Getting your book published!

MediaWorks Publishing has a standard process for reviewing, approving, and publishing books. The journey from idea to published book begins with a formal book proposal. After MediaWorks Publishing accepts a book proposal, it issues a publishing contract and a manuscript delivery date, which is agreed upon by MediaWorks Publishing and the author. After the author delivers the final manuscript, MediaWorks Publishing assigns an editor to edit the book. When editing is completed, a team of talented designers, graphic artists, and proofreaders work to turn an edited manuscript into a published book. The following describes MediaWorks Publishing’s book publishing process in detail.

First Steps: Preparing the Book Proposal

Most books that MediaWorks Publishing publishes begin with a book proposal from an author. A book proposal describes and outlines the main ideas of the proposed book and the reason that the author thinks the marketplace needs the book. The book proposal also includes a comprehensive table of contents, a formal introduction, and a completed first chapter. If you are interested in presenting a book idea for consideration, here are the seven steps of our process for evaluating book proposals:

• The author submits a schedule and proposal to the acquisitions editor and/or submits a completed manuscript.
• The acquisitions editor reviews the book proposal and assesses its appropriateness for MediaWork’s audience.
• If the acquisitions editor considers the book to be appropriate, the acquisitions editor will work with the author to refine and more directly target the proposal if needed.
• The acquisitions editor presents the author’s completed proposal to an internal committee and makes the case for pursuing the book idea.
• If the internal committee agrees, the acquisitions editor sends the proposal to both internal and external subject matter experts (SMEs) and/or to the MediaWorks Review Committee for comment on the proposal.
• If these experts return a positive report, the acquisitions editor will ask the author to address any suggested changes to the proposal and submit a final book proposal.
• Upon acceptance of this final book proposal, the acquisitions editor will contract with the author to write the book.

Guidelines for Writing a Book

Writing a book is a time-consuming process. Most authors underestimate the time it takes to research and write a book, even if they have most of the materials, or are experts in the subject matter. The following tips will help you in the book writing process:

Give yourself plenty of time to write the manuscript. Even if you’ve blocked out several months to work on the project, you’ll probably find the project will take more time than you anticipated. Most authors do not have the luxury of concentrated blocks of time, so be realistic in your estimate.

In fact, if this is your first book, it is a good idea to estimate one year for all the activities associated with writing a book. If you finish sooner, you can surprise yourself and the acquisitions editor with this accomplishment.

Give yourself plenty of time to prepare the manuscript for delivery to MediaWorks. Most publishers have specific rules for manuscript submissions. MediaWorks’s manuscript submission guidelines describe how to name your chapter and figure files; what formats, style, and tone of writing you should use, and what types of files MediaWorks can use in the production process. Preparing your manuscript for submission takes time, so build manuscript preparation time into your master plan.

MediaWorks’s Production Process

MediaWorks needs an average of five to six months to take a completed final manuscript and turn it into a printed book.

However, before the manuscript enters this five-to-six month production period, the acquisitions editor evaluates the manuscript to ensure that it reflects the promise of the original book proposal. The acquisitions editor may ask the author to add material, delete material, or make changes to the final manuscript based on an initial reading of the manuscript and/or on comments provided by an SME or other internal/external experts. This process normally takes one month. It is important to note that it is the author’s responsibility to deliver an acceptable manuscript. Our contract states that if an author is unable to produce an acceptable manuscript within a specified time, it will be the author’s responsibility to pay an outside editor to rework the manuscript or opt not to continue with the project.

Once the acquisitions editor deems a manuscript complete and accepts it, the acquisitions editor passes the manuscript to the development editor who, along with a copyeditor, works with the author to further develop and copyedit the manuscript. Development and copyediting the manuscript takes one to two months and often requires further work by the author to finely hone sections of the book or to provide more information if needed. In addition, it is the responsibility of the author to collect permissions for quotes or any other materials from previously published works.

Prepress work (typesetting and proofreading) and printing/binding the book takes three months. During the prepress stage, the author may be called on to verify information or answer content questions to ensure complete accuracy of the manuscript.

After Your Book Is Published

Getting your book published is exciting, especially for new authors. Once the book is published, you have a new marketing role to play in partnership with MediaWorks. The following tips will help ensure good sales of your book:

Plan to speak at professional conferences that occur around the publication date of your book. Getting a high-profile speaking engagement can really boost the sales of your book. You may need to plan in advance for this. Many of these conferences require presentation proposals to be submitted a year before the actual conference takes place.

Work with MediaWorks to send review copies of your book to key industry magazines and other publications. Even if these publications do not review books, your subject matter may be the basis for a scheduled article, and a quote from the book or mention of a book title helps to drive sales.

Send your book to selected industry thought leaders, especially if you know these individuals personally. A recommendation from respected leaders will also help sales for your book.

Use your Website to market your book. Visitors who find your book “virtually” can be linked back to MediaWorks to order a copy.

Questions? Contact:

Michael Ross
Aquisitions Manager
MediaWorks Publishing
Michael.Ross@MediaWorksPublishing.com