The Publishing Process

So you’re wanting to write your first book – or perhaps you’ve been frustrated with something that happened when you published a previous book…

Here is what every author needs to know about publishing a book, and it may not be what you expected to hear. Having a successful book project is not about ensuring any one specific task is done well or executed professionally – it’s about the overall Publishing Process, and knowing the 3 keys to success:

1. 1. Knowing there is a Publishing Process
   2. Ensuring you are using one
   3. Choosing the right process for your book

I read a lot of articles and blog posts which attempt to focus authors solely on the merits of hiring the right editor–but this can still lead to an unsuccessful publishing experience. Start by looking at the overall Publishing Process. This ensures, once you’ve selected a good process, that you don’t miss critical steps that can impact design, accuracy, marketing opportunities, and cost savings. This is absolutely critical for publishing success. I have seen too many authors make critical errors, by not knowing the sequence and timing within a book project–often leading to unnecessary additional costs, re-work, or missed sales & marketing opportunities.

So it boils down to step #3, choosing the right process. Of course, this will mean doing your due diligence on the people/company that you choose to help you. The important elements you need to have looked after are:

• • Understanding the complete process from start to finish
  • Protecting and retaining 100% control of your content
  • Ensure you own the relationship with every person or company that touches your project (editors, printers, etc.)
  • Have an up-front understanding of ALL your costs.

By definition, the above is representative of what you can expect from Motivated Publishing Studio’s Professional Self Publishing™ process. Think of it as “self-publishing with guidance and expertise.”

So, acquiring this help means that you still own and control everything (and get to keep your profits). Here’s a quick checklist for author’s and what they should expect to be involved with, as a minimum, during their book project. This will help in your preparations and expectations.

To set the stage, the following diagram is a simplified overview of the entire publishing process. Keep in mind that there are many steps underneath this process, and it’s in these details that a solid process earns it weight. You want this process to work as if it was within your own company and under your control. Enjoy the process, love the experience, and inspire others with the message of your book!