The last 10 years I read lots of blog posts about traditional publishing, and even went to many, I mean MANY, conferences about it, but no one really explained what the publishing process would look like when it happened. Today I want to share what the experience was like for me. It's an interesting one that requires lots of patience and attention to detail, and I think it applies to most traditionally published book projects. So, here we go!
When I was starting out, I knew that the first step was to find an agent. Why? Because agents have GREAT connections with publishers, and it's how the pub world works. Agents work through your book ideas and know the market well. They can give you feedback before anything is sent out to publishers. They also know who might like your pitch the best. They are valuable and a great partner!
That said, you can also go forth unagented. Perhaps, keep the door open in case an agent reaches out to you. This section below will share what the next steps looked like in case you want to do the legwork on your own. :)
Getting the dummy book or manuscript ready:
I like to think of a book as a song. What can you do to make a song shine? Add a stronger base line? Better vocals? Higher beats per minute. Stories can be similar, so be open to adjusting elements to make it stronger.
Get lots of feedback from a critique group or clever friends. Check out other books at the library and compare your story with them. Does it have the same punch? Does the artwork pop enough? Even if you love your story, try to put yourself in the perspective of someone else, reading it for the first time. Are they seeing what you see?
Make a list of publishers you would LOVE to see publish your book:
Go to the bookstore or Library and see who is publishing the books you love, and books that are similar in tone or look to your book. Your agent will also know which publishers would work best for your book, and can also share a list. Keep this list on hand for the future- it's a very hand resource.
Send out the book idea to editors:
Editors will work with authors directly on their book projects. They also know the industry well, and have a keen eye for detail and tone. You will end up working a LOT with your editor, and it can be such a lovely relationship.
They might ask for a revision before accepting the book. It's up to you to take their advice as valuable and make the changes before they put out an offer.
An editor will make an offer to publish your book by sending a contract which will include publishing rights, copies printed, advance payment and royalties, and more details about the future of the book when it's in print. You can choose to accept the offer or look for another publisher. You'll want to consider how you'd get on the with editor, and if the offer works for you. It's best to go into the deal feeling good about your contract and the team you'll be working with.
Working with yout publishing team:
Often you'll accept the offer and have a deadline set for publication. That date can be years in the future- perhaps 2-3 years. This is normal, since publishers will have a list of books they are producing, and want plenty of time to create and market the book before it's released.
You'll work with an arti director, perhaps more than the editor depending on the proeject, and mainly the editor. Both of them are in charge of making the book the BEST it can be!
They might ask you to make more changes to the dummy or manuscript, and you will work on the structure and sketches for a while until they shine.
Creating the Final Art
If you're an illustrator, you will finally move on to the final art stage. This can be a very fun stage, and it's nice to give updates to your editor. Because you have very clear sketches in your developed dummy book the final art stage will be very stratforward.
If you plan on working traditionally, sometimes you will send the final art to your publisher. I opted to photograph the watercolors with a professional company in San Francisco and pay my own $$. I might not do this next time, but I really do like being able to edit it digitally.
The editor and art director might has for final changes, even after the artwork is finished. Sometimes a color is off or the drawing changed slightly. They will send you PDFs of the book as a final product, and it's SO FUN TO SEE! Quite magical, really.
Make sure you take process photos so you can share in the future!
Final Stages:
At some point, all of your "work" will be finished. But they will need some assets from you soon to prepare for the release in the future. It would be helpful to get some new photos around this time and start thinking about how you'll promote it. You could start sharing the process on social media or through emails using the process photos you took. You'll have time before the release, but it's helpful to start sharing early so folks can be prepared for the release day. Anticipation can be fun and get people excited to see the book when they've heard about it for a while before coming out. It's tryly like welcoming a little book baby into the world. :)
Marketing:
Your marketing team will get in touch with you and ask for some assets like photos, a book trailer, bio, etc. You might have to provide most of these things on your own, so I would prepare to take time and create some awesome marketing tools. A couple videos sharing the book process, or even a fun little book trailer is so helpful for engaging your audience. You can share these links in emails to your network, and so can your publisher! Vidoes are a great way to share details about your book, and they can be done on a smart phone.
Make a list of your favorite book stores and let them know you have a book coming out in the near future. See if they'd like to book an event or order some copies. Share the book with your community of friends, family, libraries, and through social media if you like. Plan a cool event in your community to share the book with some kids!
Making a book is cool:
You might self publish, epublish, or find a traditional publisher, but I find the best and most important part about making a book is sharing it with the people you love. That's the goal, right? To make a kid smile or laugh or discover something new.
In Closing...
If you have any questions or want some encouragment, please contact me. It can be a long process but YOU CAN DO IT!!
Love, Annie
