Introduction: Welcome to the Hanaz Writers Weekly Blog
Every Monday the Hanaz Writers team shares practical guidance that helps writers, students, and creative entrepreneurs succeed with words. This week we answer a popular question: how does publishing work. Many new authors feel lost when they hear terms like query letter, ISBN, or book marketing. In this detailed yet easy-to-read guide, we break down the entire book publishing process into clear steps. You will learn the difference between traditional publishing and self publishing, understand how a manuscript becomes a finished book, and discover the roles of editing, design, distribution, and promotion. By the end, you will know the keywords, timelines, and actions required to move your story from your laptop to readers across the world.
Understand the Two Main Paths in the Book Publishing Process
The first thing to know about book publishing is that two main paths exist: traditional publishing and self publishing. Traditional publishing involves signing a contract with a publishing house. You send a manuscript submission to a literary agent or directly to an editor. If they accept, the publisher covers costs such as editing, cover design, printing, and marketing. In return, the publisher keeps most of each sale and pays you a royalty plus, sometimes, an advance.
Self publishing means you act as the publisher. Tools like Kindle Direct Publishing and IngramSpark let you upload files, set prices, and print on demand. You keep a higher royalty per sale but pay for services like professional editing and book cover design.
A growing number of authors choose a hybrid model, mixing both paths. For example, you might self publish eBooks while pitching a traditional deal for print rights. Deciding which route fits your goals depends on budget, timeline, creative control, and desired reach. By understanding these options first, you can plan the rest of the publishing journey with confidence.
Prepare and Submit Your Manuscript for Publishing Success
Once you know your path, the publishing process starts with a polished manuscript. Begin by self editing for clarity, structure, and grammar. Next, hire a professional editor for a developmental review and a meticulous copy edit. Clean text saves time later and impresses industry gatekeepers.
For traditional publishing, craft a strong query letter or book proposal. A query letter briefly describes the story, audience, and your writing background, using keywords that show genre and market fit. A proposal, often required for non-fiction, includes chapter outlines, sample pages, and a marketing plan. Send these materials to carefully researched literary agents or publishers who publish your genre.
If you pursue self publishing, you skip agents but still need a plan. Gather editorial feedback through beta readers, create a brief for cover artists, and decide which keywords will help your book rank on Amazon or Google.
Keep track of submission dates and responses in a spreadsheet. Traditional timelines can stretch from three to twelve months, while self publishing can move as fast as you wish. Always back up files and save emails. A clear, organised submission stage builds a solid foundation for the rest of the publishing workflow.
Navigate Editing, Cover Design, and Book Production
After acceptance of a manuscript or a self publishing green light, the next phase is book production. In traditional publishing, you work with an in-house team. The editorial process begins with a structural edit, followed by line edits, and finally proofreading to catch typos. For self publishers, freelance editors perform the same tasks.
Parallel to editing, a cover design brief is written. Designers research genre trends, typography, and reader expectations to craft an eye-catching cover that looks professional at thumbnail size. Strong cover art boosts click-through rates on retailer sites and signals quality to bookstores.
Interior layout, also called typesetting, comes next. The designer chooses fonts, margins, and chapter headings to ensure comfortable reading. For eBooks, files are converted to EPUB and Kindle formats. For print, high-resolution PDFs are created. Remember to purchase or receive a free ISBN for each edition—print, eBook, and audiobook—so retailers and libraries can track sales.
Before final approval, review physical or digital proofs. Check page numbers, images, and line breaks. A thorough production phase eliminates costly reprints and negative reviews. Mastering these steps moves your project closer to distribution day.
Print, Distribute, and Reach Global Book Retailers
With files approved, your book enters the printing and distribution stage. Traditional publishers decide on an initial print run, shipping stock to wholesalers like Gardners or Ingram. Bookshops then order copies through these channels. Self publishers often use print on demand. Each order triggers automatic printing and shipping, lowering upfront costs.
Distribution is not limited to paperbacks. Upload your eBook to platforms such as Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play. For audio lovers, use ACX or Findaway to reach Audible and Spotify. The more formats you offer—print, eBook, and audiobook—the wider your potential audience.
Retailers list your book using the metadata you provide. Accurate titles, subtitles, categories, and keywords ensure online stores show your book to interested readers. Regularly review shop pages to fix pricing, description, or cover issues.
Global reach is now easier than ever. Many distributors provide expanded networks so your book appears on websites in Europe, Asia, and North America. Combine this reach with local promotional events, library programmes, and school visits to boost visibility. Effective distribution makes your publishing effort worthwhile by placing copies exactly where readers search.
Promote Your Book and Understand Royalties and Marketing
The final step in how publishing works is book marketing and ongoing sales management. Traditional publishers often offer a publicity plan—press releases, review copies, and social media campaigns. However, authors still play a major role by building an author platform. Engage readers through newsletters, blog posts, podcasts, and live events.
For self publishers, marketing is entirely your responsibility. Build a launch team for early reviews, run keyword-targeted Amazon ads, and schedule blog tours. Join genre Facebook groups and post valuable content that links back to your book. Use attractive visuals and a clear call to action.
Track performance in real time. Retail dashboards show daily sales, rankings, and reader locations. Adjust prices, keywords, and ad budgets based on data.
Understand how royalties work. Traditional deals pay a percentage of the cover price—often 10 percent on hardbacks and 7.5 percent on paperbacks—after earning out the advance. Self publishing platforms usually offer 35 to 70 percent of the list price, depending on pricing and delivery fees.
Remember that marketing never truly ends. Update your author bio, refresh covers after a few years, and release new editions or box sets to keep interest alive. A strong marketing plan maximises revenue and ensures your hard-won publishing skills deliver long-term success.
Outro: Stay Connected with Hanaz Writers
Thank you for reading this edition of the Hanaz Writers Weekly Blog. If you found this simple guide to how publishing works helpful, explore our full library of free resources on the Hanaz Writers website https://hanazwriters.org/. Looking for professional notebooks, writing planners, or publishing checklists? Visit our online store https://hanazwriters.org/shop/ to equip yourself for every stage of the book publishing process. Join us next Monday for another clear, practical lesson, and until then, keep writing, keep learning, and bring your stories to life.
