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Ever wonder why it can take a while between “We’d love to publish your picture book manuscript” and actually working on your book with your editor? Here are some steps that an editor has to do after making the offer:
- Create a P&L (a profit and loss sheet). This has all financial details: advance, royalties, retail price, sales expectations.
- Decide on format, size, paper, and page count. This can change later, but it’s a starting point. Share this info with the production manager, who gets a quote from the printer. Add this printing and shipping price to the P&L.
- Meet with art director to start pulling illustrator portfolios. Show options to creative director and publisher to pick a favorite. Make offer to illustrator’s agent. If accepted, add illustrator advance and royalties to P&L. Submit P&L to finance director for approval.
- Once P&L is approved, input contract terms into publisher’s system. Send to publisher for approval. Send to finance for approval. Send to contract manager to draft contract to send to agent. Field any last points once agent has reviewed contact. Wait for contract to be signed.
- Then . . . start editing! This is just to say, you’re always on our minds. But it can take a while for the real action to begin. Editors, too, always look forward to that moment.
