| If your book has been accepted for publication, you | | | | Distributors require months of lead time before a |
| may be wondering, "What's taking so long?" The | | | | publication date to present the title to book buyers. |
| truth is that publishing a book is a complex and | | | | 7. The publishing department continues to work with |
| time-consuming process. In the interest of helping | | | | the author on reviewing and finalizing promotional |
| you exercise patience with your publisher, take a | | | | plans, as well as designing supplemental marketing |
| look at this list of typical steps in the publishing | | | | materials (such as book displays, bookmarks, |
| process. | | | | postcards, posters, flyers, or other sales aids). |
| 1. Competitive titles are researched to determine a | | | | 8. If a publicity campaign is scheduled it will typically |
| place in the market and an appropriate sale price. | | | | begin a few months before the publication date in |
| 2. The book is professionally edited. This timeline for | | | | order to prepare a campaign strategy, send books |
| this step varies greatly per book based on the page | | | | out for review, and write press materials. Actual |
| count and shape of the manuscript. | | | | media contact should not begin until the publication |
| 3. The book is professionally type-set and a cover is | | | | date so that the book is available when people start |
| designed. This creative work also takes time and | | | | to hear buzz about it. |
| varies per book. | | | | 9. Once the publication date arrives, the book is |
| 4. The book is registered with the Library of | | | | available for purchase through bookstores and online |
| Congress and Bowker Books-In-Print. A unique ISBN | | | | retailers. |
| (International Standard Book Number), LCCN (Library | | | | 10. Upon the publication date, the book is registered |
| of Congress Control Number), and EAN (Exchange | | | | with the U.S. Copyright Office. |
| Access Network) bar code are assigned to the title. | | | | As you have no doubt gathered from this |
| Each of these serves as an identifier for the book, | | | | (non-exhaustive) list, the process of publishing a book |
| specific to the publisher, format, and edition. | | | | is one in which many parts work both together and |
| 5. When the book's design files are complete, they | | | | separately to accomplish a common goal. While it's |
| are sent to a printer. Book printing can take | | | | natural to get antsy while waiting for your finished |
| anywhere from one month to several months based | | | | product, remember that your goal and the publisher's |
| on the printer's location and available press time. | | | | are one and the same: to successfully get your book |
| 6. The title is registered with the distributor to make | | | | into the hands of eager readers. Just as you didn't |
| titles available to wholesalers, bookstores and other | | | | rush yourself in the writing process, these last steps |
| retail outlets, as well as libraries and schools. | | | | are equally important and should be taken with care. |