You’ve already pictured holding your published book and seeing it displayed on bookstore shelves with your name boldly printed on the spine. And when you imagine someone picking it up, you feel a surge of accomplishment.
A published book isn’t just a personal achievement; it transforms your identity from someone who writes to a published author.
But how do you navigate the complex journey from manuscript to published book without feeling overwhelmed? Where do you start? What happens after writing? And how do you ensure your book gets into the hands of readers?
The truth is, publishing isn’t just a single step. What seems like a straightforward process—write a book, send it to a publisher, and see it on bookstore shelves—involves numerous steps, multiple professionals, and significant time investment. This is why many first-time authors struggle; they don’t realize how each stage builds on the last.
This guide breaks down the key stages of the traditional book publishing process so you’ll be better prepared to make informed decisions, set realistic expectations, and ultimately increase your chances of publishing success.
What Are the Stages of the Publishing Process?
The key stages of publishing a book from manuscript to bookshelf are:
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- Manuscript development
- Editorial refinement
- Production design
- Strategic marketing
- Distribution
Whether you choose self-publishing or the traditional route, these are the bones of the process and are largely the same. The key difference lies in execution: self-publishing gives you full control over every stage, while traditional publishing handles much of the process.
In traditional publishing (our focus here), the entire process typically takes 12 to 24 months, ensuring your book is the best it can be before reaching readers. That said, the timeline doesn’t always follow a strict sequence—some stages overlap, as different departments often work together from the start to bring your book to life.
Here’s how it all comes together, stage by stage.
Stage 1: Manuscript Development & Submission
This is where your publishing journey truly begins. Whether you’re polishing a finished draft, deep in revisions, or mapping out your ideas, this stage lays the groundwork for everything that comes next. It involves two key steps:
Writing and Revising
Ensure you start your writing with a clear understanding of your target audience and market position. Take the time to research similar books in your genre. Which ones are selling well? What gaps exist that your book could fill? This research helps you refine your concept and is also valuable when pitching to agents and publishers later in the process.
If you’re struggling with writer’s block during this process, our guide to overcoming writer’s block will help you push through and keep your momentum going. Once you’ve completed your first draft, give it a few rounds of revision before seeking feedback from beta readers.
Pro Tip: Hire a professional editor, as their expertise improves your manuscript’s quality and publishing prospects.
Preparing Your Submission Package
The final step in manuscript development is putting together a compelling submission package that includes
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- Query letter: A one-page pitch that introduces you, your book, and why it’s marketable. Avoid sending a generic letter; personalization can make a significant difference.
- Synopsis: A summary of your book’s plot or main idea (publishers don’t always read the full manuscript right away).
- Author bio: Something about you; you don’t have to seem quirky, but just some insight into who you are is nice.
- Sample chapters: Usually the first three chapters or about 50 pages, or as specified in submission guidelines (always follow the requested word/page count).
Since this is your first impression with agents and publishers, polish every aspect of your submission package to perfection, particularly your query letter. Not sure how to write one? Check out our article on how to write a query letter, because no matter how great your manuscript is, it won’t be noticed unless it’s just as good.
Stage 2: Finding Representation
You’ll need a literary agent to pitch your book to publishers, negotiate a contract, and guide you through the book deal. Most traditional publishers work exclusively with agents, so without one, your manuscript may end up lost in the slush pile.
When you begin sending out queries, start with a small batch of 5 to 10 agents representing books similar to yours. You can use helpful tools like AgentQuery or QueryTracker for the best chance of finding the right match. Don’t forget to follow up too; this can help you stay on their radar and improve your chances of getting a positive response.
Rejection is often a normal part of this stage. Yes, even bestselling authors face numerous rejections before finding representation. It can be disheartening, but view it as a learning opportunity. Is there anything you could have done better? Did you submit to an agent who may not be interested in your genre or type of story? Persistence and continuous improvement of your manuscript and query materials are crucial here.
If an agent likes your query, they may request a partial or full manuscript, along with any additional review materials. Hopefully, you’ve found someone who’s not only good at selling books but also a long-term partner in your writing career.
