What Happens After You Sign a Book Contract? A First-Time Author's Guide to Working with a Publisher
by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted
There are five super exciting times in a writer's life:
- THE END - Finishing a manuscript
- Signing with an agent
- Landing a contract
- Holding that book in your hand
- Your first royalty check
It’s hard to say which of the five is the most exciting. For me, the level of thrill was equal. Just when I thought I couldn’t be happier, something else popped in. It proves that the world of writing can be a wonderful adventure filled with joy and accomplishment.
Still, it doesn’t happen overnight. Writers have amazing tools at their fingertips that weren’t available fifteen years ago. The days of sending manuscripts via USPS are gone. Technology has moved us into a place of convenience. Now, instead of printing out a full manuscript, we simply email a file. So much easier. We have self-publishing, an amazing tool, but not a means to an end. And now, AI (pro and con) is all the rage. How does a writer protect their work from being used by AI without their permission, and how do we use it appropriately and honestly in our writing?
It’s an accomplishment to type THE END. A writer can lean back and take a sigh of relief. Then once you’ve found the right agent, the waiting game continues. You thought it ended, didn’t you? Nope, the waiting just keeps multiplying. Get used to it. Nothing about the writing and publishing industry is fast—at least if it’s done correctly.
Once your agent sells your work, a new phase begins. Working with a publisher. Let’s begin by defining a publisher. The actual publisher is the person who heads the publishing house. They manage the company's operations and contracts, participate in publication board meetings, and have the final say on which books receive contracts. However, when authors refer to the publisher, it’s not the big dog behind the ultimate desk. It’s a reference to the publishing house.
There are a multitude of wheels turning inside a publishing house, from a variety of editors to marketing, sales, accounting, design, and so much more. It’s easier for authors to refer to the publisher as a house (as a whole).
Working with editors
Once your contract is signed and the completion and submission date is set in stone, your work will first go to a content or developmental editor. That person will search for any holes in the plot, make suggestions for clarification, and ensure the story fits its timeline appropriately. Then it moves to a working editor who helps polish and clean up grammar, repetitions, and work line-for-line. Next, your manuscript is bumped to a proofer. Of course, the author is involved in all these steps.
It’s important to remember that your editors are your friends. They are not in the business of tearing your manuscript to shreds (that should be done by you before it ever reaches these people). Editors are there to make your work shine, to make it as palatable as possible to as many different types of readers as possible. For example, editors help me maintain my Appalachian voice and dialect while ensuring that readers unfamiliar with the culture of the times understand what’s being said. These editors would never let my work go to print with the full Appalachian dialect intact, because readers north and west of the mountains wouldn’t have a clue what they were reading. Your editors are essentially your lifeline in the ocean of books out there. They polish and shine your work along with you, so that as many readers as possible can enjoy the adventure.
When conflict arises
There may be times when you disagree with your editors. That’s fine. 99% of the time, a phone call between you and your editor resolves any confusion. Authors must understand two things: Editors don’t know your intent. They can’t read your mind. And their job is not to rewrite your work. They don’t have time.
When you have a disagreement with your editor that you cannot resolve with a phone call to them, then the appropriate step is to go to your agent and let them step in to resolve the issue. NOTE: You NEVER call the publisher. Calling the publisher says a couple of things. First, you may be a difficult author to work with, and you certainly don’t want that. And it says that you feel entitled. Take the appropriate steps to resolve an issue. If you are having problems with your general editor, ask to speak with the managing editor and let that person intervene. If that doesn’t work, contact your agent. But! What if you don’t have an agent? Good question. You must learn and practice good people skills. Learn negotiation skills, but be willing to meet in the middle if necessary. Remember, it’s about making your book as clear and concise as possible. If it doesn’t rip the story plot out, find a happy medium. Your editor wants you to succeed. That’s where they make their living.
The Hard-to-work-with Author
You never want to be labeled as a difficult author or a hard-to-work-with author. Should you be labeled this way, it will follow you throughout your career. It can hinder your opportunity to receive another contract with your current publisher or others where your work may be shopped.
Often, authors who self-publish (not through a reputable self- or hybrid publisher) become very possessive of their work. They refuse to consider changes, demand unreasonable options, or insist on doing things their way. This is just not how it works in traditional publishing. Be kind. Be a willing listener. Have a teachable spirit and learn to see the bigger picture. Don’t be that one author who makes life hard. There is always a kind way of managing things.
Decisions
The advantages of self-publication are that you have full decision-making rights. Inside the traditional publishing house, there are things where you can weigh in on, but you do not have the final say. One of those is your book cover. Another is your book title. This is where you may be invited to offer suggestions, but the final decision remains with the publisher. Unless you’ve been selling books for multiple years with great success, it’s wise to adhere to these decisions. An author may be sure what they want on the cover, but it may not speak to the reader at all. Remember, you know what your book is about, and the cover you have envisioned may not reflect what the reader needs to pick up the book. At your contract signing, you’ll receive a questionnaire that tells marketing what your book is about, suggestions for a cover and title, and even your suggestions for optional titles. This is where you put your ideas, and the marketing and design teams will draw from this questionnaire. Marketing may tweak your title or change it completely based on your questionnaire and what editors get from the book. They will search thousands of titles and covers to find where your book best lands. You don’t want readers to do a search for your book and find it in the middle of porn books. What do you want your book sitting next to in the online search, and how many other books have the same title? Is your title engaging or does it only have meaning to you? If your book lands in the middle of 2000 other books with the same title, will it rise to the top? You see, there’s more to a cover and title than just what you like.
Marketing and design folks have years of experience in what draws readers to a book on the shelf or online. It’s more than you doing an Amazon search. It’s detailed and time-consuming. Most of the time, publishers will work with you on tweaks, but in the end, the cover and title are their decision.
Do your part
Finally, publishers hope you will do your part in the marketing and sales end. Take initiative and reach out to bloggers, podcasts, and groups that you know. Work with your publisher to make your book a success.
Most writers have amazing experiences with their publishers. There’s always an exception to the rule, but understanding the process helps reduce problems. When publishers offer a contract, it’s because they believe the book will sell. They are willing to assume full financial responsibility for publishing the book. Be work-friendly and remember publishers are not in the business of making you fail. They want your book to be a success, so both you and the publisher win.
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