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Milestone 14: Prepare the Publication Files and Metadata
Prepare authoritative ebook, print, cover and metadata packages for every intended edition of your self-published work.
Self-Publishing Path · Milestone 14 of 20
Prepare the Publication Files and Metadata
Turn the approved Milestone 12 publication candidate into one authoritative submission package for every edition you intend to publish.
The publishing handoff
A finished manuscript is not yet a submission-ready publication
Milestone 14 prepares the exact files and descriptive records that publishing platforms, printers, retailers and direct readers will receive. It does not reopen the manuscript casually. It converts the frozen publication candidate into controlled edition packages.
Publication files
Interior, ebook, cover, image, font, accessibility and companion-resource files must be authoritative, correctly named and matched to the intended edition.
Publication metadata
The title, subtitle, author identity, description, categories, keywords, edition information and credits must describe the same book accurately.
Define every intended edition
An edition is not simply another export. Ebook, paperback, hardcover, large-print, audiobook and PDF editions can have different technical requirements, identifiers, prices, page counts and accessibility needs.
| Edition | Primary file | Cover requirement | Identifier decision | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ebook | EPUB or platform-supported file | Front cover | ISBN or platform identifier | Record evidence |
| Paperback | Print-ready interior PDF | Full wrap based on final specifications | ISBN decision | Record evidence |
| Other approved format | Format-specific master | Format-specific artwork | Format-specific identifier | Record evidence |
Build the authoritative file package
Interior and ebook
- Correct manuscript version
- Front and back matter
- Working table of contents
- Embedded images and captions
- Page size, margins and bleed where applicable
- Readable typography and link behaviour
Cover and supporting assets
- Correct dimensions and spine calculation
- Readable title and author name
- Approved image and font use
- Barcode space when required
- Thumbnail readability
- Source and recovery files
Do not invent universal dimensions. Record the current requirements of the chosen platform, printer or distributor and the date they were verified.
Create the metadata master record
The master record should contain the exact public wording and decisions used across every listing:
- Title, subtitle, series and edition
- Author or pen name and contributor credits
- Publisher or imprint
- Language, publication date and reading age where relevant
- Book description and short description
- Categories, subject codes and keywords
- ISBN or platform-identifier decisions
- Copyright, permissions and AI-contribution records
- Accessibility notes and companion resources
Use version authority
Each package needs a manifest showing the filename, edition, version, owner, approval evidence, storage location and replacement status. A file called final-final-new.pdf is not version control.
Suggested pattern: BookTitle_Edition_Component_v01_YYYY-MM-DD.ext
Responsible AI use
AI may compare supplied metadata, identify inconsistent names, organize a manifest or flag possible omissions. It must not invent categories, permissions, endorsements, contributor credits, technical compliance or rights clearance.
Bounded prompt: Review only the supplied publication files, metadata record and edition requirements. Identify inconsistent titles, author names, edition labels, filenames, missing fields and probable package mismatches. Separate confirmed evidence from possible concerns. Do not approve files, invent metadata or claim platform compliance.
Milestone 14 completion standard
- Every intended edition is identified.
- Each edition has one authoritative interior or ebook master.
- Each edition has the correct authoritative cover package.
- The metadata master is complete and internally consistent.
- Rights, contribution and permissions records remain traceable.
- File manifests, backups and recovery locations are documented.
- Known technical conditions are visible.
- A documented submission-readiness decision exists.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need every format at once?
No. Prepare only the editions approved for the current publication plan.
Can one print PDF work for every platform?
Not automatically. Verify the current specifications for each intended destination.
Should I use a free platform ISBN?
That is a publishing-control decision addressed in Milestone 15. Record the options without pretending one choice suits every author.
Can I change the manuscript here?
Correct verified production defects, but route substantial content changes back through the earlier editorial controls.
Can AI generate my metadata?
It may draft from approved records, but the author remains responsible for accuracy and evidence.
What is the main deliverable?
A controlled Publication File and Metadata Record for every intended edition.
Build through milestones
Choose the path that matches the work in front of you.
The Creator Academy connects AI artist development, independent publishing and platform ownership through sixty practical milestones.
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