Blogger: Rachel Kent
The other day I received an email from a potential client asking me if I would have an answer for him about representation quickly because he was counting on his book releasing from a traditional publisher this year. He felt that was plenty of time for an agent to shop the project and for it to go through the publishing steps. This kind of request isn’t uncommon, so I would like to take today to give you an idea of the publishing timeline after you find an agent. (And finding an agent can take a lot of time, too!) Remember, these time-frames are all estimates. Every book project is different.
Revamping the proposal with your agent for submission to editors: 1-4 months
Agent pitching and selling the project: 2 months- 2 years (sometimes longer and there’s no guarantee of a sale)
Contract negotiation: 2 weeks-4 months
If the publishing house sends out the contract to the agent right away, the process can move quickly, but contracts departments can experience a pile-up and agents can, too. The contract negotiation can overlap with other steps. You can be working on your final draft during the time the contract is negotiated.
Final book is due: 0 to 18 months after contract
Editorial revision letter back to author: Approximately 2 months after book is turned in.
Revisions done by author and sent back to publishing house: 7-30 days from the time the revision letter is received.
Galleys to author: 4-6 months after revisions
Galley corrections back to publisher: 7-14 days after receipt of galleys.
Book goes to the printer: 1-14 days after galleys are finalized.
Book ships to stores: 1 to 2 months after it is sent to printer.
Book officially releases: 1 to 2 weeks after stores receive the product.
Time that is likely to pass from receiving a publishing contract until your book is published: Between 1 and 2 years. Books can be produced faster than that, but that is considered a rushed project. And I’ve seen contracts for books that won’t be published for more than two years.
The traditional publishing world moves slowly. It’s one of the first lessons I had to learn when I started working at Books & Such as an intern. I was shocked when I learned how long it takes for a book to come out after the contract.
When did you first learn how slowly the publishing world can move?
How has patience paid off for you in your publishing journey?
Among a Writer’s Most Potent Words
I have nothing now but patience
because I have but little time
and I can witness my Cross’ stations
at my leisure, and I’m fine.
I’ll confess the madding pace was fun;
I loved adrenaline highs
and I fancied myself ‘under the gun’,
and then came the big surprise.
The grandiloquent language of the rush
was as the carping of a fool
compared to the hard holy hush
of cancer’s grim-faced rule.
I can wait for that which comes to me
from God;’ ’tis what He meant to be.
Very useful and sobering. I posted this to my writers group. Thanks.
What I find amazing is that, flying in the face of every truth you just laid down, there are times (particularly in the political realm) wherein an event takes place, and books related to that event are on the shelves three months later. So, there are rare exceptions to the rule, but none of those exceptions will ever apply to me. Of that, I am sure.
Damon, especially for you:
The future is an open book
though open just to God,
and we, if could but look,
would be despair’d or overawed.
The humble things we think we do
may someday be exalted
and we may one day be carried to
the dreams we thought defaulted.
God’s champions come from the ranks
of those we don’t expect
and we in turn give our thanks
for whom the wide world may neglect.
Never assume a humble place
can’t be the fount of immeasurable grace.
“God’s champions come from the ranks of those we don’t expect” — yes! God’s ways are higher than our ways, and his timeline doesn’t stretch out as we expect. Thank you for this reminder, Andrew.
I love the details in this post. Thanks for the info, Rachel!
These are the kind of facts we all sort of know but tend to forget. Thanks for the reminder.
I suppose I was one of the fortunate. My first novel was published approximately 8 months after acquisition, primarily because my publisher wanted it in their spring catalog. I only had four months to complete revisions, however, and worked feverishly with my editor to meet the deadline. All in all a great experience.
Patience paid off in the initial stages as it took me about two years to sell my manuscript. But patience isn’t all you need. Rejection can be discouraging and tenacity (my husband says I’m like a dog with a bone) is a must.