So you’ve heard that it takes nine months for a publisher to release a book. Yes, it’s true. Although technology continues to change publishing, if you deliver your final manuscript of a “midlist” book on January 1, your publisher won’t release it until October 1. If you’re a bestselling author, of course, you get speedier treatment.

Where do those 36 weeks all go?

For the record, I list below some publication milestones for Merchants of Virtue: Herman Miller and the Making of a Sustainable Company. Palgrave Macmillan, published on September 13, 2011.

12/01/10       Final manuscript (third draft) to Palgrave Macmillan

12/06/10       Receipt of final (round 2) comments from editor

12/13/10       Delivery of revised (polished) manuscript to editor

02/03/11       Initial cover design completed (in time for book catalogue)

02/03/11       Book catalogue text completed

02/03/11       Manuscript submitted to copyeditor by Palgrave

02/28/11       Manuscript returned to me for checking

03/03/11       Manuscript delivered back to copyeditor with my corrections

03/09/11       Endorsements (“blurbs”) for catalogue due to Palgrave

03/09/11       Manuscript submitted to page designer

04/01/11       Page proofs (PDF, first galleys) returned to me for proofing

04/12/11       Corrected proofs delivered by me back to Palgrave

04/19/11       Printed proofs (PDF, second galleys) returned to me to check

04/25/11       Book index completed

06/15/11       Printed proofs mailed by Palgrave to book reviewers

06/15/11       Online strategy developed for book marketing

06/25/11       Website and social media effort go live

07/01/11       Final book jacket completed, with author photo, blurbs

08/24/11       Book release date (first copies delivered)

09/13/11       Book publication date (full nationwide distribution)

You may feel publishers should figure out how to shorten the nine-month timeline. And I think you’re right. But you’ll notice that a lot of the time consumed has nothing to do with delays related to inefficiency. The long lead times have to do with getting the thousands of details ironed out in a professionally published book.

Although you may find ways to cut this schedule down in your own book—a 30 percent cut seems reasonable to me—recognize that quality takes time. Make sure you schedule for it—and set your expectations accordingly.

[Revised January 2020. Originally published June 27, 2011]