How I Got Published: Step Eleven- Publishing

By Penny Nolan I am only discussing traditional publishing since I don’t have any experience in self-publishing.

1. Acquiring Manuscripts

The first job of a publisher is to find books to publish. Editors at publishing houses often read submissions from literary agents (and occasionally, directly from authors). There is a lot of competition within the publishing house, and the editor must convince the publisher to take that book. If the publisher falls in love with a manuscript and sees potential in the market, they’ll offer a contract to the author.

Then it’s time for negotiation—about rights, royalties, and the timeline for publication. An agent can help you with the contract. If you don’t have an agent, The Author’s Guild has attorneys that can help you, but you must join first. For traditional publishing. The entire process of publishing a book can take years. My debut picture book took two years from negotiations to hitting the market. That was at a small press. It all depends on the book and the publisher on how quickly they want it to be released.

2. Editing and Shaping the Book

Once a book is acquired, it goes through several levels of editing:

• Developmental Editing: Restructuring, tightening, or expanding major elements of the book.

• Line Editing: Improving sentence structure, tone, and word choice.

• Copyediting: Fixing grammar, punctuation, and consistency errors.

• Proofreading: Catching last-minute typos before printing.

Publishers employ skilled editors to help polish a book until it's the best it can be. The author can accept or reject the edits. But it is wise to accept or at least explain your reasoning.

3. Designing the Book

A book’s design is a critical part of the publishing process. Publishers have teams or freelancers who:

• Design the book cover, aiming for appeal, clarity, and genre-fit.

• Format the interior layout, including font choices, chapter headings, and spacing.

• Sometimes commission illustrations, especially for children’s books or graphic novels.

You may not be able to give any input about illustrations or who they choose. It depends on the publisher. I got to choose my illustrator and give feedback on the drawings! I have heard that it is not usually the case.

4. Printing and Distribution

Once edited and designed, the book moves into production. Publishers coordinate:

• Printing physical copies (hardcover, paperback, special editions)

• Creating eBooks and audiobooks

• Distributing to online retailers, bookstores, libraries, schools, and international markets

Publishers get their books into places that are hard to reach when self-publishing.

5. Marketing and Publicity

Publishing is also about getting the word out. Depending on the size of the publisher and the expected success of the book, they might:

• Send advance copies to reviewers

• Arrange book tours or media interviews

• Design social media campaigns

• Promote the book at industry events like book fairs

While authors are often expected to help market their own work, publishers provide valuable reach and expertise.

6. Managing the Business Side

Finally, publishers handle all the behind-the-scenes business tasks:

• Managing contracts and royalties

• Monitoring sales data

• Licensing foreign and film rights

• Protecting copyrights and legal issues