Book Publishing A to Z Part 7 (Re-Air)

08/25/23 • 22 min

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

Reasons people choose to go the traditional publishing route, as well as downsides to help you make the right decision according to your personal goals
Key elements you need to land a book deal
What a query letter and book proposal are, and what to include in each
The main objective your book must help the publishing house achieve

It’s easy to be really passionate about the writing process and about wanting to share your story with the world and, at the same time, also be really lost to how the industry actually works. But if you don't understand how the industry works before you publish, it can actually hurt your book’s success and impact.

If you missed the previous episodes in this series, you can check them out here!

Today, let’s pause, pivot a little, and really dig deep into the letter T — and more specifically, traditional publishing. However, within that category, we’ll also cover some of the elements you need to land a traditional publishing deal.

Self-Publishing Recap

Before we get into traditional publishing, let’s review what we previously discussed about self-publishing.

Self-publishing means you are taking the helm — not only in writing, but in publishing. This could mean you do it all yourself (though it’s not necessarily recommended!), or it could mean you hire an editor, proofreader, cover designer, formatter, and any other people you need to put together a professional finished product.

Self-Publishing Options

When you self-publish, you have to assemble your own dream team to make it happen, and you’re responsible for interviewing and vetting those people — unless you work with a partner, like us at 265 Point, who has that dream team already assembled.

Certainly, there are talented freelancers out there who can be a great help, but there is a huge benefit to having a central point of contact to manage the process and make everything run smoothly. It takes a lot of stress out of self-publishing, because you only have to vet the person you partner with on the front end, instead of bringing the entire team together yourself.

Remember, whether you work with a partner or not, when you self-publish, you’re picking up the costs for all the components that are necessary to publish a quality book. But that also means you have 100% creative control. The book is exactly what you want it to be, and it says what you want it to say, how you want it to say it.

That said, keep in mind that the reader is the one who decides whether the book resonates with them. So really getting in tune with that persona and being able to speak to a direct target audience is very important.

But, if you’re keeping that reader in mind, then it is your book and you can do with it what you want. You have complete creative and marketing control, you retain 100% of the rights, and you get a larger share of the royalties. But that means you’ve got to push and orchestrate the whole publishing process.

Indie Publishers

Indie publishers are kind of a middle ground, not quite as big as the traditional publishing houses we’ll cover today. These publishers have assembled the resources in-house to publish books at a smaller scale.

They don’t work with as many authors, and advances and royalties may be a little different than they would be with traditional publishers, but indie publishers are still a viable option that can help remove some of the pressure of coordinating and managing the process of publishing a book.

Traditional Publishing

A traditional publishing deal is what most people think of when they think of landing a book deal. This is when a big company like HarperCollins picks up your book, and it’s a big, celebratory moment in the author space when it happens.

But what does it really look like to pursue that publishing path? Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of landing a traditional publishing deal.

There are many reasons a person might choose to go the traditional publishing path, including:

Endorsement. A traditional publishing deal can feel like a stamp of approval, telling you that what you have to say actually mattered and resonated with people to the point that they were willing to invest in you. When a publishing company says yes to your deal, it means they believe in you. And in a subjective field like writing, that vote of encouragement can be huge for your self-confidence.
Resources. If you’re traditionally published, you don't have to assemble the dream team. Instead, you can rely on the publisher’s in-house resources. And if they’re a major publisher, they likely have a very high-quality team working on your book.
Low inve...

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

Reasons people choose to go the traditional publishing route, as well as downsides to help you make the right decision according to your personal goals
Key elements you need to land a book deal
What a query letter and book proposal are, and what to include in each
The main objective your book must help the publishing house achieve

If you missed the previous episodes in this series, you can check them out here!

Self-Publishing Recap

Before we get into traditional publishing, let’s review what we previously discussed about self-publishing.

Self-Publishing Options

Indie Publishers

Traditional Publishing

But what does it really look like to pursue that publishing path? Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of landing a traditional publishing deal.

There are many reasons a person might choose to go the traditional publishing path, including:

Endorsement. A traditional publishing deal can feel like a stamp of approval, telling you that what you have to say actually mattered and resonated with people to the point that they were willing to invest in you. When a publishing company says yes to your deal, it means they believe in you. And in a subjective field like writing, that vote of encouragement can be huge for your self-confidence.
Resources. If you’re traditionally published, you don't have to assemble the dream team. Instead, you can rely on the publisher’s in-house resources. And if they’re a major publisher, they likely have a very high-quality team working on your book.
Low inve...

Previous Episode

Book Publishing A to Z Part 6 (Re-Air)

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

What a slush pile is and why it’s neither negative nor positive
What you need to understand if you want your manuscript to be read
Why a small or independent press might be an option worth considering — and what to expect if you do take that route
The importance of having a table of contents in your book
What to pay attention to when it comes to territories your book can be published in

If you missed the previous episodes in this series, you can check them out here!

Here are the next set of publishing terms you need to know.

Slush Pile

In the book publishing field, a slush pile is a pile of all the unsolicited manuscripts that have been sent to a publisher, agent, or editor, in hopes that they will read it, be thoroughly impressed, and offer that book publishing deal.

Back in the day, slush piles were often physical piles of envelopes and packages containing manuscripts that were waiting to be read. Some people still mail physical copies of their manuscripts, but in this day and age, slush piles are often digital — email inboxes and online databases that are full of submissions from aspiring authors all over the globe.

