How long does the publishing process take, from submission to release?

The transformation of a text from the time it is submitted as a manuscript and the time a text is finally published in book form is indeed a complex process with many stages, each dependent on different factors such as the publisher and the editing level of the book. Here is a summary of all the major stages in the chronological order of the publishing process, summarised in a short time frame.

Submission and Acquisition

This stage starts when authors present their manuscripts to publishing companies or houses. If the manuscript is invited or solicited, this period can be quite short, otherwise, if it’s a case of an unsolicited manuscript, this period can take a long time. The time dedicated to this stage could last a couple of weeks or months as it depends on the Publisher’s editorial review. If the manuscript is later approved, there is an agreement that is prepared, signed, and negotiated by both parties.

Editorial Phase

This is also the phase of the contractual obligations and the author having agreed to have the manuscript published and contracted the publisher, the editorial phase starts. This involves in depth editing or at times, restructuring and rewriting major aspects of the book including but not limited to the story, characters, or even the pacing, and also followed by copy editing that is more focused on grammar and punctuation, as well as stylistic revisions. Timeframes, on the other hand, are typically in the range of 3 to 6 months. If a book is extremely detailed or if there are a lot of rewrite tasks required for this part, this stage may take longer.

Design and Production

Following the editing stage, the book moves into the process of design and production. Typesetting, designing the book cover and interior layout are some of the design work done by an artist. At the same time, ready to-print copies advance copies may be prepared for sales and marketing purposes. One to three months is usually the time frame in which the design stage falls.

Printing and Binding

The same is true when the design has been completed; the book moves to the next stage which is the printing and binding processes. The materialization of the book itself takes a period of time ranging from a few weeks to a couple of months and even longer depending on the technologies used in printing the book and the number of copies to be printed.

Marketing and Promotion

As the later dates of production nears, the marketing team gets into the promotional activities. This is done by contacting people who do book reviews, by arranging for the author to be interviewed or by arranging for book signings and tours. The marketing phase consists of many activities that may commence up to several months before a book is published, and it may go on for several months after the book launch.

Distribution

The last stage in the entire publishing process is distribution; in this stage, all the finished copies of the book are sent out to the selling outlets such as bookshops, sales distributors or online sales platforms. Distribution logistics tend to take a matter of weeks, and this is done so that the dates which the publisher has indicated is the publication date will be complied with.

Conclusion

The process of the traditional publishing from the moment the manuscript is sent to the time the book appears in stores takes from a year and a half to two years on average. However, this period can be shorter for more straightforward undertakings or much longer if the manuscript has a lot of revisions to go through or if there is purpose in time to be released strategically. In self-publishing, such alternatives are faster, sometimes a couple of months, because most of the steps of the conventional publishing process have been condensed or are in the hands of the author.

Getting to know each phase of the publishing process in detail enables the authors to have a better understanding of timelines and make appropriate plans for future submissions and marketing endeavors. Be it in the traditional or in the self publishing manner, the process of making a manuscript into a book is a delicate one which entails the efforts and contribution of many people in a pooled manner.