©BJU Press, image by David
Ever wondered about the journey of a book? How does a book go from the author’s head to a published piece of literature? This summer we are going to take you inside the process of publishing a book with our “Journey of a Book” series. Read along as we interview professionals in the publishing industry about different aspects of the process. This week we interviewed Nancy Lohr, the acquisitions editor for JourneyForth, about the process for submitting a book for publication. Here is what she said.
Who can submit a book for publication?
Anyone can submit to JourneyForth, but kids, remember to get permission from a parent or guardian before you submit a book or sign a contract.
How does an author submit a book for publishing?
Publishers establish guidelines that tell what kinds of manuscripts they accept for publication. If an author can submit directly to the publisher without an agent, the guidelines will be available on the company’s website or possibly by U.S. mail.
How do authors submit their books to JourneyForth?
JourneyForth guidelines are available at http://www.bjupress.com/books/freelance.php. The submission can come as a Word attachment to email or a paper copy by U.S. mail.
How long is the book submission process for JourneyForth?
The time it takes an author to prepare a professional proposal varies from one author to another, but a proposal should include the following:
- A Working Title
Write a title that is interesting, provocative, and succinct. While it is the publisher’s responsibility to finalize the book title, your working title will clarify your view of the material.
- Synopsis
This is a brief overview of the book.
- Author’s Biographical Information
This includes your qualifications, experience, and reasons for writing the book.
- Market Potential
You will want to write a paragraph or two about your potential readers, identifying the demographics of your audience.
- Competitive Works
Do some research on current books with the same subject. Choose four or five and list each by title, author, publisher, the year published, the number of pages, and the price. Write a brief synopsis of each one and explain how yours is similar and different.
- Chapter Synopsis
Prepare a table of contents with working chapter titles (but no page numbers) along with a sentence synopsis of the chapter.
- Sample Chapters
Finally you will want to send the first three to five chapters. The opening pages of your book are crucial to grab the attention of your reader.
For JourneyForth, once the proposal is submitted, the review process begins.
What happens to a book after it has been submitted to JourneyForth?
The proposal starts with our editorial assistant who logs the submission and gives it a first reading. This first look is to see whether the manuscript fits any of the categories we publish. If it does not, then a rejection letter is sent to the author. An individual publisher does not publish anything and everything, but there is a focus on the mission of the publishing house and the readers they serve. To accomplish that mission, there is a necessary weeding of submissions and a rejection of any that do not fit into the publishing plan of that house. If the manuscript does fit the categories JourneyForth publishes, it is passed on to me where it goes into my reading file for a focused review. There will be a number of manuscripts already awaiting review, so it will take at least twelve weeks before the initial review is begun. If the manuscript stands up to that first review, then additional reviewers read and give their input. These readers have specific areas of expertise that they bring to the table. If there are revisions that the author should consider to improve the writing and clarity of message, I work with the author on those. The author is not required to make changes, as this is his or her work, but some of those changes might be necessary to meet the mission of our publishing house. At the end of the full review, I compile my thoughts as well as other information about book sales and give it to the decision makers who will say yes or no to offering a contract. Once the contract is complete, then I begin copy editing. This includes more discussion with the author for decisions about substantive revisions to consider. At the end of the copy editing process, I develop the production schedule and shepherd the book from manuscript to printed book. This whole process takes six to nine months.
What are some things you look for when reviewing book submissions?
I look for a manuscript that fits into our catalog, that meets the JourneyForth mission, and that keeps my attention.
What would you say is the hardest part about submitting a book for publication and why?
From an author’s perspective, I suspect it has to do with gathering the courage to say that the book is done and ready to send to someone. It also has to do with overcoming the fear of possible rejection. For my part (reviewing submissions), I would have to say that there are very different stages, but I love what I do, so I see the differences more than the degree of difficulty.
Do you have any advice for someone who wants to write and submit a book for publication?
There are dozens of books filled with advice for writers who hope to publish, so I am not sure I can condense all of that here. I would say that a Christian writer should work to write interesting text regardless of fiction or nonfiction. A biblical worldview in writing whether the work is fiction or nonfiction for children or adults is another way to be the salt and light referenced in the New Testament. Writing is hard work, and a careful writer will know that and put into it the work that is required.
Is there anything else you would like to mention about the book submission process?
Recent research from Bowker indicated that there were a million and a half books published in that calendar year. Only a small percentage of those will reach best-seller status, but many will sell well and meet a need for specific readers. If your book is going to do that, you must pay your dues. The writing must excel, the message must resonate with your target reader, and your approach to the process must be as professional as you can be.
There you have it—submitting a book for publication is hard work, but it can be rewarding. Next month we will explore the editorial process for publishing a book. Until next time, keep reading!—there is a lot more adventures to have!