The Mayoral Dispatch


From Manuscript to Marketplace
An interactive guide to navigating the world of book publishing. Follow the steps, explore your options, and turn your story into a legacy.
1. Crafting Your Manuscript
This section guides you through the creative heart of the process: unearthing your story, structuring your narrative, and overcoming common writing hurdles. Here, you'll find techniques to unlock your authentic voice and build a solid foundation for your book.
Unearthing Your Story
For many, the blank page is the first hurdle. Author Joshua T. Berglan offers refreshing approaches for non-typists and idea generators to capture their authentic voice and maintain creative flow.
🎙️ Embrace Voice-Powered Writing
Use speech-to-text on your phone or computer. Let your thoughts flow freely without the barrier of typing.
💡 Generate Chapter Titles Organically
Come up with 20+ chapter titles first. This allows your ideas to dictate the book's structure naturally.
🌊 Write What "Feels Good"
Don't write chronologically. Tackle the chapter you feel most inspired by each day to maintain momentum and make writing enjoyable.
Structuring Your Narrative
While a free-flowing start is great, structure provides a roadmap. Here are proven outlining techniques. Click to expand and learn more.
Start with a one-sentence summary and expand it layer by layer into paragraphs, character sheets, and a full scene list. Ideal for complex, plot-driven narratives.
A classic framework dividing the story into Setup, Confrontation, and Resolution. It provides a solid backbone for most narrative forms.
A 12-step story archetype focusing on a hero's transformation through trials. Perfect for fantasy, adventure, or stories centered on character growth.
2. Producing Your Book
This section covers the critical production phase, where your manuscript is transformed into a professional, market-ready product. Explore the essential steps of editing, interior formatting, and cover design to ensure your book makes a powerful first impression.
The Professional Editing Process
Developmental Edit
The "big picture" edit. Focuses on structure, pacing, plot, and character arcs.
Line Edit
Refines writing style, tone, and flow at the sentence level to enhance clarity.
Copyedit
Corrects grammar, spelling, punctuation, and ensures consistency.
Proofread
The final check for any lingering typos or formatting errors before publication.
3. Choosing Your Publishing Path
In this section, you'll explore the different paths to publication. From the established routes of traditional publishing to the empowered world of self-publishing, use the interactive tools below to compare models and platforms to find the best fit for your goals.
Publishing Models Compared
Which path is right for you? Compare the key trade-offs by clicking on the bars.
Select a model on the chart to see details here.
4. Marketing & Promotion
Publishing your book is just the beginning. This section focuses on how to reach your readers. Learn how to build an author platform, leverage promotional channels, and repurpose your book's content to maximize its reach and impact.
Repurposing Your Book for Maximum Reach
Articles
Turn chapters into blog posts.
Videos
Create content for YouTube or TikTok.
Podcasts
Discuss key themes in episodes.
Courses
Expand your book into an online course.
Infographics
Visualize data and key concepts.
Social Posts
Share tips and quotes.
Worksheets
Create downloadable resources.
Webinars
Present chapters as live talks.
5. Managing Your Author Business
Being an author means being an entrepreneur. This final section covers the business essentials: protecting your work, managing finances, and choosing the right legal structure. Use these tools to build a sustainable and successful author career.
ISBN Cost Calculator
An ISBN is your book's unique identifier for global distribution. Calculate your estimated cost with Bowker, the official US agency.
Author Expense Breakdown
Self-publishing involves upfront investment. Here's a typical breakdown of where your budget might go. Hover over a slice for details.