Whatever the form, though, think of slush piles as places where submissions are stored. They aren’t positive or negative; they’re just holding places.

Here are a few things you need to know about slush piles.

Each company or person who receives manuscripts has their own process.

Not everyone accepts unsolicited manuscripts, and those who do often have very specific requirements they’re looking for. So it’s not as simple as finding the name of a publisher, agent, or editor and sending them your manuscript.

Instead, each person or company is looking for manuscripts that align with how they want to run their business. So, for example, if they say they don’t accept unsolicited manuscripts, you can send them yours — but chances are, they won’t read it. That’s not a personal attack against you; it’s just them running their business as they see fit.

So before you submit your manuscript, find out the established process and pre-approved channels for submission. Don’t try to create your own process and expect them to abide by it.

Preferences play a role.

Like any other business, publishers, editors, and agents have certain types of clients they choose to serve. In other words, they are interested in certain types of books (and authors) that best align with their business model and preferences.

Some are interested in topics like evangelism, mission, and leadership, while others are specifically looking for fiction or children's literature. Just as you have a personal mission as an author that you want to accomplish, remember that these companies, agents, and editors have missions of their own, too. So it's important to do the legwork to understand who is interested in what, instead of wasting time trying to put a square peg into a round hole.

Everyone has their own systems.

Some agents, editors, and publishers read through their submissions on a daily basis. For others, the system is weekly, monthly, or even quarterly or annually. So just because you haven’t heard back yet doesn’t necessarily mean it has — or hasn’t — been read. Be patient. They might just have a system for working through manuscripts that is different from what you’re expecting.

Goals and capacity vary.

Some publishers only aim to publish around 30 titles per year, while others publish more than 100 in the same amount of time. It all depends on where they are in their business and what their goals are. This can also affect how long it takes for you to hear back about your submission.

Remember, slush piles are just holding places. And you don’t want to invest time — and your hopes and dreams — into submitting a manuscript that doesn’t get read. So before you submit, do your research to find out the established processes, systems, and expectations so you can follow them to the best of your ability.

A helpful resource: The Christian Writers Market Guide

Some Christian authors want there to be exceptions to these rules. After all, it’s a Christian market. But remember: publishing is a business, whether it’s for Christian books or not, and businesses need to have established protocols.

These publishers, agents, and editors are simply trying to do things in decency and order, ...

Next Episode

Book Publishing A to Z Part 8 (Re-Air)

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

Factors to consider when determining the size of your book
The role of wholesalers in the publishing and distribution process
Why it’s beneficial to sell your book at a wholesale discount – and how much say you have in the process
How to calculate your print cost and gauge your expected earnings
One of the most misunderstood terms in the entire A to Z list
How to distinguish between a vanity press and a legitimate author services company

If you missed the previous episodes in this series, you can check them out here!

Here are the final set of terms you need to know as you prepare to publish and sell your book.

Trim Size

In publishing, trim size refers to the dimensions for your finished book, and it applies to both paperback and hardback copies. As you prepare to go to print, there are a couple of things you should be praying and researching about with regard to trim size.

What is the average book size for your genre?

Chances are, you already have some examples of the type of book you want to write in your own personal library. So break out your ruler and find out the dimensions for those books. Or check out some of your favorite authors in that space — how big are their books, typically?

You want to get a sense of what the norm is, because the last thing you want to do is stand out in a bad way. Instead, you want to stand out in such a way that the prospective reader feels that you have met their expectations. Many genres have a standard size that applies to paperback and hardback books, and if your book aligns with that standard, you’re likely to make a much better impression than if your book is way outside of the norm.

What is your ultimate cost per book?

Trim size doesn’t just impact your book’s outer dimensions; it also impacts how many pages your book has, which in turn impacts the ultimate cost for your book. That means your trim size directly impacts your profitability as a self-published author.

Of course, this shouldn’t necessarily be your main driving force for making a decision on the trim size, but it is something to be aware of. If there’s a minimum royalty you want to earn for each copy sold, consider doing the math ahead of time so you can understand how the trim size will impact your cost.

How does your book look and feel?

In addition to trim size, there are several other factors that play a role in how your book appears to the reader and how big it ends up being. These factors include:

Margins
Font type and size
Line spacing

Overall, you want your book to strike a balance between looking good and being practical. In other words, think about it both fitting comfortably in the reader’s hands and looking great on the shelf.

This is another example of how helpful it can be to work with someone who has experience in this space. Many times, authors who try to do everything themselves want to do the right thing and put out a quality book — but they may not understand the impact certain decisions can have on their book’s sales.

For example, you can potentially lower the cost per book by making the margins very narrow, but this leaves a negative impression on the reader.

Instead of thinking mostly about costs, try to make the reading experience as enjoyable for the reader as you possibly can. Because when the reader has a great experience with your book, they will tell others, which allows your book to get out to more people and also leads to favorable reviews.

Wholesalers

You’re probably already familiar with the concept of wholesalers, even if you haven’t thought about it in terms of selling books before. As you might expect, wholesaling in book publishing and distributing implies that there is a discount for the wholesaler who buys copies of your book to sell.

Now, you might be thinking, “I’ve put all this time and energy into my book already. Why would I want to work with a wholesaler and provide a discount?”

It might sound counterintuitive, but think of it this way: a wholesaler is a company that can open doors you would not be able to open yourself. They can get your book into the hands of people you would not be able to reach on your own.

Yes, you can reach people like your family and friends and people you send to your website through ads or other marketing efforts. But there ar...