the Process

Video Transcript

Today we’re going to cover a quick rundown on Traditional Publishing, how the process works, and how you can get started.

First, let’s talk Traditional Publishing. This means that your novel is selected, published, and distributed by a large publishing house. You’ve probably heard of the Big 5. Simon and Shuster, Macmillon, Penguin Random House, Hachette, and HarperCollins. There are others too.

So how do you get your book looked at by these publishing houses. First, you need a literary agent. Full stop. Not only will these companies not look at work that isn’t represented by an agent, but your agent is there to look out for your interests and guide you through the process. They are only successful if you are successful, and a good agent/writer relationship is worth their cut of the royalties.

How do you get an agent? By querying. Every agent has a slightly different submission process, but the basic inputs are the same. You’ll need a query letter and a completed, polished manuscript. (Do NOT query with a first draft, but revising your work is a topic for a different video.) It’s also a good idea to have a synopsis on hand in case it’s requested.

Think of a query letter like a cover letter in a job application. In around 250 words, you want to grab the agent’s attention by telling them the hook of your book and introducing them to the main characters, what they want, and what the stakes are if they don’t get it. You’ll also show the agent you’ve done your research, know your market, and will be a good business partner. Think of the summary of your book in a query letter kind of like the back cover copy. You want to hook the reader without giving away the ending.

That’s what the synopsis is for. A synopsis is two pages with a detailed summary of the plot points of your book, all the way up to the ending. Whereas a query conveys tone and voice in the text, a synopsis can feel kind of dry in comparison as it’s just the bare bones facts.

And finally, the agent may ask for a small sample of the finished manuscript to start out with. Maybe the first chapter or ten pages, enough to give them a feel for your voice and your skill as a writer.

You’ll want to research agents to find those who might be a good fit for you professionally and follow all of their requirements when submitting your materials. Then you wait. Writers call this the query trenches, when you’re sending out batches of queries and refreshing your inbox every five minutes. Agents who are interested will request a larger portion of your manuscript, maybe the entire thing. Then you’ll either get a pass, a R&R (revise and resubmit), or an offer of representation.

So yay, you’ve landed an agent. It should be smooth sailing from here right? Actually your book still needs to be selected several more times. Your agent will likely help you revise your book and make it even better, and then your agent will submit your book to editors they think would be interested and a good fit. This is called going on sub. And guess what, it means more waiting. I’ve got advice for what to do with all this waiting time, but we’ll save it for the end.

Your book is finally picked by an editor at a publishing house! Go you! This means the editor thinks it’s marketable, is invested enough to spend a large amount of time on it, and is willing to champion your book to their peers. They may ask for some revisions at this point or not. But they will take your book before the purchasing committee. A group of important people within the publishing house will review all of the editors’ picks and decide which ones to invest in. If they select you, then you throw yourself a party and move on to contracting.

This is another moment for your agent to shine. They are your advocate and have a lot more experience in the legal jargon that makes up book contracts. But you are also an advocate for yourself. Ask lots of questions and try to understand all of the things you are agreeing to. Once all of the pens have hit the signature lines, you’ve just landed your very first book deal.

So now what? You’ll work closely with your editor on revisions, sometimes multiple rounds of them. When your book is as good as you both can make it, a copyeditor from the publishing house will do their run-through of your manuscript, and then it will be formatted for print and ebook. The publisher has the final say on the title, cover, and cover copy, but many welcome author input.

This process takes time, and it’s not uncommon to wait 18 to 24 months after signing your book deal to see your book published. When your book goes to print, your publisher may choose to send out Advanced Reader Copies, or ARCs to select readers, critics, and book reviewers with the hopes of generating some advance buzz about your book before publication day.

Many writers want the publishing house to market their book, but the reality is that publishers invest most of those dollars into a portion of their catalog. The books they are banking on may get promotion at Barnes & Nobel or sending the author on book tours or to conferences, but more and more authors are having to do more of their own promotion.

The publisher sends their catalogs to book stores and the book stores decide whether and how much to stock it. They also have the right to return any unsold books after a set amount of time.

Then the day finally comes. Publication day. You can drive around to all the Barnes and Nobels in your city and cry over your book sitting on a shelf there. You can have a book launch party to promote your book, and another party party with your friends and family. You’ve done it. You’ve become a published author.

My biggest advice during this time of pursuing publication, no matter which path you choose? WRITE. Write something new. Don’t wait until this is all over. Decisions about buying books, whether from editors or from consumers, are incredibly subjective. You do the hard work to set yourself up for success, but ultimately much after that is out of your hands. What you CAN control is your writing. So write the next book. Learn more about your craft. Get better with every manuscript. Push yourself and try new things. And in a subjective and shifting industry like publishing, volume is your friend. Many writers don’t get their agent with their first manuscript but with their fourth or fifth. And even then, they might not have any editors want that one but the next one. If you put all your eggs in one basket and wait until you’ve tried every avenue with that one novel, you’ve wasted time that could have been spent on the one that would have made it. It’s also a morale thing. If you’re getting rejections or your sales aren’t what you had hoped, you’ve already got something else you’re excited about started. While you’re pursuing publication, keep writing.