The steps to traditional publishing
If you decide to pursue traditional publishing, what are the steps after you’ve written and self-edited your manuscript?
For traditional publishing, you’ll need a literary agent 90% of the time.
In order to get a literary agent, you need to query a bunch of them. It is also possible to secure representation at in-person pitch events or on Twitter events like PitMad.
For querying, it is important to compile a list of agents who are reputable and who represent your genre and age category. Then, decide in how many rounds you will query these agents.
For most agents, you’ll need a query letter - a one-page cover letter pitching your book. You’ll also need a synopsis, which sets out the entire work in a few pages. Some agents may also request extracts from the manuscript.
If an agent likes your submission they will contact you. Most likely, this will be to request part of your manuscript, or the entire work.
If they still want to represent you after reading the book, they will offer you representation.
You will then sign a contract of representation and the agent will get a percentage of the proceeds of your published books.
Not all agents are editors, but most are. If you get an editorial agent, the agent will work with you to polish your novel even more.
This will take as many rounds of edits as is necessary for both of you to be satisfied.
Once your book is ready, your agent will pitch the book to editors at publishing houses.
This will usually take multiple rounds and a lot of time.
This is like querying, only more excruciating.
Once an editor shows interest in your work, this process comes to an end.
This also means that the power is back in your hands. Your agent will now let the other editors know that you have an interested editor and that they will have to respond within a certain period if they still want to represent you.
Even if an editor wants to publish your work, they need the go-ahead of the entire publishing house.
This is what acquisitions meetings are for.
The editor will pitch your book to the rest of the company. The marketing, financial etc teams will then decide whether they think the book can be profitable.
If the publishing house wants to publish your book, you will receive an offer from the publisher.
If more than one publisher is interested, the book will go to auction, where the interested publishing houses will bid to publish the work. The best offer will then be accepted.
Once you’ve decided to publish with a certain house, contract negotiations will begin.
Your agent will be in charge of negotiating on your behalf. However, it is probably a good idea to educate yourself on the things to look out for and to consult with an Intellectual Property lawyer.
Once you and the publisher are satisfied with the contract, you will sign.
You will receive an advance, which is the amount the publisher predicts you will earn in royalties from the book. The first portion of the advance is usually paid upon signature of the contract.
Then, you will have various rounds of edits with your editor to ensure that the book is the best it can be.
Once this is complete, you will probably receive the second portion of the advance.
9. Behind-the-scenes stuff
Your publisher is then in charge of certain procedures necessary for publication e.g. formatting and cover design.
The publishing house will also create a marketing plan, which you should supplement with your own marketing.
And, presto, your book is published.
The process from offer to publication can take anywhere between just under a year to 6+ years.
Should you earn out your advance, you will receive royalty cheques from your publisher.
So, those are the usual steps in broad terms. Some aspects may vary, but this is what you can expect when pursuing traditional publishing.
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