The Five Stages A Manuscript Goes Through After Acquisition

Welcome to Five On Fridays, my weekly straight-no-chaser newsletter where I help demystify the publishing industry for new writers and early-career authors. Let’s jump right in.

You’ve signed with a publisher!
You’ve popped some bubbly!
You’ve shared the news with your friends and family!

Now they’re clamoring to know what happens next. And that’s when you realize, you’re not quite sure what happens next. You know there’s a contract, because there’s always a contract. And on your offer call, the acquisitions editor mentioned something about revisions, so you know there will be more editing. There’s always more editing. But then what?

Never fear, your trusted inside-outsider (somehow on the in and the out in publishing) is here to provide a very simple outline of the process that takes your manuscript from acquired to published. These steps are often ongoing and simultaneous, and the process will differ depending on the publisher and the size of the company, but here are the nuts and bolts of what happens once a manuscript has been acquired.

Contracting and Onboarding

While some lucky authors receive contracts in a matter of weeks, it might take a few months or longer before contracts are signed, sealed, and delivered. The contract covers everything from rights to royalties and due dates to codes of conduct. It’s at this stage that authors will meet the editor primarily working on the book if that differs from the acquisitions editor. And introductions to marketing and publicity staff are often made at this stage as well. The Author’s Guild recommends authors have their contracts reviewed before signing, and they even offer legal reviews as part of their membership.

Editing

Last week, I outlined the editing process a manuscript undergoes. You can view that post here. This stage of the process typically includes developmental editing and line editing and always includes copyediting and proofreading. The editing done here is collaborative, with authors reviewing the manuscript after each round of editing and incorporating (or not) corrections and recommendations.

Design and Production

When edits are complete and signed off on, the manuscript goes into production. This process includes, among others, the creative director, cover designer, interior designer (typesetter), and the production manager or editor. This creative team is responsible for everything from the book cover to its interior layout and other design elements. The production editor schedules the printing, any revisions, and helps ensure quality standards are met before the book goes to print. Proofreading takes place after design and layout to ensure, among other things, that a book’s text and images are in the right place. 

Marketing and Publicity

Marketing and publicity begin prior to the final stages of editing and production, with the goal of building buzz long before the book ever launches. The marketing team writes catalog copy, prepares advance reader copies (ARCs) and digital galleys, and publicity reaches out to media, booksellers, and book bloggers. Authors will typically have to do their own share of marketing and publicity to help spread the word about their book.

Publication

It’s finally here: publication day. The day your book baby officially meets the world. Your book is now available for purchase online and in bookstores, and available to borrow through libraries. This is when publicity efforts really begin paying off, as the book and author begin receiving press (all good we hope!).

Because authors and publishers (understandably) begin focusing on sales at this point, it’s easy to forget that getting a book published is an achievement in and of itself, even before a single copy is sold. And while it seems almost impossible, this is a time for authors, and the team that helped them get there, to take a moment to celebrate their success. You’ve definitely earned it.

That wraps up this week’s Five On Fridays. Thank you for subscribing and reading. If you found this newsletter helpful, please share it on social media and forward it to your writer friends. Happy writing!

-Grace