5 Questions to Answer Before You Publish a Book
I keep hearing from people who are thinking about publishing a book, and I can feel the hesitation in the question.
I recognize it because I’ve been there.
Today, I want to share 5 questions I think you should answer before publishing anything to give you clarity on your goals and decide the best path to publishing.
1. What do I actually need this book to do?
Books can have different outcomes.
Do you want credibility and for the book to serve as a way to establish your thought leadership in a space, to help you land speaking engagements and consulting gigs?
Do you want a book to bring you income every month, so your goal is massive sales and page views?
Do you want a book to increase your reach and visibility, so you’re aiming for awards and bestseller lists?
Most frustration I see around publishing comes when books don’t do what the author secretly wanted.
Clarity here saves years.
2. Who is this book really for?
There are so many different types of books out there.
In the travel space alone, you can write a well-researched guidebook for consumers looking for guidance. You can write a historic book that speaks to a particular destination or population. Maybe you’re writing an industry book for B2B sales and your target reader is a professional at a large travel brand or corporation.
I know someone who eschewed the Amazon self-publishing route so she could list her book for sale on her site for $60 instead of the $2.99-$9.99 range Amazon requires ebooks to be priced at for the maximum royalty split.
Different audiences require different paths. Publishing gets much simpler once you stop pretending one book can speak to everyone and accomplish all your professional goals equally well.
3. How fast does this book need to exist?
Speed is a strategy most people don’t name. 80% of six-figure authors have 20 books or more, and the faster you get there, the more your money multiplies with revenue and referrals from your back catalog.
If timing matters, that affects your publishing method. It took me four years to go from landing my agent to having a traditionally published memoir. It took me 2 months to get my first self-published book on shelves.
Being unaware of realistic timelines can lead to disappointment.
4. What am I willing (and not willing) to trade off?
Every publishing path costs something:
Time
Control
Money
Ownership
Wnergy
There is no option without compromise.
The mistake is choosing one without acknowledging what you’re giving up, and then resenting it later.
5. What does success look like one year after publication?
There’s a lot of buzz around a book when it comes to pre-sales and launch week. The bigger question is, where do you see your book one year later?
Is the book still selling regularly? Has it opened doors? Is it aligned with what you’re building next? Does it lead to a second book deal?
This question alone can direct you towards the appropriate next step.
January Publishing Cohort
Normally, this conversation happens inside the Jet Set Writer, a full five-month group coaching experience where we talk through these decisions in real time.
Next month, I’m opening our January cohort focusing specifically on publishing to the public.
Click here to join the January Publishing Cohort of the Jet Set Writer.
What’s included:
A 1-hour recorded training on publishing strategy, decision-making, and choosing the right path for your goals
A 1-hour live Q&A where we apply the material to your specific project and questions
The chance to win a $500 book cover design by 99designs
Inside, we’ll cover self-publishing, traditional publishing, and travel guidebook writing for legacy outlets. Not sure which one is for you? Read this post I wrote breaking down the differences.
This cohort is best suited for writers, bloggers, content creators, and digital entrepreneurs who want to explore publishing as a 2026 passive income strategy.
The cohort begins January 1st.
If you want clarity before committing months (or years) to the wrong publishing path, join us and let’s make 2026 the year you take action on your book!
Click here to sign up for the Jet Set Writer’s January Publishing Cohort.