeks, I approve cover design, finalize the blurb, and discuss my release promo with my PA and my PR company. More on that soon.) I actually write in Vellum, which I LOVE MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF, but it can be a pain because it’s not quick to convert to Word docs.
8. I use one “alpha reader” who really knows me and my brand to give me feedback on pacing and character. She lets me know if I took a wrong turn somewhere or rushed something. Sometimes she asks for more in a particular section. I usually send her 1-3 chapters at a time.
9. Once I’m happy with it, I send it to Nancy (main editor). When I get her edits back, I sent it to Julie (copy editor). If I have time, I send it to one more proofreader. Then I send a PDF to my narrators. (After it’s recorded and sent to me, I have a “beta listener” who makes sure there are no problems. Then it’s uploaded to ACX and I pray it gets approved for sale on time.)
10. The book will be proofread at least three times AFTER my copy editor–so essentially I have 5 pairs of critical eyes on a book before it releases. I take editing very seriously!
11. After all 5 rounds of proofreading, I send it to the paperback formatter and get ARCs ready to send to my team.
12. Cover is revealed two weeks before release. ARCs are sent out to my team 10 days before release. And then it’s release day!