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This week: From Submission to Bookshelf Edited by: Vivian  
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Many writers have no idea what happens once they submit a manuscript to a publisher. Many people have no idea that from submission to publication often takes seven, even up to nine years -- unless the author is already famous.
Let's take a brief look at the publishing process.
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Process of Publication
From Submission to Bookshelf
Writers who have an idea of the process they and their manuscripts follow until a book sits on a bookshelf feel more secure and confident. Of course the process varies some from publisher to publisher and from type of publishing to other types, but the general route taken by manuscripts is roughly similar.
1. Submission: Each publisher has guidelines that need to be followed. For the best chance of receiving a contract, follow those guidelines because they are not suggestions.
2. Assigned to acquisition: Some heads of a company make the acquisition decisions; some companies have an editor-in-chief who does or who assigns to an acquisition editor; some companies have imprint editors who assign submissions to acquisition editors. Whatever the method, someone will evaluate the manuscript and recommend whether it is accepted or rejected. This step can take up to six months, sometimes longer. A writer may contact the publisher after three months to make sure the publisher received the submission – a nice way of inquiring as to whether or not anything has happened. 4RV Publishing imprint editors send submissions to acquisition editors anonymously so that the AE has no idea who the author is.
3. Recommend accept or reject: A recommendation is given to whomever makes the final decision and to the person who offers contracts if the recommendation is to accept the manuscript. Our AE has several types of recommendation he/she can make: reject, make revision and resubmit, ask for full manuscript, after full manuscript is evaluated – recommend contract or reject.
4. Author notified: The imprint editor sends/emails an ejection letter with evaluation notes to the author or notice of contract offer and request for information required for contract OR however a company handles the notification process.
5. A contract is offered, often within a month after evaluation by acquisition editor: Author needs to be sure he/she understands the contract before accepting or rejecting.
6. If the contract is accepted and signed copy returned to publisher, editing begins. Each company handles editing in a different manner. Some require authors to pay for the service either before or after the contract step. 4RV assigns a lead editor who works with the author one on one. This step can take weeks to months, depending on the amount of work the manuscript requires to make it the best it can be and depending on the availability of qualified editors. Newly contracted manuscripts go to the bottom of those awaiting a lead editor.
7. After editing, comes formatting or design work, illustrating or cover art preparation, and preparing for proof. Depending on the company and the number of manuscript in the schedule, the availability of artists and designers, this step may take up to a year or more. Illustrations alone may take a year after the manuscript has moved up from the bottom of the waiting pile.
8. When design and art work is finished, a proof is sent for copy editing and approval. Again, different publishers handle this step in various ways. 4RV sends a PDF proof to the author and editors (and the illustrator, if the manuscript is illustrated). Everyone in the loop looks for errors, but the copy editing is not the time for major rewrites. Most times, this step makes more than one proof.
9. After the proof is approved, the files are prepared for the printer. In a week or less after files are uploaded at the printer, the book is available for purchase. Most publishing houses use Ingram as their distributor, but some add other distribution methods.
10. Major publishing houses often take up to seven to nine years to move a project from acceptance to finished book, unless the author is already famous. Smaller houses take from two or three months to three to five years, depending on the process and set up of the house.
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For Authors: March 28, 2018 Issue [#8816]
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