workflow: id: self-publishing-workflow name: Prepare for Self-Publishing description: Package manuscript for self-publishing platforms (Leanpub, Amazon KDP, Gumroad). Supports multiple formats (markdown, DOCX, PDF), platform-specific optimization, metadata preparation, and pricing strategy. type: publisher-submission version: 1.0 project_types: - technical-book publisher: Self-Publishing (Leanpub/KDP/Gumroad) sequence: - agent: book-publisher decides: platform-selection.md requires: book-goals, target-audience notes: "Choose self-publishing platform based on goals. Leanpub: Iterative publishing, markdown-based, developer audience. Amazon KDP: Wide distribution, royalties, print-on-demand. Gumroad: Direct sales, flexible pricing, no approval process. Can use multiple platforms simultaneously. SAVE OUTPUT: platform-strategy.md" - agent: book-publisher creates: formatted-manuscript/ requires: manuscript-chapters[], platform-selection notes: "Format manuscript for target platform(s). Leanpub: Markdown with Leanpub extensions. KDP: Word .docx with styles, page breaks, TOC. Gumroad: PDF (professional typesetting). Optimize for platform requirements. SAVE OUTPUT: formatted-manuscript/{{platform}}/" - agent: book-publisher optimizes: images/ requires: book-images[] notes: "Optimize images for each platform. Leanpub: PNG/JPEG, any DPI (responsive). KDP: 300 DPI minimum for print, RGB for Kindle. Gumroad: High-quality PDF-embedded images. Compress file sizes without quality loss. SAVE OUTPUT: optimized-images/{{platform}}/" - agent: book-publisher creates: metadata-package.md requires: formatted-manuscript/ notes: "Create platform metadata. Title, subtitle, description (sales copy), author bio, keywords (SEO), categories, pricing, cover image requirements. Each platform has different metadata fields and character limits. SAVE OUTPUT: metadata/{{platform}}-metadata.yaml" - agent: technical-editor validates: platform-format.md requires: formatted-manuscript/, metadata-package notes: "Validate format meets platform requirements. Leanpub: Valid markdown, book.txt manifest, preview builds. KDP: Word .docx passes KDP validator, no formatting errors. Gumroad: PDF renders correctly, bookmarks work, links functional. SAVE OUTPUT: format-validation-{{platform}}.md" - agent: book-publisher creates: publication-package/ requires: format-validated notes: "Finalize publication package for each platform. Leanpub: manuscript/ folder with chapters, images/, book.txt. KDP: .docx file, cover image, metadata. Gumroad: PDF file, cover image, sales page copy. SAVE OUTPUT: publication-packages/{{platform}}/" flow_diagram: | ```mermaid graph TD A[Start: Manuscript Ready] --> B[book-publisher: Choose Platform(s)] B --> C{Which Platform?} C -->|Leanpub| D[Format: Markdown] C -->|Amazon KDP| E[Format: DOCX] C -->|Gumroad| F[Format: PDF] C -->|Multiple| G[Format: All Required] D --> H[Optimize Images: Leanpub] E --> I[Optimize Images: KDP Print/Kindle] F --> J[Optimize Images: PDF] G --> H G --> I G --> J H --> K[Create Metadata: Leanpub] I --> L[Create Metadata: KDP] J --> M[Create Metadata: Gumroad] K --> N[technical-editor: Validate Leanpub] L --> O[technical-editor: Validate KDP] M --> P[technical-editor: Validate Gumroad] N --> Q{Valid?} O --> R{Valid?} P --> S{Valid?} Q -->|No| T[Fix Leanpub Issues] R -->|No| U[Fix KDP Issues] S -->|No| V[Fix Gumroad Issues] T --> N U --> O V --> P Q -->|Yes| W[Finalize Leanpub Package] R -->|Yes| X[Finalize KDP Package] S -->|Yes| Y[Finalize Gumroad Package] W --> Z[Publish] X --> Z Y --> Z style Z fill:#90EE90 style B fill:#FFE4B5 style D fill:#ADD8E6 style E fill:#ADD8E6 style F fill:#ADD8E6 ``` platform_comparison: leanpub: format: "Markdown with Leanpub extensions" distribution: "Leanpub marketplace only" pricing: "Minimum/suggested/maximum flexible pricing" royalties: "80% (minus 50¢ transaction fee)" audience: "Developers, technical readers" unique_features: "Iterative publishing, in-progress sales, variable pricing" best_for: "Technical books, frequent updates, building in public" amazon_kdp: format: "Word .docx (Kindle), PDF or .docx (print)" distribution: "Amazon worldwide, Kindle devices/apps" pricing: "Fixed price or KDP Select (Kindle Unlimited)" royalties: "35% or 70% (based on price), print cost deduction" audience: "General public, wide reach" unique_features: "Huge distribution, print-on-demand, KDP Select benefits" best_for: "Maximum reach, print versions, broad audience" gumroad: format: "PDF (or any digital format)" distribution: "Direct sales (your audience, your marketing)" pricing: "Fully flexible, can include tiers, bundles" royalties: "90% (10% Gumroad fee)" audience: "Your existing audience, mailing list" unique_features: "Direct relationship with buyers, flexible pricing, bundles" best_for: "Building audience, premium pricing, bundled offers" quality_gates: format_requirements: leanpub: - Valid Leanpub-flavored markdown - book.txt manifest lists all chapters - Images in