| Writers have many questions about book | | | | that was advanced, and 90% of books don't, you |
| publishing and how to get their book published. | | | | don't have to pay the difference back. |
| These answers pertain to traditional commercial | | | | Which is easier to get published fiction or |
| book publishing and not self-publishing or vanity | | | | nonfiction? |
| subsidy publishing. | | | | Nonfiction. Of the 150,000 books less than 10% |
| How long does it take to get a book published? | | | | were fiction. |
| It depends but on the average about a year. Six | | | | What category of fiction is the largest. |
| months to write a nonfiction book or revise a | | | | Romance, 55% of all mass market paperback |
| novel after a publishing contract has been signed | | | | books sold are romances. |
| and six months for production from editing the | | | | What does a book publisher mean when they say |
| manuscript to finding your book in a bookstore. | | | | a book is backlist, mid list or front list? |
| Why does book publishing production take six | | | | Backlist books are those written in the prior |
| months? | | | | year(s) but still selling and still being published. |
| The actual production process of revising and | | | | Publishers select a small percentage, probably less |
| editing, copyediting and proofing the galleys could | | | | than 5% of the books published in a season and |
| be quicker. But enough time has to be allowed for | | | | actively promote those books in the front of their |
| obtaining endorsements, distributing ARCs | | | | catalogues with full page descriptions including |
| (advanced reading copy) and bound galleys to | | | | national promotion, book tours dates, advertising |
| reviewers and promoting the book to booksellers, | | | | budgets, first print runs, as their front list. 95% of |
| libraries and such. Many major review publications | | | | books published are mid list, in the middle of the |
| like Publishers Weekly, insist that they receive the | | | | catalogue, no ad budget, no promotions, no book |
| review copy at least four months prior to | | | | tours. |
| publication. Many newspapers will not review a | | | | What is the difference between mass market, |
| book currently available. | | | | trade paperback and hard cover? |
| What is the typical advance and royalty from a | | | | The way the books are produced and |
| commercial book publishing company? | | | | consequently how they're priced. Mass market are |
| There isn't one. The advance can range from $0 | | | | the smallest in size usually 4" by 6", they are the |
| to over six figures. Royalties can range from 5% | | | | least expensive from $4.99 to $9.99, the binding |
| to 15%, based on the net price the publisher | | | | is perfect which means the pages are glued in. |
| receives to retail. The percentage can also be on | | | | The cover is paper. Trade paperback is 5" by 7", |
| a sliding scale based on how many books have | | | | mostly nonfiction titles, the prices range from |
| been sold, the more books, the higher the royalty | | | | $9.99 to $24.99. The cover is paper and the |
| percentage. | | | | binding is perfect. Hardcover or hard back comes |
| Do I have to pay the advance back? | | | | in various sizes, the pages are stitched to the |
| In most cases, no, only if you don't deliver an | | | | binding, and the cover is cloth covered over |
| acceptable manuscript by your deadline. If the | | | | cardboard. The price ranges from $19.99 upward. |
| actual sales of your book don't reach the amount | | | | |