Launch Checklist

What is the Launch Checklist?

Launch Checklist is a task list tied to one book and a launch date. Start from a ready-made template (indie, traditional, or hybrid), add ready-made sections, or begin with a blank list. Edit, reorder, and check items off. Use the sections manager to organize them. Save as Template keeps a list you can reuse.

Getting started with Launch Checklist

Launch Checklist gives each book its own task list, from planning and drafting through launch day and after. You can start from a ready-made list and change anything in it. Create your first checklist 1. Click Launch Checklist in the left sidebar. 2. Click + New Checklist. 3. Enter the Book Title. 4. Choose a Checklist Type: - Blank List: an empty checklist you build yourself. - Self-Publishing: indie production, distribution, ARC and review team, and launch tasks. - Traditional Query: query package, agent rounds, submissions, offers and the publisher pipeline. - Hybrid: the query path plus indie-ready tasks so you can switch quickly. - Any templates you've made yourself appear under Custom. 5. Optionally, choose a book under Link to Existing Book (optional) and set a Target Publication Date. 6. Click Create. Work through your checklist - Your checklists are listed on the left under Checklists. Click one to open it. - Tick the box next to an item when it's done. Completed items are crossed out. - The percentage at the top right shows how much of the checklist is done, for example "40%" and "12/30 done". Each checklist in the list on the left has its own progress bar. - Tasks are grouped into sections such as Planning, Editing, Production and Launch. Click a section's name to fold it away, or use Collapse All and Expand All. - Use Search items… to find a task in the open checklist. Deadlines If you set a Target Publication Date, the checklist shows how many days are left, for example "45 days until deadline". Once the date has passed, it shows Deadline passed in red. Edit or delete a checklist - Click the pencil icon (Edit checklist) to change the title, linked book, pen name or target date. The checklist type can't be changed after it's created. - Click the trash icon (Delete checklist) to delete it. You can undo this from the message that appears. Sort your checklists When you have more than one checklist, use Sort above the list to order them by Newest first, Publish date, Title (A to Z) or My order (drag). With My order (drag), drag a checklist by its handle to move it.

How do I add, move and reorder checklist items?

Every checklist can be changed to fit your book. Open the checklist in Launch Checklist first. Add an item 1. Go to the section you want the item in. 2. Click + Add item at the bottom of the section. 3. Type the item and press Enter, or click Add. Set a due date on an item 1. Hover over the item and click the calendar icon (Set due date). 2. Pick a date. The date appears next to the item. It turns red if the date has passed and the item isn't done. To remove it, hover over the date and click the x (Clear due date). Move an item to another section 1. Hover over the item and click the arrows icon (Move to phase). 2. Choose the section from the Move to… list. The item goes to the end of that section. Reorder items and sections - Drag an item by the handle on its left to move it up or down within its section. - Drag a section by the handle next to its name to move the whole section. Dragging is turned off while there's text in Search items…. Clear the search to reorder. Add a section You have two options: - Click Add Section at the top of the checklist, type a name, and press Enter. This adds an empty section of your own. - Click a card under Add a section on the right. Each card adds a group of ready-made tasks, such as Planning, Beta Readers or Launch, plus any sections you've saved yourself. A ready-made card adds its tasks even if the checklist already has them, so check for duplicates if you click one twice. Rename or delete a section Hover over the section's name: - Click the pencil icon (Rename section) to rename it. Only sections you added yourself can be renamed. - Click the trash icon (Delete section) to delete it and every item in it. You'll be asked to confirm, and you can undo it from the message that appears. Delete an item Hover over the item and click the trash icon (Delete item). Items are deleted straight away, without a confirmation, so take care.

How do I make my own checklist template?

If you follow the same steps for every book, save them as a template. You'll see your templates under Custom when you create a new checklist. Save an existing checklist as a template 1. Open the checklist in Launch Checklist. 2. Click Save as Template. 3. Enter a name for the template and click Next. 4. Choose what happens to items you've already ticked: - Keep completed items checked keeps them ticked in new checklists made from this template. - Start all items unchecked starts every item fresh. Your sections, their order, and all items are saved in the template. Build a template from scratch 1. Click Templates at the top of the page. 2. Click New Template. 3. Enter a Template Name. 4. Add sections: - Use Add built-in section… to add a standard section, such as Editing or Launch. - Click + New Section to add a section with your own name. 5. Under each section, click + Add item to add tasks. 6. Drag sections by their handle to reorder them. 7. Click Create Template. To change a template later, open Templates and click the pencil icon (Edit template). To delete one, click the trash icon (Delete template). Changing or deleting a template doesn't affect checklists you've already made from it. Use your template 1. Click + New Checklist. 2. Under Checklist Type, choose your template under Custom. 3. Fill in the rest and click Create. Save a single section for reuse If one section is worth reusing on its own, such as your own "Audiobook" section: 1. Open a checklist that has the section. 2. Hover over the section's name and click the bookmark icon (Save section as reusable template). The section now appears under Add a section on the right of every checklist. Click it to add a copy of its items. To remove a saved section, click the trash icon (Remove saved template) next to it. The ready-made sections can't be removed.

How do I bring an existing to-do list into a new checklist?

If you already keep your launch tasks in a notes app or document, you can paste them in when you create a checklist. 1. Go to Launch Checklist and click + New Checklist. 2. Enter the Book Title and choose a Checklist Type. Choose Blank List if you only want your own tasks. 3. Next to Additional Items, click Import from text. 4. Paste your list, with one task per line. Markdown checkboxes such as "- [ ] Order proof copy" and bullet points such as "- Order proof copy" are cleaned up for you. 5. Click Import. You'll see how many items will be added. Click the x next to any you don't want. 6. Click Create. Good to know - Imported items are added to the Planning section. Use Move to phase on each item to put it in the right section afterwards. - Every imported item starts unticked, even if it was ticked ("- [x]") in your list. - Blank lines are skipped.

Why can't I see or change my launch checklist?

A checklist is missing from the list Check the pen name filter above Checklists. If it's set to one pen name, only checklists for that pen name are shown, and you may see "No checklists under this pen name." Choose All pen names. A checklist linked to a book uses that book's pen name. To change it, change the pen name on the book in Book Library. An item is missing from my checklist - Clear Search items…. While it has text in it, only matching items are shown, and you may see "No items match your search." - The section might be folded. Click its name, or click Expand All. + New Checklist, Templates or the checkboxes are greyed out Your role on this account lets you view checklists but not change them. Ask the account owner to give your role edit permission for Launch Checklist in Collaboration. Deleting checklists and templates needs delete permission too. If you see No Access, your role doesn't include Launch Checklist at all. I can't drag items or checklists - Items and sections can't be dragged while Search items… has text in it. Clear the search first. - Checklists in the list on the left can only be dragged when Sort is set to My order (drag). I can't rename a section Only sections you added yourself can be renamed. The standard sections, such as Planning or Launch, keep their names. You can still delete them, or add your own section with Add Section and move items into it. I can't change the checklist type The type (for example Self-Publishing) is set when the checklist is created. To switch, create a new checklist with the type you want. You can save your current one as a template first with Save as Template if you want to keep your changes. Items appeared twice Clicking a card under Add a section always adds its items, even if they're already in the checklist. Delete the extra items with the trash icon next to each one. I deleted an item by mistake Deleted items can't be restored, so you'll need to add it again with + Add item. Deleted sections and checklists can be restored with the undo in the message that appears straight after deleting.