Process of Book Publishing
The basic steps in book publication are as follows:
Manuscript procurement
This has to do with how publishers get manuscripts which are the raw or unpolished versions of a book. A manuscript is the book idea which has been developed by a writer. Publishers have to get manuscripts before the publication process can commence in earnest. Three basic ways through which editors and publishers acquire manuscripts for publication, according to Dominick (2009) are through i) submissions by agents (those who go out looking for people with manuscripts that can be published); ii) unsolicited books sent in by authors (where people who have developed their ideas or experiences into good manuscripts send them by themselves to publishing houses for publication); iii) as book ideas generated by the editors or publishers. This is where the publisher or editor has an interesting book idea and looks for a good writer to develop the idea into a good manuscript. This writer could be searched for through an agent or directly by the editor.
Assessment, editing and proof-reading
Assessment is the process of determining whether a manuscript meets specific standard before it can be published. This could depend on the discipline or area the book is meant for. It could depend on the category of book, including grammatical and syntax issues. Manuscripts are assessed by experts in a specific area or in-house assessors of publishing houses before they are accepted for publication. Editors can also double as assessors in some instances. Editing is the process of ensuring that the standard or level of writing is acceptable. If there are still necessary additions, parts that should be removed or modified the author is informed to effect the modifications before final publication. Both assessors and editors check to see that the overall objective of the book idea is achieved through the content. They also ensure that the references are in order in terms of accurate citations and documentation format. They also ensure that the legal requirements that may be involved in the publication especially with the use of materials from other sources are met. Proof reading takes place basically after the work has been type-written it is a process that ensures that the book is error-free by checking for wrong spellings, wrong sentences and other typographical errors. Assessment, editing and proof-reading are all pre-press activities done to prepare the manuscript for publication as a book.
Designs, graphic work and page layout
These activities are basically done after the manuscript has been assessed, edited, proofread and is ready for printing. The book cover and inside pages are then designed, necessary graphic work on the cover and some inside pages are done, the pages of the book are laid out or planned the way they will finally look when printed.
Printing
After the pre-press activities (assessment, editing, proofreading, designs and other graphic work, and page layout) have been concluded, the book is then sent to the printing press where the number of copies required are printed, folded and bound into a hard cover or paper-back book. This is the press process. The printed copies are then sent to the store house (that is after binding and trimming) ready for post-press activity which entails distribution or sales. It could be through book stand sales, subscription or even free distribution, depending on the type of book and objective of publication. However, technological advancements have introduced a digital printing process called printing on demand. This is where a publishing firm can print only a copy or just a few copies on demand. Once the demand is made, a machine downloads and prints the book. Here the publisher does not need to worry about the number that will or will not sell. He can print on demand or simply print a number he thinks the market can consume. However, traditional use of printing press for printing of large quantity of books is still being done today.
Finishing: The bookbinding process
Finishing is the process that consists of guiding the book into a final clean shape and form for public consumption. Bookbinding is the umbrella term which encompasses all the processes involved with the finishing stage of the book publishing process. These processes include sorting, compiling and folding the printed sheets of paper into a serialized page order that would ensure meaningful flow of the book content. This includes affixing the compiled and folded inside pages of the book into another sheet of paper (hardcover or paperback) which serves as the book cover, securing the total package together by pinning or stitching them using the appropriate machine for that purpose. This finishing process terminates with the trimming of the bound book by using a trimming machine.
Distribution
This is a post-publishing activity which brings the entire publishing process to an end. The publishing process, just as every other production process, begins and ends with the consumer, in this case when the book gets to the final consumers. Distribution is the process of making copies of a published work available to consumers. This could be through book sellers or book vendors, book stands at exhibition or book fairs, or book stands located at street corners, in front of offices or such other strategic places, book stores, or mobile bookshops (which consists of use of cars or buses to sell books directly to consumers at their offices, houses, or street corners where such cars or buses park waiting for stray customers). In the early years of book publishing, when it used to be a one-man business, the publisher undertook most of the tasks in the entire process, including, manuscript sourcing, editing, printing, and distribution. Today, these various functions are delegated to different departments and distribution agents are engaged to get copies of the book into the market.
Large book publishing firms have in-house department that undertakes the work of promotion and distribution of published works to retailers and wholesalers. Organizations that do not have such departments engage the services of distribution agents. Book publishers most times send copies of published works to retail outlets as promotional strategies for the new works before supplying larger quantities at a later date based on the request of book sellers.