Your agent won’t charge you upfront; however, they will take 15% of your earnings later, but only if they sell your book.
Pro Tip: Make sure your agent is someone you trust and that you share a similar vision for your book. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s okay to keep looking.
Stage 3: Acquisition & Securing a Publishing Deal
Once you have representation, your agent will submit your manuscript to acquisitions editors at publishing houses.
These editors evaluate manuscripts for quality, market potential, and fit within their publishing program. Editors who champion your book must convince colleagues from sales, marketing, and other departments that your book deserves investment.
If you don’t get an immediate rejection, take heart; they’re considering your work. This collaborative decision-making process about the book price, print run, production costs, and other key aspects of the publishing strategy explains why responses can take weeks or months (usually shouldn’t take more than 2-3 months).
They’ll offer you a contract if they’re interested in your proposal or manuscript.
Signing the Book Deal
Congratulations, you’ve already overcome some of the toughest parts of the book publishing process.
When a publisher offers a book deal, mostly through your agent, understanding the contract terms is essential. Take time to educate yourself about these terms before the conversation begins. This is your opportunity to negotiate with your agent, rather than simply accepting the initial terms from the publisher.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions until you fully understand every aspect of what you’re signing. Be particularly careful about which rights you’re surrendering—if in doubt, consider retaining those rights.
Standard contracts cover:
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- Advances: Upfront payments against future royalties, often paid in instalments at key milestones like contract signing, manuscript approval, and publication.
- Royalties: Percentage of sales paid to you, the author. Knowing how royalties work can help you anticipate your earnings later.
- Rights: Which rights are you selling (print, digital, audio, foreign, etc.)?
- Timeline: Expected publication date and key milestones.
For first-time authors, advances typically range from $5,000 to $15,000, though they can be higher or lower depending on the publisher and your book’s perceived market potential.
Remember that advances must “earn out” before you receive additional royalty payments.
Stage 4: The Editorial Process
Your work is not finished here because you got accepted. Once your book is under contract, the editing process begins.
Your story will be read by the editor(s), and the manuscript may come back to you with comments. You might need to change a lot or a little, and then it goes back to the editor. This could be repeated multiple times, but it is up to the individual editors and up to you how much you want to change your story. Approaching this feedback constructively is crucial for a successful author-editor relationship.
The editorial process includes:
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- Developmental/structural editing: This first phase focuses on the big picture. It addresses issues in your manuscript, like structure, plot, character development, pacing, and overall narrative flow.
- Line editing improves prose, eliminates awkward phrasing, and enhances the overall reading experience.
- Lastly, copy editing for technical accuracy and consistency.
Managing multiple rounds of revisions from your editor requires organization and patience. The goal is to help you realize your vision for the book while ensuring it meets reader expectations for your genre.
Again, you are the author, you have the final say on changes. Consider their comments and weigh up how much you want to be published against how much your story is changing. Hopefully, your story is good enough that the edits will be minor.
Tips for Managing the Editorial Process
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- Consider all feedback carefully before responding.
- Focus on the reader’s experience rather than defending your original choices.
- Prioritize major issues over minor preferences.
- Communicate clearly about changes you disagree with.
- Meet deadlines to keep the production schedule on track.
- Invest in the right tools to boost your productivity. For example, the Amazon Kindle Scribe is an amazing device that lets you add notes directly to documents (e.g., your book draft) and can even summarize and refine your notes with built-in AI tools. Or, invest in your writing space – perhaps an ergonomic chair or desk lamp to give you maximum comfort during reading and writing activities. Equipping yourself with the best tools for the job will help you focus so you can create your best work.
Stage 5: Production & Design
While editing refines your words, the production and design phase gives your book its visual identity. The publication process continues with the art department focusing on visual and technical aspects to transform your manuscript into a physical, digital, or possibly an audiobook.
Cover Design Development
The saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” rarely applies to actual book buyers. Cover design is crucial in marketing your book and attracting your target audience. Design ideas come from your book’s content, genre, and the latest trends. Depending on your publisher, you may have very little say about this; however, if you have feedback or ideas, discuss them with your agent first.
