On Writing (7): Writing a Book (2)

After the Reviews Come Back …

If the solicited reviews of your book proposal are favorable, it is likely that the publisher will wish to proceed. Inevitably, there will be recommendations for additions or deletions, but unless these are major, a contract will be forthcoming. The contract between the author(s) and the publisher will describe the timeline for production; it will be quite specific about the number of pages and illustrations, the use of diagrams, whether or not there will be color plates, etc. These issues are of considerable importance to the publisher, as they directly affect the cost of producing a textbook. It is important to keep to this agreement: a manuscript that is significantly shorter or longer than agreed may not be economically viable. The publisher will stipulate a deadline for submitting the material: a manuscript that is greatly overdue may well be out of date by the time it gets published.

Authors are naturally interested in seeing some financial return for their efforts. Royalties payable to the author (typically 10 %) will be identified in the contract. These may be reduced for bulk purchases, which are frequently sold at a significant discount. The contract will also address royalties for foreign language editions and electronic media.

The contract may also deal with issues such as the book’s format (hard- or softback) and cover design. Typically, the cover will be designed ”in house”, with input invited from the author.