How to Deliver Your Manuscript to a Publisher

Once you’ve edited your book, you can be sure that it is fit for publication – whether that’s self-publishing or through a traditional publisher.

That’s not to say that your work will be an instant success, but editing and proofreading services, as well as other editorial services such as book proofreading services UK, play a vital role in polishing and preparing a final published work.

After your book is finished and edited, first-time authors may still be unsure about how to deliver their manuscripts to publishers. Also, if you’ve only ever self-published, it can be difficult to know what steps to take before sending your manuscript to a traditional publisher.

This article describes the main steps to follow to ensure that you deliver your manuscript to your publisher in the best possible way.

 

Step 1: Ensure your work is free from error or omission

The first thing to do before even considering sending your manuscript to a publisher is to ensure it is as free from error or omission as you can possibly make it.

Making additions and changes after the publication stage (e.g., after physical books have been printed) can be costly. In many cases, publishers will pass these costs onto the author.

 

Step 2: Follow your publisher’s house style

Most traditional publishers have house styles that you are required to follow in order to publish with them. Other publishers may ask you to use popular style guides to format and layout your manuscript, such as the Chicago Manual of Style.

For this reason, before sending your manuscript to your publisher, it is important to dedicate time to formatting and laying out the file and its pages according to the publisher’s specifications.

 

Step 3: Follow publisher-specific guidance

The last important step to take before delivering your manuscript is to check for any publisher-specific guidance.

All publishers have different approaches to working with book authors, and what you’ll need to do is strongly dependent on the publisher.

For example, to publish with Bloomsbury, authors need to apply the following checklist:

·         Include a table of contents

·         Use double line spacing

·         Separate chapters into different files

·         Include notes about any special fonts and the referencing style used

·         Complete an author questionnaire

·         Explain how the book’s index will be completed

 

Step 4: Manuscript review

After delivering your manuscript to the publisher, it’s important to remember that the process is not over.

Post-delivery, the publisher’s commissioning editor will review your manuscript, and after this, your book will likely be sent for external peer review. The process typically takes 6-10 weeks, but it can be significantly longer than this, especially for complex or technical material.

Any revisions that are needed for the book will need to be discussed with the publisher’s commissioning editor, and you will be expected to adjust and re-deliver the book.