One of the first things I needed to teach myself after deciding to write this story is what it takes to actually get a novel published. There are two basic paths for a novel to reach a reader: traditional publishing (Big 5, indie presses, etc.) and self-publishing. After researching both paths, I decided to pursue the traditional publishing route.
My big takeaway from all my early education is that trad publishing is a long and winding road. And a road that the vast majority of good stories—and all of the bad ones—never make it to the end of. The publishing industry moves at a glacial pace, and the competition for shelf space is fierce.
To give you an idea of the process, I thought I’d put together a quick outline as a primer for what I’m calling the Trek to Publication. I break it down into four phases. And this is just getting the book on the shelves. It doesn’t include the marketing engine that needs to ramp up—from me, my agent, and the publisher—to get my novel read by actual human people.
Without any further ado, here is a very simple outline of my Trek to Publication.
Phase 1: Writing the Book
The idea. Every novel starts with a good idea that’s current, fresh, and in the collective consciousness.
The tools. Every author builds their own toolkit to manage piecing together the story then getting the prose in the computer. For a debut author, the learning curve adds to the timeline. Days to weeks.
First draft. With the tools, a lot of imagination, and a lot of hard work, the idea becomes a story. Plot points are laid out. Pacing and tension are mapped. Character and story arcs are outlined. Paragraphs become scenes, scenes become acts, acts become a complete story arc. Months to years.
Developmental assessment. With the first draft complete, it’s time to start digging deep into the story structure. A developmental assessment will look at plot, structure, and pacing; setting; point of view; character development; dialogue and style. This assessment is typically done by someone other than the author, to bring fresh eyes to the story. One to two months.
Revision. The author's own passes based on the results of the developmental assessment. Restructuring. Cutting. Rewriting. Adding. Often with early beta readers. Several months.
Developmental edit. A professional editor looks at version 2.0 to address the same items as in the developmental assessment, but at a more detailed level. This level of edit will often include marginal notes and in-line comments. One to three months.
More revision. After receiving the developmental edit report, the author revises the manuscript yet again to polish the story into agent solicitation shape. Weeks to months.
Phase 2: Finding an Agent
The query package. A one-page query letter, a synopsis, and the opening pages, polished until nothing in them gives an agent a reason to say no. A few weeks.
Querying. Submitting the query package to literary agents who represent the genre. Responses typically take weeks to months. Rejections are typically just a non-response. Several months to a year or more.
Signing with an agent. An offer of representation. An agency agreement. Often followed by one more round of revisions with the agent. One to three months.
Phase 3: Selling the Book
On submission. The agent sends the manuscript to editors at publishing houses. A few weeks to several months.
The deal. An offer. Negotiation. Signed contract. Bottle of champagne. Weeks to a few months.
Phase 4: Making the Book
Editing with the publisher. Structural edits. Line edits. Copyedits. Proofreading. Six months to a year.
Production. Cover design and interior layout. Advance reader copies for reviewers and booksellers. Solicitation of blurbs. This typically runs alongside the editing. Six months to a year.
Publication. The book reaches the shelves (yay!), typically twelve to twenty-four months after the deal is signed.
Whew! I have quite the journey ahead of me. Hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I will.
Until next time. Cheers.
