A lot of writers talk about the different processes involved in creating a manuscript: planning, plotting, world-building, actual writing, and finishing. However, not a lot talk about what comes after the grueling process of creating your own book—getting it published. The publishing process can be divided into several steps: acquisition, editing, production, marketing, and sales. We’ll discuss each step in detail.

1. Research
   Before you make any decision, it’s always best to do your market research. Does your book fill any sort of niche? Are there agents and publishers who specialize in the genre where your book fits? How’s the competition in your area? Other than that, you should also take note of the bookstores in your geographical area. Find out what kind of books are available in your location. Take note of how the books in each store look like and how the bookstores display them. Attend events in your local bookstore to find out how they market books. By doing your research, you can familiarize yourself with the publishing business and take the right steps to getting your book out there. Moreover, it will also help you understand that writing is an art, but publishing is a business. This will help you make the right decisions in getting your book published.

2. Acquisition
   Once you’re done with your research, the next step is crucial: getting your book acquired. This step is not just about sending your manuscripts to as many publishers as possible and hoping that one of them signs your book. It also takes a bit of strategy. As previously mentioned, publishing is a business, so before you send your manuscript, make sure that it is packaged in a way that makes it appealing to the publishers you send it to. Moreover, it also helps to choose the right kind of publishers to send to in order to avoid inevitable disappointment. Getting an agent could also help make this step a lot easier. If a publisher likes your work, you’ll be called in for a meeting and offered a contract. In some instances, you could be offered to sign on for more than just the manuscript you already finished.

3. Editing
   Once you’re signed, the editing process begins. Publishing houses often have an editorial department who will work with you to further improve your book, whether it’s improving the flow, improving the language, getting rid of errors, or making it more readable. They could also help you come up with a great title and/or subtitle for your book. Remember this: editors are here to help you make your work better.

4. Production
   After editing, your manuscript goes to a production team. Editorial helps you with content, while production helps with how your book looks. This team collaborates with you in coming up with the layout, the cover, the size, and its other physical characteristics. They are also in charge of making sure that your books make it to printing and binding or e-book creation, depending on the agreed-upon format of your book.

5. Marketing
   As soon as you are signed, a marketing team already starts planning how to sell your book and preparing for its launch. This includes a variety of things, such as forming publicity strategies, creating a timeline for release, tapping your book’s target market, making teasers, giving your book’s synopsis to potential buyers, and so on. The strategies employed by the marketing team depend on many factors, such as your target market, your book type and format, and whether or not you’re already a published author.

6. Sales
   Like marketing, the sales department sells your book. They make sure that your book not only hits the shelves but also flies off them. This department strategizes which bookstores to consign your book to and how many books should be printed and consigned to each store. They are also in charge of selling the rights to your book to be published in different languages and formats.

7. Felicitations
   At this point, the best thing you can do is hope that someone picks up the book and buys it. If your book sells more than you expect it to, congratulations and keep going! If it doesn’t sell so well, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re already a published author, so congratulations nonetheless.

Sources:

• https://www.thebalancecareers.com/book-publishing-process-2799965
• http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/business-legal-matters/publishing-101-what-you-need-to-know

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