Author Business Planner: Organize Projects, Assets and Collaborators
An independent author can lose time searching for an approved cover, an editor's latest note or the details of an upcoming interview. An author-business tracker makes those small operational tasks visible so that writing, production and outreach can move forward with fewer loose ends.
This guide focuses on the work you can organize now: book projects, assets, providers, document locations and next actions. Use a separate copy for each book if that makes your records easier to maintain.
Download the author-business tracker
Download the editable author-business tracker (Excel) →
The worksheet includes editable rows for a manuscript master, editing, cover artwork, print and ebook files, photographs, retailer listings, appearances and publishing documents. Add your own projects and deliverables in the blank rows.
1. Identify the approved version of each asset
Give each book or project a consistent name. For every deliverable, record the location of the approved file and the next action needed. A practical filename can include the book title, format and version, such as BookTitle_PrintInterior_v04.pdf. Archive older versions in a separate folder so a collaborator does not accidentally upload the wrong file.
Keep a short record of who approved the file and when. If a correction is still outstanding, the task should remain In progress rather than Done.
2. Keep provider work specific
Record the person or organization responsible for a deliverable, the location of the agreed brief or proposal, and the next deadline. Useful questions include: Which formats are included? Who applies corrections? Which source files will be delivered? What review or handover is included?
Use the publishing-services guide to prepare a clearer request. You can also look for collaborators and professionals in the Author Rise Directory. Contact people directly and confirm the project details before committing work.
3. Keep permission and credit records with the asset
For an author portrait, illustration, cover element or excerpt, record where the relevant agreement, permission or licence information is stored. The worksheet's document-location field is a reminder to keep evidence accessible; it does not decide whether you have permission to use something.
For general background, consult WIPO's copyright FAQs. Questions about a specific agreement or use should be resolved with the relevant rights holder or qualified adviser before the material is published.
4. Turn an open task into a next action
“Cover” is a topic. “Send the final trim size to the cover designer by Friday” is an action you can complete. Write the next action at that level of detail. Add the due date and update the status when the deliverable changes hands.
| Deliverable | Useful next action | Completion evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Print interior | Review the corrected proof and check chapter headings. | Approved PDF saved in the final-files folder. |
| Author portrait | Confirm the credit and permitted publicity use. | Permission record saved with the photo. |
| Podcast appearance | Send the agreed bio and interview topics. | Host confirms receipt and recording date. |
5. Review your records once a week
Use a short weekly review to find overdue or blocked tasks. Update deadlines that have genuinely changed, follow up on missing materials, and select the next few actions you can complete. Keep finished work visible long enough to confirm it has been handed over correctly.
For reader outreach, use the separate promotion guide and promotion planner. Keeping production records and reader-facing messages separate makes each file easier to use.
What belongs outside this tracker?
Use your chosen accounting and payment systems for financial records, and keep passwords in a suitable password manager. The worksheet is a project and document-location tool. Avoid storing account secrets or unnecessary private information in a file you plan to share with collaborators.
Your first five-minute improvement
Choose one book, enter the location of its approved manuscript, identify the person handling the next deliverable, and write a specific next action. Repeat that process for the remaining assets as you need them. A small record that stays current is more useful than a large plan you stop updating.
Keep your publishing work moving
Explore all seven author worksheets or return to the Author Rise Resource Library.
Need a collaborator or professional support? Browse the Author Rise Directory →. Agree scope, deliverables and any fees directly with the person you choose.