For many writers, the dream of publication is seeing their name on a book cover. The path to this goal can feel complex, filled with unfamiliar terms and processes. This guide provides a step-by-step overview of the journey from a completed manuscript to a published book, demystifying the process for aspiring authors.
Prepare Your Manuscript for Submission
Before seeking publication, your manuscript must be polished to a professional standard through revision and editing. Rushing this stage is a frequent misstep for new authors. Taking the time to properly refine the manuscript is an important step toward publication.
The editing process has several phases. Developmental editing is the first stage, looking at “big picture” elements. For fiction, this means examining plot, character development, and pacing. For nonfiction, it involves assessing the argument, organization, and clarity of the core message.
Next is copy editing, a process focused on the sentence level. A copy editor corrects errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax. They also address issues of style and flow to ensure the language is clear and effective.
The final stage is proofreading, which happens after the manuscript has been formatted. A proofreader catches any lingering typos, formatting glitches, or punctuation mistakes. Each editing step is a layer of quality control that prepares your manuscript for publication.
Understanding Your Publishing Options
After your manuscript is polished, you must decide which publishing path aligns with your goals. The three main avenues are traditional publishing, self-publishing, and a hybrid model.
Traditional Publishing
The traditional path involves securing a literary agent who sells your manuscript to a publishing house. The primary advantage is the professional support, as the publisher bears all financial costs for production and marketing and may pay an advance. The downsides include a slow timeline, a loss of creative control over the cover and title, and lower royalty rates.
Self-Publishing
Self-publishing places the author in the role of the publisher. You retain creative control, can publish much faster, and earn higher royalties. The drawback is that you are responsible for all aspects of the process and must bear the upfront costs for editing, cover design, and marketing. Success depends on your ability to manage the project and promote the book.
Hybrid Publishing
In a hybrid model, the author pays a company for services like editing, design, and distribution. In return, the author receives higher royalty rates than in traditional publishing and retains more creative control. This model requires careful vetting, as you take on the financial risk and the quality of hybrid publishers varies.
Pursuing the Traditional Publishing Path
For authors seeking the resources of a major publishing house, the traditional path begins with finding professional representation. The process involves convincing agents and editors of your book’s commercial potential.
Finding a Literary Agent
A literary agent is an author’s advocate who sells a book to a publisher and negotiates the deal. Most large publishing houses do not accept unsolicited manuscripts, making an agent a necessary part of the process. Research agents who represent your genre and have a track record with similar books. Resources like Publishers Marketplace, QueryTracker, and book acknowledgments pages can help you build a list.
The Query Letter
The query letter is the first point of contact with an agent and serves as a sales pitch for your book. A standard query letter is one page long with three components. It starts with a hook, including the book’s title, genre, and word count. The core is a mini-synopsis of 150-250 words that introduces the main character, their goal, the conflict, and the stakes without revealing the ending. The final part is a brief author bio highlighting relevant credentials or experience.
The Synopsis and Book Proposal
If an agent is intrigued by your query, they may request additional materials. For fiction writers, this means a synopsis and the full manuscript. A synopsis is a one- to two-page summary of the entire plot, including spoilers and character arcs. Its purpose is to give the agent a complete overview of the story.
Non-fiction writers submit a book proposal instead of a full manuscript. This is a business plan for the book, arguing for its market viability. It includes a concept overview, an author bio establishing their platform, an analysis of the target audience and competing books, a marketing plan, and a chapter-by-chapter outline. The proposal’s strength determines if a non-fiction book gets a deal.
Navigating the Self-Publishing Process
Choosing to self-publish makes you the project manager. This path offers control but demands you oversee every stage of the book’s creation and launch, from production to distribution.
Production
The first task is transforming your manuscript into a book. You will need to hire a professional cover designer, as the cover is a primary marketing tool. The manuscript must also be formatted for both digital and print editions for a clean reading experience.
Distribution
The two main distribution platforms are Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark. KDP allows you to publish ebooks and print-on-demand books sold on Amazon. IngramSpark is a print-on-demand service with a global distribution network that makes your book available to other online retailers, physical bookstores, and libraries. Many authors use both to maximize their reach.
ISBNs
An International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique 13-digit identifier for your book, and each format requires its own. While platforms like KDP offer a free ISBN, using it restricts your distribution to that platform. For full control and wide distribution, it is recommended to purchase your own ISBNs from your country’s official provider, like Bowker in the U.S.
Build Your Author Platform
Regardless of your publishing path, your ability to connect with readers, known as an author platform, is a valuable asset. It is your visibility within a community of potential readers. Building a platform is an ongoing activity that supports your writing career.
An author platform is the audience you have cultivated. For traditional publishers, a strong platform reduces marketing risk by demonstrating a built-in audience. For self-published authors, a platform is a necessity for driving sales, as you are responsible for all marketing.
Building a platform can start with a professional author website as a central hub for your work. From there, focus on one or two relevant social media channels. An email newsletter is also an effective tool, providing a direct line of communication with your most dedicated readers.
What to Expect After an Offer
Receiving an offer from a publisher turns your creative work into a business transaction governed by a contract. Understanding the financial components is important for managing your expectations and career.
The most discussed element of a book deal is the advance, an upfront payment from the publisher. It is an “advance against future royalties,” meaning you will not receive further payments until your book has sold enough copies to earn back this amount. If the book never earns out, you do not have to repay the advance. Advances are paid in installments, such as upon signing the contract, on delivery of the final manuscript, and on publication.
Once the advance is earned out, you will receive royalties, which are a percentage of the book’s sales. The percentage varies by format and is outlined in your contract. Ranges are 10-15% of the list price for a hardcover, 5-10% for a paperback, and 25% of net receipts for an ebook. The contract also specifies payment for subsidiary rights. These are the rights to sell your book in other forms, like audiobooks, foreign translations, or film adaptations.