The Publishing Process from Editor to Bookshelf
The Process of Getting a Book for Children Published.
Sep 8, 2008
In the first article in this two part series, the process of selecting manuscripts was described. Once a manuscript has been accepted what happens next?
The Schedule
The office manager will draw up a schedule for a manuscript. It can take a full year before it appears on the shelves, even more if it is a full colour picture book, and deadlines are always tight.
The Contract
The commissioning editor will draw up a contract and send it to the writer, or some times nearer to publication. The writer may receive an advance – which is a payment made against the money the book is expected to make. It is deducted from the royalties.
The Editor
The commissioning editor sends the manuscript to an editor – either someone in house at the company, or to a freelancer who specialises in children’s books.
The editor works through it, suggesting sections that need to be shaped, polished, cut, expanded, or rewritten. The author has a limited amount of time to rewrite before it goes back to the editor.
If the editor is satisfied with the rewrite, he or she will start the editing process, correcting errors – both factual and grammatical /spelling, and ironing out inconsistencies in the text.
The Illustrator
The commissioning editor will select an illustrator and give them an art brief. This accompanies the text and tells the artist how many pictures they should draw, how much space they have and sometimes even details about what the characters should look like. The brief may specify the style of drawing required, and will say, of course, whether they should be colour or black and white.
Marketing and Sales
The marketing team will start preparing publicity materials. They may brief the writer about their marketing plan. The publicist may also start arranging publicity around the launch of the book. However, not all books are given expensive launches and publicity.
The Book Designer
Meanwhile the book designer will be choosing design details like font and font size, how much space to allow for margins, and the overall look of the finished product. He or she will also commission an artist to design the cover.
Type Setting
When the illustrations arrive and the text has been edited, the book is laid out by the typesetters. They print out the First Proofs, and send them back to the editor who checks that the setter has laid the book out correctly, and that page numbers correspond, chapter heading are consistent in style, the illustrations have been dropped in at the correct places etc.
The Proofreaders
The proofreader then reads the pages carefully, marking up errors in the margins. The setters correct these errors before printing out Second Proofs. These are now sent out again to a different proofreader. The editor checks that no new errors have crept into the pages, and that all the mistakes found in the First proofs have been corrected. The illustrator checks that the colours match the original as closely as possible.
Off to the Printer
When all errors have been corrected and the editor is satisfied, he or she signs off the pages, and the book goes to the printer.
Into the Bookstores
The books arrive back from the printer and review copies are sent to the media. The author finally receives his or her copies. If there is to be a launch it will be held now, and the marketing department may have set up interviews with media. The distribution company delivers copies to bookstores. Now its time to sit back and wait for the first nail biting reviews to appear.
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