A geeky (but easy) way to track uploaded manuscripts by Kayelle Allen

Let’s say you go to your Amazon KDP dashboard and look at your Kindle eBook’s Content page. It says your manuscript uploaded successfully. It will even tell you the date you uploaded it. That’s great. But which version did you upload? Was it the one before or after you found an error and had to re-upload? Is this the version with the new back matter?

I can tell instantly which version I uploaded. How? I have a system. Here’s what I do.

I create a code for all my titles – 3 letters if possible, but I try not to go above 4. Why? Those codes are huge timesavers when I’m naming images, files, and uploading to publisher sites.

I also use a code for series.

• Antonello Brothers: Immortal series = abi
• Thieves’ Guild Academy = tga
• Bringer of Chaos = boc

Here are 3 examples with my Antonello Brothers: Immortal series books.

• Surrender Love = abi-sl
• Forever Love = abi-fl
• Antonello Brothers: Immortal Complete – abi-com

Using those codes, I can immediately tell which book title I uploaded to a publisher.

I can add a code for the publishers as well, so I don’t accidentally upload the version formatted for Barnes and Noble to Amazon, Kobo, and so on.

• abi-sl-bnn- (Barnes and Noble)
• abi-sl-amz- (Amazon)
• abi-sl-kobo- (Kobo)
• abi-sl-gp (Google Play)

To go a step further and track the date I uploaded it, here’s what I do:

Write the manuscript completed date as a six-digit number. January = 01, February =02, etc. That way, June 1, 2024 becomes 060124. December 25, 2024 becomes 122524.

I name the final ready-to-upload manuscripts like this:

• abi-sl-bnn-060124.docx
• abi-sl-amz-060124.docx
• abi-sl-kobo-060124.docx
• abi-sl-gp-060124.docx

If I go back in a few months to update things, I can check the current manuscript’s name/date against what I uploaded. If they match, I’m done. If they don’t, I upload the newer version.

I hope this system works for you. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions. I’d also like to hear how you manage manuscripts. There is always something new to learn.

Keep writing!

~Kayelle Allen

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Kayelle Allen writes Sci Fi, Sci Fi Romance, and Gay Sci Fi Romance with misbehaving robots, immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She’s a US Navy veteran who’s been married so long she’s tenured.
Homeworld https://kayelleallen.com

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