Welcome to the IMD Press Newsletter, Publishing Pointers. I'm Jim Hawley, project manager for IMD Press. Our goal at IMD Press is to give you straight talk about your publishing choices. Then you will be able to make the best choices for the success of your book project.

Publishing Overview 101

Part 1-Traditional Publishing

This issue of the newsletter gives an overview of what you could expect if you published with a conventional publishing house. In the next newsletter I'll give an overview of self-publishing, and how it differs from the traditional route.

The so-called "traditional" publishing world is in a state of great upheaval. Technology and economics have forced these publishers to be very selective. The business model publishers use is based on the greater sustaining the lesser. The greater is a bestseller and the lesser is the new author the publisher has taken on. Publishers often expect new authors to fail in their sales goals. It's not that a publisher wants a new book to fail, it's simply economics-publishers will focus their marketing efforts on their top performing books. In fact, most titles are made possible only by the success of the few bestselling titles. These economic realities have forced many small publishers out of business, and those who are still surviving are not as willing to take risks with new authors.

Not the most optimistic picture, but it is still possible to make a deal with a traditional publisher. Here is a typical picture of what it looks like.

Except in very rare cases, books are submitted to traditional publishers through literary agents. Nearly gone are the days when an editor discovers a gem among a pile of unsolicited manuscripts (the "slush" pile). Most agents are adept at knowing the marketplace and what publishers are looking for. An agent will work with you to refine your proposal so your book is put in the best possible light for a publisher's acceptance.

Once you are accepted, you will enter into the contract. There are basically two types of arrangements: work-for-hire and royalty. Work-for-hire is the simpler deal. You are paid a certain amount for the work you've produced. In so doing, you're giving the full rights of the work to the publisher. Work-for-hire is usually used for nonfiction where multiple authors contribute to a topic in a series. In fact, if you have demonstrated competence in a particular topic, publishers often approach you with work-for-hire writing assignments.

The other option is a royalty payment. Generally, you are paid an advance against your royalty. If and when you sell enough books to cover your advance, you will be paid a percentage of the purchase price of book sales. Although you still control your book, many contracts will include clauses that give your current publisher the first rights to revise or reprint your book (to prevent you going to a competing publisher).

Next, your book will be assigned to an editor. Depending on what is needed, an editor will work with you over a several month period. You will go through several rounds of revisions and see your book transformed into a professionally produced product. A graphic designer will develop a marketing-driven cover design and the marketing department will create information for the launch of the book.

Once the book is finished, the publisher will promote your book through their distribution network. Depending how much marketing push your publisher provides, you may have bookstore author signings or media interviews. But as mentioned earlier, new authors usually receive minimal marketing efforts.

You may be surprised to learn that you must do all you can to market your book even as a published author with a traditional publishing house. This situation has led to self-publishing becoming a viable option for new authors. I'll look at Self-Publishing 101 in the next newsletter. Until then, check out our FAQ page for a look at some common self-publishing questions. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. You may email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 303-482-1426.