Not long ago—in the summer months—I had to explain to a writer that even if the very first publisher to whom he showed his (beautifully edited, ahem) manuscript* loved it (and he had a very specific publisher in mind), there was no way the book would be in the stores in time for Christmas.

Yes, he did actually say, in June, “The book needs to be in stores for Christmas.” This indicated such a level of ignorance about the industry this author was trying to break into that I had to bite back my jaded, sassy response and remind myself that he simply didn’t know. (Because he didn’t research it … but that’s another blog post for another time.)

So let’s talk in general terms about publishing timelines, friends. I want you to have realistic expectations. Everyone involved will be happier and healthier when you do.

There are five phases, some of which may be skipped or combined, and which may or may not happen in this order. They may happen quickly or take much longer than you’d think; it’s hard to say. But these are the marks you’ll need to hit:

• Find an agent
• Sell the manuscript to a publisher
• Edit and pre-production of the manuscript
• Market the book
• Print, ship, and warehouse the book

For a variety of reasons, you may find a publisher before you find an agent. (Perhaps you know someone at a publishing house, for example, who is willing to walk your manuscript in. You may be an expert on a particular topic, and a publisher might approach you. You may have had an extraordinary life experience, and a publisher might ask you to write about it.) But most folks look for an agent first. This could take months—or longer—of concentrated work.

After you sign with an agent, he or she will work with you to craft a targeted proposal (weeks), and the quest to sell the manuscript will begin. This also could take months—or longer. It will involve a lot of nos. And patience. It will also take time (likely weeks) to negotiate the contract.

When the contract is signed, a due date for delivery of the final manuscript is set. This might be soon if it’s fiction, since a publisher will have wanted to read it in its entirety; the date might be months out if it’s nonfiction. When the final manuscript is delivered to the publisher, it will enter the editorial process (developmental, copy/line, proofing, typesetting)—probably three to six months’ worth.

Simultaneously, the publisher will begin designing a cover, and at that point, the marketing folks will get involved. Plans will be made, perhaps websites will be created. The sales team will begin to sell the book. Advance review copies (ARCs) will be quick-printed and distributed (possibly after the developmental edit but before the copyedit if you’re pressed for time, or after the copyedit but before the proof if everything’s on schedule). The marketing team will continue to work even as the book goes to press.

Time will be reserved with a printer, so it’s important that editorial deadlines are met, because keeping the press waiting (or having to reserve another at the last minute) raises costs. The printing process—which often happens overseas—can take weeks.

Do you see? This isn’t a fast process.

When my author said in June he wanted his book out for Christmas, even with an “in” at the publishing house he’d be lucky to be negotiating a contract at Christmas. Positioning a book for Christmas sales means having it in stores by Labor Day—so his wishful-thinking schedule was off by a year.

You just can’t rush these things—not books, not any new product—and believe me when I say you really don’t want to rush it. (Recalls, apologies … oh, you really don’t want to get into it.) Call it a cliché if you must, but good things really do take time.

* This would explain why he’d been emailing me every other day too. Do I need to explain that constantly emailing me to check on the status does not make anything happen faster?

Tweet: He did actually say, in June, “The book needs to be in stores for Christmas.”
Tweet: Let’s talk about publishing timelines. I want you to have realistic expectations.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”