Draft one-paragraph book premise
Write a concise summary of the book's core idea, audience, and promise to the reader.
Operations & Personal
Book Writing Board
Kanban Template for Book Writing: Draft, Edit, Publish
Writing a book means juggling ideas, drafts, edits, and publishing logistics all at once. This Book Writing Board Kanban template gives authors, ghostwriters, and small publishing teams a clear structure to move a manuscript from raw outline to finished, published work. Instead of scattering notes across documents, use one kanban board with columns and tasks that track every chapter, revision pass, and launch task. Manage it manually or connect it to the MCP server so an AI agent can create tasks, move cards, and update statuses as you write. Use keyboard shortcuts and the command palette to speed up daily task entry, and check progress from the macOS app or via the REST API when you need programmatic access to your project data.
kanboard.io/templates/book-writing
Template preview
Book Writing Board
5 columns
Idea & Outline
3Capture the book concept, structure, and chapter outlines before drafting begins.
Outline chapter list
List all planned chapters with a one-line summary of each chapter's purpose.
Research comparable titles
Identify 5 similar published books to understand tone, length, and market positioning.
Drafting
4Track chapters currently being written from first sentence to completed first draft.
Write Chapter 1 first draft
Complete a full first-pass draft of the opening chapter, focusing on getting ideas down.
Write Chapter 2 first draft
Draft the second chapter, building on the outline and maintaining narrative momentum.
Draft introduction section
Write the book's introduction explaining what readers will learn and why it matters.
Write closing chapter
Draft the final chapter that ties together the book's themes and calls the reader to action.
Editing
4Move drafted chapters through self-edits, developmental edits, and copyedits.
Self-edit Chapter 1 for clarity
Reread and tighten Chapter 1, cutting redundant sentences and fixing pacing issues.
Send Chapter 3 to developmental editor
Share the chapter with the editor for feedback on structure, argument, and flow.
Incorporate editor feedback into Chapter 2
Revise Chapter 2 based on tracked changes and comments from the developmental edit.
Run copyedit pass on Chapters 1-3
Check grammar, consistency, and style across the first three completed chapters.
Formatting & Design
3Prepare the manuscript's layout, cover, and front/back matter for publication.
Design book cover concept
Create or commission a cover design that matches the book's tone and target audience.
Format manuscript for print layout
Set margins, fonts, and chapter breaks to match the chosen print or ebook format.
Write author bio and back cover copy
Draft the short bio and back-cover blurb summarizing the book for potential readers.
Published
3Track final publishing tasks and mark chapters or the full manuscript as complete.
Upload final manuscript to publishing platform
Submit the formatted file to the chosen self-publishing or distribution platform.
Publish ebook and print versions
Confirm both ebook and print editions are live and purchasable.
Announce launch to mailing list
Send a launch email to subscribers with purchase links and a thank-you note.
How to run this board
Step 1
Add every chapter idea, outline note, and research task to Idea & Outline so nothing is lost before drafting starts.
Step 2
Move a chapter card to Drafting when you begin writing it, and keep working the card until a full first draft is complete.
Step 3
Shift completed drafts into Editing for self-edits, developmental edits, and copyedits, updating the task with editor feedback as it arrives.
Step 4
Once content is locked, move the task to Formatting & Design to handle layout, cover, and front/back matter work.
Step 5
Mark tasks Published once the corresponding chapter or the full manuscript is live, keeping a record of launch-related tasks.
AI agent usage
Run it with AI agents
This playbook lets an AI agent manage a book-writing project through the MCP server, moving chapter and publishing tasks across the Idea & Outline, Drafting, Editing, Formatting & Design, and Published columns. The agent can create new chapter tasks, update task details with editor feedback, and move cards forward as drafts progress, keeping the whole board a single source of truth for the book's status.
## Book Writing Board
Columns: Idea & Outline, Drafting, Editing, Formatting & Design, Published.
When asked to add a chapter, create a task in Idea & Outline with a short outline description.
When a draft is finished, move the task from Drafting to Editing and add any editor notes to the task description.
When formatting is done, move the task to Published and confirm the platform upload is noted in the task.
Use list_tasks to check current column status before creating duplicate tasks. Respect the free plan limit of 25 tasks per project.Create a task in Idea & Outline for a new chapter about overcoming writer's block.
Move the Chapter 2 task from Drafting to Editing and add a note that it's ready for developmental review.
List all tasks currently in the Editing column so I can see what still needs a copyedit.
Learn more about the board-centric workflow in Kanban for AI Agents or open the MCP guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I track an entire book's chapters on one board?
Yes. The Book Writing Board template uses one project with columns for Idea & Outline, Drafting, Editing, Formatting & Design, and Published, so every chapter and publishing task lives in a single kanban board.
How many tasks can I add on the free plan?
The free plan supports 1 project and up to 25 tasks, which comfortably covers a full manuscript's chapter, edit, and publishing tasks if you keep task counts close to this template's sample structure.
Can an AI agent update my book board automatically?
Yes. Using the MCP server, an agent can call create_task, update_task, and move_task to add chapters, log editor feedback, and shift cards between columns like Drafting and Editing without manual clicking.
Do I need the pro plan to manage a book project?
A single book project with a modest task count fits within the free plan's 1 project and 25 task limit. If you manage multiple books or need more tasks, the pro plan at $12/mo or $96/yr removes those limits.
Can I access my book board outside the web app?
Yes. You can check and update your board from the macOS app, or interact with your tasks programmatically through the REST API in addition to the standard kanban board interface.
Is this template only for solo authors?
No. While built for solo authors, the same columns work for co-writers or small publishing teams, since tasks like editing and formatting can be assigned and tracked individually within the board.
Related templates
Ready to create this board?
Sign in and use the template to create a project with columns and sample tasks.