images/ folder - Frontmatter and mainmatter sections - Preview builds without errors - Links and cross-references work kdp: - Word .docx with proper styles - Table of contents auto-generated - Page breaks before chapters - Images embedded (not linked) - Passes KDP file validator - Cover image: 2560×1600 px minimum, JPEG/TIFF gumroad: - Professional PDF with bookmarks - Embedded fonts (no missing font errors) - Hyperlinks functional - Table of contents bookmarks - Optimized file size (<50 MB ideal) - Cover page attractive metadata_requirements: all_platforms: - Compelling title and subtitle - Sales description (hook readers) - Author bio (credibility) - Keywords for discoverability - Category selection - Cover image (professional quality) - Pricing strategy handoff_prompts: publisher_platform: "Platform selection complete. Target platform(s): {{platforms}}. Strategy: {{strategy}}. Leanpub for iterative updates, KDP for wide distribution, Gumroad for premium pricing. Formatting in progress for {{platform_count}} platform(s)." publisher_format: "Formatting complete for {{platform}}. {{chapter_count}} chapters formatted. Leanpub: {{markdown_files}} markdown files. KDP: {{docx_status}}. Gumroad: {{pdf_status}}. Image optimization in progress." publisher_images: "Image optimization complete. {{image_count}} images optimized for {{platform}}. Leanpub: Responsive sizing. KDP: 300 DPI print-ready. Gumroad: High-quality PDF-embedded. Metadata preparation in progress." publisher_metadata: "Metadata package created for {{platform}}. Title: {{title}}. Subtitle: {{subtitle}}. Description: {{description_length}} characters. {{keyword_count}} keywords. Categories: {{categories}}. Pricing: {{pricing}}. Format validation in progress." editor_validation: "Format validation complete for {{platform}}. Status: {{validation_status}}. {{issue_count}} issues found. Leanpub preview builds: {{leanpub_status}}. KDP validator: {{kdp_status}}. Gumroad PDF rendering: {{gumroad_status}}." publisher_package: "Publication package finalized for {{platform}}. Location: publication-packages/{{platform}}/. Includes: {{package_contents}}. Ready for {{platform}} upload and publication." platform_specific_details: leanpub_workflow: - Create manuscript/ folder structure - Write book.txt manifest (lists chapter order) - Use Leanpub markdown extensions (A>, T>, etc.) - Preview book (builds PDF, EPUB, MOBI) - Set minimum/suggested/maximum pricing - Publish to Leanpub marketplace - Update manuscript, click "Publish New Version" - Readers get updates automatically kdp_workflow: - Format manuscript in Word with styles - Generate automatic table of contents - Upload .docx to KDP (Kindle) or PDF (print) - Upload cover image (KDP Cover Creator or custom) - Enter metadata (title, description, keywords) - Set pricing (35% or 70% royalty) - KDP Select (exclusive) or wide distribution - Preview with Kindle Previewer - Publish (24-48 hour review) - Updates require re-uploading and re-publishing gumroad_workflow: - Create professional PDF (use Pandoc, LaTeX, InDesign) - Optimize PDF file size - Design sales page (Gumroad product page) - Upload PDF to Gumroad - Set pricing (single price or tiers) - Create cover/preview images - Write compelling product description - Optional: Bundles (book + code + videos) - Publish immediately (no approval process) - Updates: Replace PDF file, notify customers time_estimates: platform_selection: "1-2 hours (research and strategy)" leanpub_formatting: "4-6 hours (markdown conversion)" kdp_formatting: "8-12 hours (Word styling, print formatting)" gumroad_pdf_creation: "10-15 hours (professional typesetting)" image_optimization: "2-4 hours (per platform)" metadata_creation: "2-3 hours (per platform)" format_validation: "2-3 hours (per platform)" package_finalization: "1-2 hours (per platform)" total_single_platform: "14-25 hours (Leanpub fastest)" total_all_platforms: "30-50 hours" best_practices: - Start with Leanpub for fast market validation - Add KDP for wider distribution after Leanpub success - Use Gumroad for premium bundles (book + code + extras) - Professional cover design matters (hire designer) - Metadata keywords crucial for discoverability - Price testing: Leanpub's variable pricing helps find sweet spot - Build email list (own your audience) - Iterative publishing on Leanpub builds momentum - KDP Select benefits if exclusive is acceptable - Gumroad bundles justify higher pricing common_pitfalls: - Poor cover design (readers judge books by covers) - Weak sales description (first impression matters) - Wrong pricing (too low devalues, too high reduces sales) - No marketing plan (build audience before launch) - Ignoring metadata/keywords (discoverability suffers) - Format errors (unprofessional, bad reviews) - No email list (can't reach buyers for updates) - Platform exclusivity without strategy (limits options) - No updates/revisions (technical books age quickly) - Overlooking international pricing (currency matters)