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