The Journey to Publishing: A Step-by-Step Guide to Working with a Traditional Publishing House

Knowing as much as possible before starting your publishing journey with a traditional publishing house is key to finding the best path for you as an aspiring author. Publishing your book with a traditional publishing house can be a dream come true for many authors, myself included. From literary agents to seeing your book on store shelves, each step should be understood for ease of process and completion. This guide is for navigating the journey from manuscript to a published book.

Publishing with a traditional house is a lengthy but rewarding process. From finding an agent to seeing your book in stores, every step is designed to bring your book to the world in the best way possible. While it requires patience and dedication, working with a team of professionals—from agents to editors to marketing experts—can help your book reach a wide audience and achieve success in the competitive publishing landscape.

1. Finish and Polish Your Manuscript

Before anything else, your manuscript must be complete, well-edited, and polished. A professional, compelling manuscript is key to attracting a literary agent or publisher. Consider hiring a freelance editor or joining a critique group to ensure your manuscript is in the best shape possible before submitting it.

2. Find a Literary Agent

Most traditional publishers won’t accept unsolicited manuscripts, meaning they only work with submissions from literary agents. A literary agent is an intermediary who represents authors to publishers and negotiates deals on your behalf. To find an agent:

• Research agents who represent your genre. Databases can help you find agents that are interested and have experience with books similar to your own.

• Prepare a query letter introducing your book and why it would be a good fit for that agent. Query letters are usually one page and pitch the idea that your book will be interesting to readers.

• Send your query according to the agent's submission process and guidelines. Some agents may also request a synopsis and a sample of your manuscript.

Here are a few of the Agent Databases to get started:

QueryTracker

AgentQuery

DiscoverPublishers

In the event that a literary agent is interested, they will request the full manuscript of your novel or book. The most nerve wracking part will be waiting for a response. If they love your book, they may offer to represent you, which starts off the next process of the publishing path.

3. Work with Your Agent to Submit to Publishers

Once you’ve signed with an agent, they’ll help fine-tune your manuscript and prepare it for submission to publishers. Agents know what specific editors at publishing houses are looking for and will submit your manuscript to the right people.

This part of the process requires patience—publishers may take weeks or even months to review your manuscript. If multiple publishers are interested, your agent may organize an auction where different houses bid for your book. Alternatively, a single offer could come in, and your agent will negotiate the best deal for you.

4. Sign the Book Deal

If a publisher offers to buy your book, you’ll sign a contract that outlines key details, including:

• Advance: A lump sum paid to you upfront, which you’ll earn against future royalties.

• Royalties: The percentage of sales you’ll receive once the advance has been earned back.

• Rights: The contract will also specify the rights you grant the publisher, such as audiobook or international rights.

Your agent will handle the negotiations to ensure the best possible terms.

5. Editing and Revisions

Once the deal is finalized, you’ll work with an editor at the publishing house to refine your manuscript, again. This often involves multiple rounds of revisions, including:

• Developmental edits: Broad changes to the plot, structure, or character development.

• Line edits: Detailed revisions focusing on sentence structure, pacing, and clarity.

• Copy edits: Grammar, punctuation, and consistency checks.

This collaborative process strengthens your manuscript and ensures it’s polished before moving on to the next stage.

6. Cover Design and Formatting

While you focus on revisions, the publisher’s design team will create a cover and format the interior of your book. Unlike self-publishing, where authors have full creative control, in traditional publishing, the design decisions are typically made by the publisher. However, authors may have some input or approval depending on the terms of the contract.

Cover design is crucial—it’s one of the first things readers notice, so publishers invest time and resources into making it stand out in the market.

7. Marketing and Publicity

The publisher’s marketing and publicity team will work to promote your book. This may include:

• Press releases and media outreach.

• Book tours or virtual events.

• Social media campaigns or partnerships with influencers and book bloggers.

While the publisher handles much of the promotion, you’ll also be expected to play an active role in marketing your book. Building your author platform and engaging with readers on social media can help increase visibility, and is a very common outlet in this digital age.

8. Book Launch and Distribution

Once your book is ready, it will be distributed to bookstores, both online and physical. This is where traditional publishing shines—publishers have established relationships with retailers and can get your book placed in major outlets like Barnes & Noble, indie bookstores, and libraries. They’ll also handle e-book and audiobook distribution if those rights were included in the contract.

9. Royalties and Continued Marketing

After your book is launched, you’ll receive royalty payments based on sales, once your advance has been earned out. Traditional publishing contracts often include royalty reports that outline sales figures and earnings, which are typically sent quarterly.

Marketing efforts may continue long after the launch, depending on the success of your book. You might be asked to attend more events, conduct interviews, or promote new formats like paperbacks or special editions.