I’ve been working on my second book for a while now, and people often ask what the publishing process looks like from an author’s perspective. So I thought I’d share a bit about the experience.

Getting a book published is far more complex than most people realize. My first book is now available for pre-order, and as I work through my second, I’ve had the chance to see just how extensive the process really is. What many people see as a finished product actually involves a long series of steps, revisions, and reviews before a book ever reaches readers.

The first step, of course, is writing the book. Many publishers—especially for a first or second book—require a fully completed manuscript before they will seriously consider it. That means the author has already invested hundreds of hours writing a finished work before even knowing whether it will be accepted.

Once the manuscript is complete, the next step is identifying the right publisher. One of the first things I learnt is that publishers tend to specialize in very specific niches. A publisher focused on mystery novels is unlikely to be interested in a real estate textbook, and a publisher known for legal texts may not see a business development book as a good fit. Finding a publisher whose catalogue aligns with your topic is essential.

After identifying a suitable publisher, you submit a book proposal. This is often surprising to first-time authors because the proposal itself can be extensive. While the book may be 150–200 pages long, the proposal can easily reach 30–40 pages. Proposals typically include chapter summaries, excerpts, learning objectives, case studies, market positioning, and an explanation of how the book contributes to the existing literature.

If the proposal passes the initial review, it moves to the acquisitions editor. From there, the manuscript is often sent out for peer review, usually to three to five industry professionals. These reviewers evaluate the book for accuracy, relevance, originality, and competitiveness within the market.

When the reviews come back, the author receives feedback and revision requests. Some suggestions are small, but others can be significant—such as rewriting entire chapters, adding new topics, or adjusting the overall tone of the book. Even seemingly minor revisions can require dozens or even hundreds of hours of work.

Once revisions are completed and approved, the book is sent to an acquisitions panel, which makes the final decision about whether the publisher will move forward with the project. If the panel approves the book, a publishing contract is drafted.

During this phase—between peer review and contract—authors often begin gathering practical examples or case contributions from industry professionals. These contributions can add depth and perspective to the book while also allowing others in the community to participate in the project.

Before submission of the final manuscript, authors must collect release forms from all contributors. This ensures that any case studies, stories, or examples used in the book are properly authorized.

After the final manuscript is submitted, the editing process begins. This editing process is done by three different people and occurs in three stages:

• Developmental editing, where the editor reviews the structure, tone, and clarity of the manuscript.
• Copyediting, where citations, factual accuracy, grammar, and references are checked.
• Typesetting and formatting, where the book is prepared for print and digital publication.

At each stage, revisions are returned to the author. Requests might include adjusting citations, reorganizing sections, clarifying examples, or refining the structure of chapters. Once the editing process is complete, the book moves into production with the printer and the finally over to the marketing department, who determine positioning, price and audience.

Throughout the process, authors also need to confirm that their work does not conflict with organizations they are affiliated. For example, if the book references material connected to an association, company, or professional body, it may need to be reviewed to ensure there are no copyright or policy conflicts.

From start to finish, publishing a book involves far more than simply writing it. It requires research, collaboration, revision, and careful coordination with editors, reviewers, contributors, and sometimes professional organizations.

But despite the work involved, seeing the final book come together makes the entire process worthwhile.