Next, your manuscript goes through additional production processes in the background, alongside the design work. These include:
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- Interior Design & Typesetting to select appropriate fonts, determine page size and margins, design chapter openings, and ensure a visually consistent layout.
- Proofreading: After typesetting, proofreaders check for any remaining errors before the book goes to print.
Pre-press Production
The final production stage involves preparing your book for printing and digital distribution. This includes:
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- Creating Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) for reviewers
- Finalizing all text and design elements.
- Creating galley proofs to show how your book will appear when printed.
- Converting files to the appropriate formats for various platforms
- Selecting paper, binding, and finishing options for print editions.
ARCs are important for generating early reviews and building buzz before publication. These copies are typically sent to reviewers, bloggers, and industry professionals 3-6 months before the official publication date.
While you’re reviewing proofs, your publisher works behind the scenes to secure endorsements and blurbs from notable authors or industry experts—these will appear on the book cover, in descriptions, and across marketing materials. At the same time, you’ll finalize the front and back matter, such as your dedication, acknowledgments, foreword, and author bio. These finishing touches round out your book just before it moves to print.
Stage 6: Marketing, Sales & Distribution
You’re nearing the finish line! But in many ways, this is where the real work begins.
Preparing for your book launch is exciting, but it requires effort. Without strong publicity and distribution, your book might struggle to reach readers. A successful book launch involves a mix of publicity, author engagement, and strategic distribution.
Book marketing strategies begin long before your publication date, with each activity scheduled at strategic intervals to create excitement and anticipation. Understanding the division of responsibilities between you and your publisher is important. Your publisher typically manages retail relationships, press releases, and review submissions, while you are expected to leverage your network and online presence to promote your book.
The marketing plan of the book publishing process combines two essential components:
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- Publicity: This strategy focuses on earning media coverage and reviews through strategic press releases, personalized media pitches, and distributing review copies to the right people. Author interviews, book launch events, and speaking engagements also greatly build visibility and credibility. This works together to generate buzz before and during your book’s release.
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- Digital Marketing: Publicity gets people talking, but digital marketing keeps them engaged. It allows you to connect directly with readers, build long-term relationships, and maintain interest in your book beyond its launch through your website, social media, and email newsletters. Platforms like BookBub, Amazon, and Facebook can help you run targeted ads, while video content and virtual events keep your audience connected. Email newsletters, in particular, deserve attention as they’re a direct line to readers who want to hear from you, and building that list should start long before publication.
Sales & Distribution: Your publisher ensures your book is available where your audience shops. Whether in bookstores, online retailers, libraries, or direct sales, they handle these relationships.
Post-launch Activities
Marketing doesn’t end on launch, it’s just another phase in the publication process of a book. No matter how much of a marketing budget your book has, a big part of the promotion will still fall on you as the author. Many authors think marketing stops after the launch, but the most successful books remain visible because of ongoing promotion. Even if your book doesn’t have an explosive debut, sustained marketing efforts can lead to steady, long-term sales.
Effective post-launch activities include
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- Continued content creation (blog posts, articles, videos)
- Speaking engagements and workshops
- Book club outreach
- Seasonal promotions
- Backlist marketing
Building a community around your work creates a foundation for future books. Reader engagement through social media, newsletters, and events helps maintain visibility and creates anticipation for your next project.
Conclusion
You’ve seen the six stages of the book publishing process, and now you understand that publishing isn’t just writing—it’s both an art and a business. While you bring creative vision, publishers contribute market expertise, professional services, and distribution networks that help your book reach its audience.
Now that you’ve walked through each stage, you can approach your publishing journey clearly and confidently.
Unlike those who stumble in the dark, you now have a map. You know what to expect at each stage, who to involve, and what standards to maintain. With patience and determination, you can navigate each stage successfully. Because a published book with your name on the cover isn’t just possible, it’s achievable. Now that you understand how the publishing industry works, it’s time to apply this knowledge to your unique journey.
Are you ready to take the first step toward becoming a published author?
