If you decide to publish your manuscript in the traditional, publishing house way, you may be curious about exactly how this works. There are many stages in this process, but a good publisher will always be sure to keep you updated on all progress with your work. Indeed, you will likely be required to take an active role at times, answering queries and carrying out final checks for errors. The process is in fact fairly straightforward, with all the different departments working seamlessly together. We will now look at the steps in the process of the road to publication.
Acquisition
The very first step involving you, the author, is the acquisition stage. This is where the publishing company decides what project to take on next, whether this is a commission from an editor to an author, a literary agent or an unsolicited manuscript. A commissioning editor will make a case for taking these on, which is discussed with all other departments, such as finance and marketing. If a manuscript is taken on, the company will immediately circulate a basic information sheet to the rest of company including information such as title, length and price.
Editing – Developmental
The first stage of editing starts next and will consist of a developmental and structural edit. This can include things such as checking plot, characterisation and narrative flow for a fiction work or checking diagrams, tables and whether an index or bibliography is needed in a non-fiction work. You can read more about the different levels of editing here.
Editing – Copy-Editing
Copy-editing is the next stage of editing and will include checking for all errors such as those of spelling, grammar, fact and consistency. A copy-editor will also check any references and an index for style and omissions, as well making the text flow better at a sentence level. They will raise any queries with you, the author, and you will need to respond to these by a given deadline. It is likely that the copy-editor will be a freelancer, rather than someone working in-house.
Design – Typesetting and Cover
Now that the manuscript has been copy-edited and all queries have been answered, the first set of page proofs will be produced. These will be typeset to the house style and to match any previous books in the series or from the same author. These page proofs will now include page numbers and properly divided chapters and should look much like the finished book will.
This is also when the cover will be designed. This must be perfect because this is what the publishing company will be using in marketing now and will later encourage readers to buy it. Even the best book can fail if it doesn’t have an engaging cover or the cover doesn’t suit the genre.
Editing – Proofreading
This is the final chance for the author to edit anything. Copies of the page proofs will be given to the author and a proofreader (also often a freelancer) to read through. The proofreader will check for spelling, grammar, fact and consistency like the copy-editor did, but they will be focused a lot more on word-by-word details and will not make major changes unless absolutely necessary.
Any changes made at this stage are complex as they will affect the rest of the page proofs if line length changes, for example. This can be a very costly process, and some of these expenses may be passed to the author, so only essential changes should be made.
Final Changes
A second set of page proofs will now be created based on the amendments made by the author and proofreader. These second proofs are called revises and are checked against the first proofs. Any last minute queries will be answered and the answers incorporated, if necessary. If the book needs an index, this is where it will be assembled, as the page numbers should be fairly certain by now.
These changes will result in third proofs which may then be checked again before the final print, but this step is often skipped due to money and time constraints.
Printing
The final proofs are then sent off to be printed with the cover that was designed earlier. The completed books are then sent to warehouses ready to be dispatched to sellers, less any copies for the author.
If the book is being published in e-book format, the page proofs will need to be formatted into e-Pub files that are compatible with all leading e-readers. There will have been an additional final check with these to ensure no errors have been created in the conversion process.
Post-printing
After your book has been printed and bound, it should be ready for sale. It will be distributed from the warehouses to booksellers and online buyers, whilst e-books sales will also be activated.
Marketing will have been happening all through the publishing process and will continue now it is ready for sale. You will likely have to discuss a marketing strategy with the publisher early on in the process, such as establishing the genre of your book and whether you have an existing fan base.
It is important to tell the publisher if your book is eligible for or has been listed for any awards or you are appearing at a conference where you may be able to talk about your book. They will be able to advise you on the best way to leverage these accomplishments and can use them on their own marketing material.
After publication, the publisher may also organise promotional events such as book signings and author interviews. These will be tailored to best reflect your strengths, so if you are uncomfortable talking on a panel but come across brilliantly in a written interview, they will accomodate this as much as possible. It is very much in the publisher’s interest for the marketing and your book to be a success – after all, they have invested a lot of time and money at this point!
In conclusion
The publishing process can seem complex, but it all works smoothly together. You should be assigned a Project Manager who will keep you informed on how your book is progressing and will discuss things with you. And if you can’t get a publishing deal, don’t worry. Self-publishing is increasingly popular now and can be affordable. You can read my blog on self-publishing on a budget here. Remember to start marketing as soon as possible and, of course, get at least one round of professional editing!
Want help proofreading your work? Contact Carmine Proofreading for a friendly, professional service from a qualified proofreader.
Email: CarmineProofreading@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarmineProofed
Carmine Proofreading 