Writing and publishing questions and answers

These questions came to me from Carissa who needed the answers for her Careers class. I’ve included my answers, but I may well have left out some important stuff, or gotten something wrong. And you may have different ideas than I do about some of the questions. So please feel free to chime in via comments, all y’all writers, editors, and agents who read this!

1)How long does it usually take to get a book published?

There really isn’t such a thing as “usually” when it comes to publishing.

1. First, you have to write the book. In my case, that seems to take about five years. But I also have a full-time day job. Other writers write a book or two (or even three) every year. Still other writers take even longer to write a book than I do.

2. Once the book is written, you have to find a publisher. This can — and okay, here I will use the word — usually does take years. It can be faster to find a publisher if you have an agent — but you have to find an agent, which can also take years.

3. So you find a publisher, and then the book is under contract! That still doesn’t mean it shows up in bookstores instantaneously. Your editor will want you to revise your manuscript at least once, typically more than once.

4. You’ve revised your manuscript to your editor’s satisfaction. The manuscript is ready!

5. Except it isn’t. It needs to be copyedited.

6. Once you get it back from copyediting, you look over the copyeditor’s changes. If there are changes you disagree with, write the word “stet” in the margin.

7. Oh, and while you’ve been looking over your copyedits, other people at the publishing house have been designing your book. They decide what kind of image should be on the cover, they figure out which font(s) to use, both on the cover and on the interior pages. Someone else — usually your editor — is writing the copy for the jacket flap: the inside front cover of a hardback, or the back of a paperback. And still other people are figuring out how to market your book. To whom will it appeal? What can a sales representative say about it that will get bookstores excited? How about librarians?

8. Your editor may ask you if there are other authors you’d like to read the book before it’s published and — hopefully — say something nice about it, which the publisher then can put on the back cover. This is called a quote or a blurb, and it can be really helpful.

9. The book is printed! You’re done! Except you aren’t. The first version that’s printed is called a galley or an “ARC”: Advance Reader’s Copy. ARCs usually get sent to book reviewers, some librarians (usually the ones who are on book award committees), and other authors.

10. Finally, the complete book is printed, boxed up, and sent to whatever bookstores are going to carry it, and whatever libraries have ordered copies for their collections.

2)Do you have any college and or course(like english etc..) suggestions for
future writers?
Not really. Writers come from all different backgrounds, with all different sorts of expertise and skills. The most important thing for writers to do is read. Read constantly. Reread books you love and try to figure out how the author made you fall in love with that story.

3) how many years of that class or years at that college would you recommend?
See above.

4)What advice would you give to someone who wanted to become an author?
Read. Write. Read some more. Write some more. Repeat as necessary. :)

5)Do you think reading books would help authors? why or why not?
Reading books is one of the most important things someone who wants to be a writer should do. You wouldn’t try to become a director without having watched any movies, or a musician without listening to music. If you want to write, read.