Publishing answers
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Each answer is drawn from the same neutral publishing map and numbered sources. Use the short answer, then open the guided map when the route or stage changes the decision.
All publishing answers
Self-publishing · Edit How long should editing take in self-publishing? The map's planning range for editing the manuscript is 6–12 weeks. The wider self-publishing (author-publisher) route is 3–8 months. Self-publishing · Write How long should writing the manuscript take in self-publishing? The map's planning range for writing the manuscript is 4–8 months for a first-time author. This drafting time is separate from the 3–8 months publishing timeline, which begins when the manuscript is ready. Traditional trade · Write How long should writing the manuscript take in traditional trade? The map's planning range for writing the manuscript is 4–8 months for a first-time author. This drafting time is separate from the 2–4 years after signing, plus querying publishing timeline, which begins when the manuscript is ready. Self-publishing · Edit What commonly goes wrong during editing in self-publishing? The main risk during the editing stage: doing the passes out of order means paying to fix the same pages twice. For this route, you are responsible for this stage and must do it yourself or hire it out. Self-publishing · Format What does book formatting cost in self-publishing? Self-publishing (author-publisher) has an overall upfront author-cost profile of ~$0 to $8,000+ (you pay). Current planning figures: Format: DIY: Free (Kindle Create, Reedsy Studio); tool-assisted: $147 Atticus; $199.99–$249.99 Vellum; professional: A few hundred. Self-publishing · Cover What does cover design cost in self-publishing? Self-publishing (author-publisher) has an overall upfront author-cost profile of ~$0 to $8,000+ (you pay). Current planning figures: Cover: DIY: Free (Canva); tool-assisted: $100–$150 (premade); professional: ~$625–$1,250. Independent / small press · Critique What does critique and beta reading cost in independent press? This publisher-funded route does not charge the author to publish, but this work happens before acquisition and remains the author's responsibility. Free and tool-assisted options are separate choices. Current planning figures: Critique: DIY: Free (beta readers, forums); tool-assisted: ChatGPT / Claude; $50/manuscript (Wordsmith); ~$120/yr (ProWritingAid). Traditional trade · Critique What does critique and beta reading cost in traditional trade? A traditional publisher does not charge the author to publish, but this work happens before acquisition and remains the author's responsibility. Free, tool-assisted, and paid professional options are separate choices. For critique and feedback, the map shows Critique, DIY: Free (beta readers, forums); Critique, tool-assisted: ChatGPT / Claude; $50/manuscript (Wordsmith); ~$120/yr (ProWritingAid). Self-publishing · Edit What does editing cost in self-publishing? Self-publishing (author-publisher) has an overall upfront author-cost profile of ~$0 to $8,000+ (you pay). Current planning figures: Developmental edit: DIY: Free (beta readers); tool-assisted: $50 per manuscript (Wordsmith); professional: ~$2,880 for 80,000 words. Line + copy edit: DIY: Free; tool-assisted: $50/manuscript (Wordsmith); ~$12–$30/mo (Grammarly, ProWritingAid); professional: Human editor · ~$1,000–$3,000. Proofread: DIY: Free (risky); tool-assisted: Included above; professional: ~$800–$1,600. Traditional trade · Edit What does editing cost in traditional trade? After acquisition, a traditional publisher normally pays for and manages editing the manuscript; the author's upfront cost at this stage is £0 / $0. Any preparation an author buys independently before a deal is outside this publisher-funded stage. Self-publishing · Rights What does rights, ISBNs, and metadata cost in self-publishing? Self-publishing (author-publisher) has an overall upfront author-cost profile of ~$0 to $8,000+ (you pay). Current planning figures: ISBN: DIY: Free where a platform supplies one; tool-assisted: US example: $295 for 10 from Bowker. Copyright (US): DIY: ~$45–$65 (register yourself). Traditional trade · Rights What does rights, ISBNs, and metadata cost in traditional trade? After acquisition, a traditional publisher normally pays for and manages rights and metadata; the author's upfront cost at this stage is £0 / $0. Any preparation an author buys independently before a deal is outside this publisher-funded stage. Self-publishing · Write What does writing the manuscript cost in self-publishing? Self-publishing (author-publisher) has a route-level publishing cost of ~$0 to $8,000+ (you pay) after the manuscript exists. Writing the manuscript comes first, and any optional writing help is separate from that route estimate. For writing the manuscript, the map shows Draft, DIY: Free (Word, Docs); Draft, tool-assisted: $59.99 per version (Scrivener); Draft, professional: ~$5,000–$100,000+ (ghostwriter). Traditional trade · Write What does writing the manuscript cost in traditional trade? Traditional trade publishing has a route-level publishing cost of £0 / $0 (they pay) after the manuscript exists. Writing the manuscript comes first, and any optional writing help is separate from that route estimate. For writing the manuscript, the map shows Draft, DIY: Free (Word, Docs); Draft, tool-assisted: $59.99 per version (Scrivener); Draft, professional: ~$5,000–$100,000+ (ghostwriter). Traditional trade · Format Who handles book formatting in traditional trade? For formatting the book in traditional trade publishing, the publisher handles and funds this stage after acquisition. The map describes this stage as: Typesetting the interior into a clean file that renders on every device. Traditional trade · Cover Who handles cover design in traditional trade? For cover design in traditional trade publishing, the publisher handles and funds this stage after acquisition. The map describes this stage as: A cover that signals genre instantly; the biggest factor in whether a browsing reader clicks. Traditional trade · Critique Who handles critique and beta reading in traditional trade? For critique and feedback in traditional trade publishing, you are responsible for this stage and must do it yourself or hire it out. The map describes this stage as: Pressure-testing the draft before you spend money on editing. Self-publishing · Edit Who handles editing in self-publishing? For editing the manuscript in self-publishing (author-publisher), you are responsible for this stage and must do it yourself or hire it out. The map describes this stage as: Three passes at three altitudes: developmental, line and copy, proofread. Traditional trade · Edit Who handles editing in traditional trade? For editing the manuscript in traditional trade publishing, the publisher handles and funds this stage after acquisition. The map describes this stage as: Three passes at three altitudes: developmental, line and copy, proofread. Independent / small press · Rights Who handles rights, ISBNs, and metadata in independent press? For rights and metadata in independent and small presses, the publisher handles and funds this stage after acquisition. The map describes this stage as: ISBN, copyright, and the metadata that decides whether readers find you. Traditional trade · Rights Who handles rights, ISBNs, and metadata in traditional trade? For rights and metadata in traditional trade publishing, the publisher handles and funds this stage after acquisition. The map describes this stage as: ISBN, copyright, and the metadata that decides whether readers find you. Self-publishing · Write Who handles writing the manuscript in self-publishing? For writing the manuscript in self-publishing (author-publisher), you are responsible for this stage and must do it yourself or hire it out. The map describes this stage as: The idea, then the draft. Yours to write, or to hand to a ghostwriter. Traditional trade · Write Who handles writing the manuscript in traditional trade? For writing the manuscript in traditional trade publishing, you are responsible for this stage and must do it yourself or hire it out. The map describes this stage as: The idea, then the draft. Yours to write, or to hand to a ghostwriter.