Now that my manuscript is complete, how long will it take to publish it?

One of the first things I ask my self-publishing authors is if they have a deadline by which they need the title published. For example, do they want it to coincide with a special occasion, such as a family simcha (celebration), or do they simply want to get it over with as soon as possible?

In any case, many authors would like to understand where the time goes in the publishing process.

The Publisher

The first factor in determining the length of time it takes to publish a book is the publisher. If the title is being published by a traditional publisher, the manuscript first needs to be submitted, reviewed, and then accepted. This process, unfortunately, has no timetable. The manuscript might be grabbed by the first publisher who sees it, or it might pass from one to the next until the author gives up and turns to self-publishing. Once a manuscript is accepted by a publisher, the publishing process from start to finish will take at least a year. The publisher might have the title print-ready within six months but still want to wait for an opportune moment to release the book.

If the author is self-publishing, then he is in charge. This is one of the benefits of self-publishing, but it’s also a big responsibility. Just like a traditional publisher, a self-publisher needs to make decisions in all areas of the publishing process. For this reason, I strongly encourage all self-publishing authors to read my guide to self-publishing, which explains in user-friendly terms what is involved in the whole process. And I am always available to consult and to advise in detail to help authors realize their publishing dreams.

Editing

The first stage of the publishing process, editing, is what takes the most time, and it is the most difficult to estimate a schedule for.

Obviously, if a manuscript is very well written, it will take much less time to edit than a poorly written one. If the author or publisher seeks an extremely well-polished title, the editing process will be much more focused and detailed, adding to the time.

One way the author can hasten the completion of the edit is to respond to the editor’s communications quickly. Often, the editor emails the author with questions about his or her intentions or requests additional information. If the author responds quickly, the editor will be able to complete his or her job without delay. Similarly, after the edit is complete, the author needs to review the edited manuscript. It is perfectly normal for the author to find a few things in the edit not to his taste. The editor will happily change them, but this takes time, too.

Design and Publish

Once the editing is done, it’s basically downhill from there. A typesetter will design an internal layout, and a graphic designer will design a cover; sometimes the same person does both. There is usually some back-and-forth with these items too, but they take a relatively short amount of time.

Once the final files are ready, we move on to publishing, which can happen in a few different ways. The old-fashioned way was to order a print-run of 1,000+ copies. This is still sometimes done, but it is becoming less common in the self-publishing world. More often, files are uploaded to a website like CreateSpace, where they are made available for print-on-demand publishing (I explain this in my guide ). Reviewing a proof copy is always advisable, and this adds a few weeks. If the proof copy doesn’t meet expectations, then changes are made to the book files, they’re uploaded again, and another proof copy is ordered, until perfection is reached.

Potholes

As the saying goes, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” As a managing editor, I work hard to keep the process moving as fast as possible without delays, and I am always on the lookout to avoid potential disruptions. Nevertheless, things that are beyond our control do sometimes go wrong, and delays happen. Here are some common examples:

  • People are not available to work during vacations and holidays
  • People get sick or have family crises
  • Authors change plans
  • Manuscripts are incomplete or additional material is needed
  • Printing equipment malfunctions or is booked
  • Dock workers strike and close the port
  • Authors wait for reviewers to send back material

No Need to Rush

When timing is critical, it often determines the publishing plan. For example, if an author approaches me on the first day of Chanukah with a new haggadah, there is very little time to work. The haggadah needs to be in US Jewish bookstores before Purim, which means being shipped from Israel before Tu BiShvat, and that means going to print before Asarah B’Teves. That leaves only about two weeks to edit the text and design the interior and cover. That is obviously not enough time to do a thorough job, even if everything goes smoothly. If it is still critical to an author to publish the haggadah this year, we can expedite matters (e.g., send to the USA by air freight), but this adds to the expense of the publication. I highly discourage rushing like this, because inevitably it leads to mistakes, and the final product might not meet the author’s expectations – a sad end for a lifelong dream.

When is the right time to begin work on publishing a haggadah? Right after Pesach.

The Answer

Returning to the good question that was posed in the beginning of the post: How long does it take to self-publish a manuscript? I would say to be prepared for it to take a whole year – hopefully it will take less time – and don’t be surprised if it takes two years.

The publishing process will end eventually, but the book will last forever. Let’s do our best to publish a book that you will cherish forever.