Milestone 20: Build the Author Catalogue and Next-Publication Plan
Gary WhittakerSelf-Publishing Path · Milestone 20 of 20
Build the Author Catalogue and Next-Publication Plan
Use the completed book and its evidence to decide what remains active, what needs correction and which publication should be built next.
The path ends with continuation, not endless expansion
Milestone 20 does not force every author into a series, membership or publishing company. It creates a responsible decision about how the completed publication will be maintained and what, if anything, should be produced next.
Establish the current publication state
Maintain
Keep verified editions active and monitor known conditions.
Correct or revise
Repair listings, files, accessibility, metadata or content through the correct earlier controls.
Extend
Add a justified format, companion resource, revised edition or connected publication.
Retire
Withdraw an outdated or unsupported edition while preserving records and reader support.
Build the catalogue map
| Publication | Role | Active editions | Reader | Connection | Next decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current publication | Entry, core, companion or specialist | Record | Record | Standalone or connected | Maintain, revise, extend or retire |
| Proposed next publication | Defined role | Planned | Evidence-backed reader | Clear catalogue relationship | Proceed, validate or defer |
Choose the next publication from evidence
The next project should arise from a real reader need, an unfinished catalogue role, validated demand, a credible author purpose or a deliberate creative decision—not merely from pressure to publish constantly.
Create a realistic 90-day continuation
The plan should balance maintenance, reader support, evidence review and one bounded next-publication objective. It should identify owners, capacity, known CAD budget, required inputs and decision points without inventing dates or costs.
Repeat the path deliberately
A new book begins again at Milestone 1. Existing catalogue evidence may accelerate decisions, but it does not remove the need to choose the project, reader, outcome, message, research, format and production controls.
Responsible AI use
AI may organize catalogue records, compare supplied reader evidence or generate bounded project options. It must not invent demand, reader needs, budgets, rights or a reason to produce more work.
Bounded prompt: Using only the supplied catalogue records and Milestone 19 evidence, identify maintenance needs, supported continuation options and unanswered questions. Separate evidence-backed options from speculation. Do not choose the next book or invent demand.
Milestone 20 completion standard
- Every current edition has a maintain, correct, revise, extend or retire decision.
- Catalogue roles and reader connections are documented.
- Protected strengths and unresolved conditions are visible.
- The next-publication decision is supported by evidence or explicitly exploratory.
- A bounded 90-day plan identifies owners, capacity and known CAD resources.
- Review points and stop conditions exist.
- The correct earlier milestone is identified for each major change.
- A 90-Day Author Catalogue and Next-Publication Plan is complete.
Frequently asked questions
Must I write another book?
No. Maintenance, revision or responsible retirement can be the correct continuation.
Should the next book be a sequel?
Only when reader evidence, creative purpose and catalogue strategy support that relationship.
When does an update become a new edition?
That depends on the scale of change, identifiers, platform rules and reader expectations; document the decision.
Can I add an audiobook or workbook?
Yes when the format serves a validated reader need and can be produced responsibly.
Can AI choose my next book?
No. It may organize options, but the author owns the creative and publishing decision.
What is the final deliverable?
A 90-Day Author Catalogue and Next-Publication Plan.
