Book Production and Design

Congratulations! Your manuscript’s been approved! But what’s next? The book comes out and you're done, right? 

Wrong. 

There are still several steps before you can finally hold a copy of your published book. What will the cover look like? What font will you use for the title? What name would you like to use? If you choose to go through a traditional publisher, there will be lots of people to help you with all of this. But don't worry; if you choose not to take that route, there are plenty of resources online to help you through the process. 

Here’s what happens in five steps. Some might happen in a different order or at the same time. Each project is different and so is each publisher, which means that your experience will be unique, but you should ultimately go through the same general steps. 

Step One: Title and Name

The first step is to title your book. If you already have one, congratulations! You’re on to step two. But for those of you who don't have one yet, a title is one of the most important aspects of your book. It is what captures the reader’s attention, and what will ultimately help sell more books. So you should take your time when naming your work. 

This is also when you will choose what name you wish to be published under. You can use pretty much any variation of your own name, or you can use a nome de plume, or fake name/pseudonym. This is another big decision because it will be something the marketing teams will use to promote your book, and it will stick with you for at least a while. These may seem like small decisions, but they are important. 

Step Two: Copyediting

The next thing that happens is copyediting. Those are done by an editor who will finish reviewing the manuscript for the more minute details, for example, spelling and grammar, repetition, and other easy fixes. The editor will be in pretty regular communication with you, giving you updates, and helping you edit some of the larger changes. This is one of the longer stages of the publishing process, as you and the editor may be going back and forth about formatting, images (If included) and other small, but important, changes. Every detail is important.

Step Three: Production and Design

There is a chance you will not be super involved in the production and design aspect of this process, because if you are using a traditional publisher they will likely have a department for this. These are the people who will choose the font, cover art, and any other visual aspects of the book. It is also likely that you will be busy with final edits during this time, so while you will be kept updated, it is not your responsibility to oversee this part of the process. Trust that they know what they’re doing. 

Step Four: Final Proofs

Once you finish your final edits, and the book has been formatted correctly, you will get a chance to look at the final proofs. A final proof is the last digital copy of the book you will see before it is printed for the masses. This includes the cover, final pagination (how many pages it is), and it is unsellable, meaning that while it may look like a final copy, it is not. This is your last chance to catch any final spelling or grammar errors and make any minor changes. It is the last step before distribution.

Step Five: Distribution

Distribution is the last step in the publishing process. Your book will be printed and sent out to distributors. These can include large physical stores like Barnes and Noble, smaller booksellers, and online retailers like Amazon. During this stage you will also likely be encouraged to promote your book on social media, and you may be asked to do signings or readings at local stores to help with marketing. Enjoy this part, all your hard work has finally paid off, and you are a published author. It may feel overwhelming, but don’t forget to be proud of yourself! 

This entire process will usually take anywhere from six to nine months. This is a very loose timeline, but it tends to be the average for most authors. There will be times where you are deeply involved in the process, and there will be times where you will need to relinquish control and let the publishers do their jobs. 

As I mentioned in the beginning, this is just the average process. Your experience may be different, and that is totally fine. Don’t panic. Trust yourself and your gut. The hard part is over. You’ve got this. 

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About the author: Sofia Skop is a Massachusetts native. She is about to enter her final year as a BA Film and Media Studies major at Marymount Manhattan College, and her first year in Pace University’s Publishing MS program in New York City. She is an avid reader and writer, and is a big fan of exploring new places (both real and fictional). She can’t wait to contribute to this year's Writer’s Games!