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Preparing Your Manuscript, Images, and Index for Book Production

Prepare your manuscript and images for book production, and learn when to create an author-prepared index for final files.

Getting your manuscript and supporting materials ready before book production helps our team work from the correct files and reduces avoidable delays. Use this checklist before submitting your book.

Prepare your manuscript
  • Finish the text first. Submit your manuscript only when the text is final, including your title, subtitle, chapter names, content, edits, dedication, and other written material. If you plan to make more text changes, finish those before submitting for book production.
  • Use an editable document. Submit your manuscript as a Google Doc or Microsoft Word document. If you used another word processor, convert the file to Microsoft Word and review the converted document for errors. Do not submit the manuscript as a PDF; the production team cannot edit manuscript text in a PDF.
  • Submit one complete manuscript file. This helps prevent issues from combining separate files.
  • Include your front and back matter. Depending on your book, this may include a copyright page, dedication, optional lead magnet, table of contents, and acknowledgments.
Prepare and submit images
  • Send images and illustrations as individual files rather than embedding them only in the manuscript. Use the author folder’s “Files from Author” folder when it is available.
  • Name each image clearly. In the manuscript, identify where each image belongs by naming the file and highlighting the placeholder text so the production team can match it to the right location.
  • Images intended for print should be at least 300 DPI. Commonly accepted formats include JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PSD, PDF, and INDD.
  • On Windows, you can check an image’s resolution by right-clicking the image file, choosing Properties, opening Details, and looking for its resolution or DPI. If an image is below 300 DPI, use a higher-resolution original when possible. Resizing a low-resolution image may reduce quality.
Prepare an index (if your book needs one)

selfpublishing.com does not create or write indexes. The author is responsible for creating the index after the book’s layout style has been approved, when the final page layout is available.

After you have prepared the index, submit it to the team so we can add it to the final files. If you are unsure how to submit it, contact Support or ask Quill to open a ticket.

If you receive a production revision request sheet
  • The sheet’s tabs identify the revision round. The included sheet has tabs for Revisions 1, 2, and 3; additional revision rounds may involve a fee.
  • Give specific, actionable feedback. For changes that apply throughout the manuscript, use the Notes column and identify where the change should be applied.
  • If requested feedback was not implemented, use the sheet’s “Publisher Mistake” column to flag it.
  • Enter your feedback in the provided revision document rather than making a separate copy, to avoid version confusion.

When you have completed revised files or a revision request, submit a Support Ticket by emailing support@selfpublishing.com or by chatting with Quill. If you have a designated book production representative, you can also follow the instructions they provided for your project.