iUniverse has helped tens of thousands of authors get published, and we understand that the process can be confusing. By following our roadmap, you'll learn what it takes to succeed and be more likely to have a positive publishing experience.

Think of it like this: compare publishing a book to taking a journey to a new and exciting place. You wouldn't just hop in the car and drive away without knowing your destination and planning your route carefully. Before you begin the journey down the road to becoming a published author, it's equally important to develop a strategy that will help you achieve your goals. The iUniverse Roadmap is a step-by-step guide that can help you do just that.

Step One: Define Your Publishing Goals

Before you can effectively develop a plan for publishing your book, you need to know what you hope to achieve. Do you want to have a book to share with friends and family? Are you a professional with expertise to share about a particular subject? How many books do you hope to sell? Who is your book's audience? How much time do you have to market and publicize your book? Understanding your reasons for publishing will better prepare you to achieve your goals.

Step Two: Select a Package

Once you have defined your goals, find the iUniverse Publishing Package that complements these goals. Our Premier Pro, Premier, Select and Express Publishing Packages were created to help you reach your goal.

If your goal is to reach a wider circle of readers, we recommend that you invest in an Editorial Evaluation, a service that is included in our Premier Pro and Premier packages. Our editorial professionals will give you an honest assessment of your work and may recommend editorial services to further polish your manuscript. Qualifying manuscripts will be awarded our Editor's Choice designation, which opens the door to additional marketing services and is the first step toward our prestigious Star Program and Publisher's Choice designation.

If you are asking readers to purchase your book, you've made a promise to them that it contains all the elements expected in a professionally published work. That's why it's so important to invest in Editorial Services such as Copyediting, Line Editing, and Content Editing. Qualifying manuscripts will be awarded our Editor's Choice designation, which opens the door to additional marketing services and is the first step toward our prestigious Star and Rising Star programs.

Step Three: Submit Your Manuscript

After purchasing the publishing package that best meets your needs, you will need to review our Editorial Guidelines, our step-by-step Submission Checklist, and our Manuscript Formatting and Graphic & Illustration Preparation guidelines. These documents will help ensure you have all the necessary components together to begin the submission process. If you have any questions about the process, our publishing consultants are available to assist you. When your submission is complete, you're well on your way to publication.

Step Four: Work with iUniverse Specialists

Once your submission has been accepted, it will be assigned an ISBN and will officially enter our production process. You will be assigned an iUniverse publishing services associate, commonly referred to as your PSA. Your PSA will be your point of contact during your book's production process. The PSA's purpose is to answer your questions and serve as a liaison between you and all iUniverse departments.

Step Five: Publish and Market Your Book

Publishing a book is a tremendous achievement, no matter what your goals. Thousands of people dream of becoming published authors, but only a small percentage actually make that dream a reality. Anyone who has spent days, weeks, or even years writing a book deserves recognition. Take a moment and celebrate your accomplishment!

If your goals include selling thousands of books, do not expect to simply publish your work and then wait for the sales to roll in. No one can purchase your book if they don't know it exists. That's why it's so important to generate demand for your book with an organized marketing and publicity plan.

iUniverse offers the widest variety of quality marketing and publicity services in the industry—all aimed at helping you propel your book into the marketplace. As authors prove their commitment to building a platform, they become eligible for further opportunities for success with special iUniverse programs (Star, Rising Star and Reader's Choice) that spotlight our most outstanding titles.

Every journey offers chances to learn and grow. As you travel down the road to becoming a published author, you will create a new story full of hope, success, and learning experiences. The entire process is one of growth—iUniverse commends you for taking on the challenge!