Book Publishing Timeline

Or, What happens between the acceptance of your manuscript and the launch of your book
(from someone who barely knows what he’s talking about--since he only has the experience of one book going into publication).

What does happen to your manuscript after the publisher accepts it?  I've always been curious.

What follows is my documented ordering of the events, editing, extra work, writing, pitching, and other stuff an author has to do before one precious copy of the book hits the shelves in a bookstore. 

Anyone writing for years and breaking into the published market, reading the blogs of authors, agents, editors, will have heard all the terms and processes, things like copyediting and ARCs (Advanced Reading Copies--books printed ahead of the release date specifically for book reviewers, sometimes handed out by the thousands at conventions like Book Expo America). 

But I've never understood the order of the activities clearly.  When a writer says his book's "gone into copyediting," where exactly is that in the process?  How far along the road to release is it?

What I've done--and I'd love some feedback from those who know a lot more than I do--is mark the road with all the various things I've had to do, attend to, understand, agree to, and receive in order to get to that glorious release day...July 20, 2008.  (Obviously some of the stuff in the timeline has not yet happened, so I'm guessing with the dates there).

Click the image below to view the readable version. 

Here's what the process looks like from my perspective:

Comments

[Jean]

Not that I have anything to contribute to this particular post. My experience in publishing was at a small nonfiction house. We tortured authors and artists by taking forever (a few years) to publish their projects.

I do have a stupid question, though. You mention on your chart how important it is to meet authors. I couldn't agree more, but as a fellow introvert... how do you meet an author? You go up to them and say you love their work and then...?

[:Chris Howard]

>You go up to them and say you love their work and then...

Pretty much. Some conventions, like Boskone, have "literary lunches" where you can sign up and have lunch with a particular author--these are great for us introverts who can sort of hang back, listen to others' questions, and then ask a few, join in. Most cons have author signings, but these aren’t great places to stand around and chat with a line of people behind you waiting for their chance to get a book signed. The alternative is to sign up for a workshop run by pro authors—you obviously get to know them in that setting, but when you go to a convention, they will introduce you to other authors, editors, agents, etc. I was in a great workshop a few years ago run by Craig Shaw Gardner and Jeff Carver, and now when we see these guys at cons, they introduce us to other authors. (I got the whole social side of writing thing from that workshop with Jeff and Craig).

[Liz Maverick]

You are so deliciously geeky. I thought I was the only one who made deliciously geeky spreadsheets like this. Cool. ;) Liz Maverick

[:Chris Howard]

Hi Liz! I've been planning this one for a while. Yup, I'm a total geek.

[Linda Robertson]

Hi Chris...

Newbie that I am, I have perused this document and deemed it the gospel I will now refer to daily... I am so glad to have found a little guidance for what to expect. Thank you for documenting your experience for those of us who follow. I am so very grateful to be out of the stands and have a seat on the team bench. I think I'm in great company with all the Juno authors.

Linda Robertson

[Chris Howard]

Hi Linda! Thanks again for getting the Seaborn samplers to RTCon! Okay, I have to ask: How many of the samplers do you think were picked up at Romantic Times?

I'm still tweaking the timeline, especially with the last couple months, because I'm working through them, but it's close. Paula's great--and all the Juno authors. I think the typical publishing schedule for genre fiction 18 - 24 months, and here I am with Seaborn coming in at around 13 -14.

[Paula Guran]

Well, this is not really typical. For you, its been about a year from contract to publication. It might be more like two years at a major publisher. And there would be more steps involved. And better editing :-)

And yes, you are uber-geeky, but loveably so. I should have you geek out the Juno site. Probably enhance our traffic ;-)

[Chris Howard]

Thanks, Paula! I know I have it good with you as an editor--I'll take 13 months over 18-24 months any day.

One thing I was going to point out was the amount of editing you have to do for every book--a lot it seems to me, and in layers, refining the book a little more each round. I just read chapter one of SEABORN aloud, recorded it, using the latest edit, and damn it's good. Can't wait to get it in front of the world.

[Linda Robertson]

Chris-

I honestly have no idea how many we went through. I know I'd want to know and I'm sorry. Just trying to keep up was intense. I came home, had to recoup, and suddenly my day-job has picked up several clients, so I feel like my head is still spinning and I haven't sorted out all details of the con yet. I may never sort it out though...RT was wild.

I'm artsy too, so I'd love to chat with you about your artwork. However, my email is down at home; has been for 4 days now. Sooo... I may not be able to reply quickly unless they get it fixed.

[Chris Howard]

No problem, Linda--I was just wondering. I know RT's one of the wilder ones. It was great that you could make it. Any chance you'll be out at WisCon?

[Kelly]

This is exactly what I have been googling for! Thanks so much - super helpful!

[Chris Howard]

Awesome, Kelly! Glad you found it.