What Comes First, Second, Third?

WHAT COMES FIRST, SECOND, THIRD?

Now that you have your thinking cap on and you’re mapping out the plan for writing and producing your book, it’s important to understand the timeline for publishing.


Your editing can take 2-4 months, but this is dependent on how much editing your manuscript will require and how quickly you get your edits back to your editor. So, editing aside, let’s go over the rest.


There are some things you can be working on in the background when your manuscript is with your editor. You can create your publishing imprint (your publishing company name) and securing a logo, drafting your copyright page, setting up your publishing accounts (i.e., KDP and IngramSpark), and purchasing your ISBNs.


In Author Evolution, my online group coaching program, I cover more about ISBNs, but the lesson here is that anything you can do while waiting on your editor can help keep the project moving forward.


Once you’re into your final round of editing, this is a good time to define your title and subtitle, and get in touch with your cover designer for some samples. There will be a little bit of back and forth, but once you and your editor have a final title, you’ll have the foundation as to what you’d like the cover to look like.


One of the most important reasons for using a professional designer is that they understand the types of covers appropriate for different genres. For example, if you’re writing a memoir, then the book cover shouldn’t look like a sci-fi novel. Just like if you’re writing romance, the cover shouldn’t look like a business book. Your cover designer will give you designs that fit both the message of your book as well as the genre, so that you’ll have better traction in the marketplace. Working on your cover design will usually take about 2-6 weeks.


When your book is finished with the developmental edit, then you’ll send the manuscript to a proof editor. Your manuscript should include all of the following elements, which is also covered in great detail in Author Evolution, but for our purposes here, the manuscript that goes to the proof editor should include the copyright page, table of contents, dedication, all the chapters and resources section, your acknowledgments, the “about the author” page and, if appropriate, your business page. You’ll want the proof editor to see the entire book interior to ensure that any mistakes are caught before going to print. Your proof editor will usually need 2-4 weeks to complete the proof edit.


Back to design...


Now that you have a front cover for your book, you can request samples from your interior layout designer. It’s important to have your front cover done, so that elements from the cover can be used in the interior design, such as font choice. There are a LOT of decisions to be made about your interior layout. In addition to fonts, you’ll have the opportunity to look at the design for your chapter pages, graphics, headers, page numbers, etcetera. Once you’ve determined your choices for the interior, the layout process usually takes about two weeks.


When the layout design is finished, you’ll know the page number count. This is important, as the cover designer will need this information to create the correct size for the spine of your book. When you have downtime in the process, be sure to write your back cover content. If your editor is agreeable, I would recommend your editor take a peek at it to make sure it is well-written and in third person (she went to the store, versus I went to the store). Your back cover is a key marketing piece for your book, so it’s critical to have a great description that will have the reader thinking “I’ve gotta read this book!” The back cover should also include a short, two-sentence bio, your headshot, your publishing logo, and a barcode with readable price. I like to have a header or call-out at the top of the back cover, or use a great testimonial from a reader or someone in your industry.


When files are finished, you’ll proof the final files. This can take 2-3 weeks, depending on how fast you are. Here’s a tip for you... when proofing your files, read the book out loud (or get a reading buddy), as you’ll catch any mistakes missed previously. You’ll send any errors back to your designer to make those changes and will receive your final files to upload your book and order proof copies. The final proof process takes 3-6 weeks, before approving and going live.


Once your books are live, then it’s time to announce your book and plan your launch party.

Congratulations! You’re a published author!                                                                                

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Creating Your Publishing Imprint

12 Apr, 2023
One of the things I mentioned earlier is creating your publishing company, or imprint. Instead of using “self-published,” it’s better to create a publishing company and here’s why: By setting up your own imprint and creating a logo, you can then create the look and feel of a small press, versus looking self-published. Not only does this appear more professional, some book reviewers may not review independently published books. Here's how it works: First come up with your publishing company name, such as Red Rose Press, Blue Sky Publishing, or whatever you want. Then, do an internet search and see if that name’s being used. If not, GREAT! If yes, you might have to make some changes so that your publishing imprint is not an infringement of another company. Next, check with your local Secretary of State, which you can usually do online and make sure that the name isn’t being used. It’s a good idea to talk to your tax accountant to see what is the best type of business to set up, but in most cases, a simple sole proprietorship will work just fine. The reason that you want this set up correctly is that it will legitimize your publishing and also provide you whatever tax incentives are in your state. Again, I’m not a tax professional, so get some guidance on what’s best for you. If you already have an established business, simply create your publishing as a DBA under your company name. Next, search for your domain names. Instead of searching on GoDaddy, it’s best to just do an internet search first, as the more you search on GoDaddy, the domain price goes up. And, when you’ve got your book title finalized, be sure to buy the domain for your book title as well. This allows your webmaster to create a website that is suited to your needs and can use the domains you’ve purchased for your publishing imprint and book title. For your logo, there’s no need to spend a lot of money. If you don’t already have a graphics person available, check and see if you can find someone to create a simple logo for your publishing imprint. Fiverr and Upwork are excellent resources. Keep in mind that your publishing logo will appear on either your copyright page or title page, and on the back cover and spine, so keep it simple. Finally, when opening your accounts and purchasing your ISBNs, do EVERYTHING under your new publishing company name. And don’t forget to keep all receipts, invoices and other items for tax purposes. You’ve now created your own publishing company and can publish all your books under that imprint. Congratulations!
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