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The book publishing game · about 5 minutes

Draft to ShelfCan you get your book into readers’ hands?

You have a book in you. You have a budget and 12 months. Get it from draft to shelf, and into readers’ hands.

  • 8 chapters
  • 4 authors
  • 6 endings
  • No sign-up

A game. Outcomes are illustrative, not predictions.

Pick your author

Each author starts with a different budget and goal. Replay as another to see a different book.

What Draft to Shelf teaches

The eight decisions every book goes through

  1. 01

    Writing it

    A ghostwriter interviews you and writes in your voice; you keep the credit and, under a fair contract, the rights. Writing it yourself costs time and stamina, and the quality depends on your craft and the help you get afterwards. AI can draft fast, but it can’t supply your stories or expertise, and Amazon’s KDP content guidelines ask authors to disclose AI-generated content when they publish.

  2. 02

    Editing

    A developmental edit fixes the big things: structure, pacing, what’s missing. A copy edit fixes sentences, consistency and typos. A friend may catch typos, but rarely tells you a chapter isn’t working. Until a professional reads it, you don’t really know how good the book is, which is why your Quality well is cloudy.

  3. 03

    The cover

    Most readers first see a cover as a small thumbnail on a screen. A professional cover signals the genre at a glance and keeps the title readable at that size. Budget templates can end up using the same stock images as other books.

  4. 04

    Formats

    Each format reaches different readers: ebook readers, print buyers and gift givers, and listeners. Print lets you sell at events and reach bookshops and libraries. An audiobook needs narration and production, so it costs more up front.

  5. 05

    The path

    Unsolicited offers, guaranteed results, pressure to pay fast and contracts that take your rights for years are classic warning signs. A legitimate hybrid publisher charges for clearly listed services, and the contract spells out your rights and royalties. Self-publishing keeps everything in your hands, including the work. Whatever the path, read the contract before you sign.

    Check a publishing contract →
  6. 06

    The price

    On some big ebook platforms the royalty rate changes at set price points, so pricing just outside the band can sharply cut what you earn per copy. Simplified for the game.

  7. 07

    Launch

    Ads work best when a book already has reviews, a strong cover and a clear audience. Early readers who get advance copies (ARCs) can mean reviews in launch week, which helps every step after it.

  8. 08

    After launch

    A book keeps selling when its author keeps showing up. Talks and podcasts put it in front of new audiences, a newsletter turns readers into a list you own, and in fiction, the next book in a series often sells the first.

Questions about the game

Is Draft to Shelf free?

Yes. It takes about five minutes, there is no sign-up, and you can play as many times as you like, as any of the four authors.

Are the outcomes real?

No. It is a game: the budgets, costs and results are round, illustrative numbers, not predictions. The publisher’s notes describe real trade-offs that publishing teams weigh every day.

What does the game teach?

The eight decisions every book goes through: who writes it, editing, the cover, formats, the publishing path, price, the launch and what happens after it, plus how to spot an offer that is too good to be true.

How much does a ghostwriter cost in real life?

It depends on the book’s type and length. Our ghostwriter cost calculator shows typical ranges by book type and length, from our published cost guide.

More free tools for authors: see them all.

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