Scott Berkun

How a book is made: a short story

Mysteries abound about how books become books. Unlike the Schoolhouse rock episode about how bills in the Senate become bills, there is no well produced, simply-comprehensible by 10 year olds, explanation. It seems easy (you hit Cntrl-P and books come out somewhere, right?) but it’s an intellectual and tedium marathon.

Here, in short author-centric form, is how it goes:

1. Author writes a proposal for a book.
2. He picks a publisher and sends it in. (If no favorable response, repeat).
3. Author writes (Imaging calendar pages flying by, bar tabs growing astronomically).
4. Author sends manuscript to publisher.
5. Publisher gives feedback (go to #3) or greenlights production.

And then all the work begins – the detail work of production. Much like software its the last 1/3rd has all the crunchy, tricky bits.

Every publisher works differently but for many, production includes:

• Copyediting the text in the book
• Obtaining rights for any photos or excerpts
• Checking references
• Designing the cover & interiors
• Planning PR and marketing
• Promotion

These activities seem like publisher business, not author business, but that’s a rookie mistake. My name goes on the book and I’m easier to find than Tim is: any mistakes get aimed my way. And of course it’s my only book published this year, while O’Reilly, for all their authorial compassion, publishes dozens. What comprises a minor oversight to publishers has made many an authors suicide note[1].

Copyediting means one thing: review. Endless review. As tortured as the copyeditor must feel, the writer has no one else to blame: its their words! They have to re-read every sentence again, and again, and again, as suggested changes, for all their grammatical correctness, can shift the meaning of sentences or kill any hard fought humor so delicately constructed in earlier revisions. How involved authors are in this process varies, but see previous paragraph.

By the time my first book actually existed as a book, I was so sick of what was in it I couldn’t look inside for long: and every author I’ve asked had similar experiences. It took awhile, if ever, that they liked what was in their book again (Many legendary writers from Hemingway to Henry Miller complained at how they loved writing, but hated what they wrote).

This isn’t meant as a play for sympathy: I mean come on. Every writer in history could have found an easier way to make a living, or if it was really so horrible, quit for sake of sanity. However after my experience, the first time I saw my book in Borders I nearly had a heart attack: after some brief ego-stroking glee, I imagined all of the work it took to make all of the other 50,000 books in that store, and my head exploded. And then I thought of how few are allowed to stay on those shelves for long. It’s a high risk thing to make a book for profit: most don’t sell enough to break even for the writer or the publisher.

I have to say that this time around, on book #2, it’s been helpful to know what to expect – and if nothing else maybe this little note with give you a new perspective the next time you pick up a book (or consider the “glories” of writing one).

And stay tuned: big news on the next book. The title and more details are in the bag.

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[1] The one story I’m thinking of is Mellvile’s Moby Dick. Apparently the first edition ommitted the last chapter, and the book was panned by critics. Later, re-publication included the chapter and the book became a classic after the author’s death (not by suicide however).

Special offer from the book dart folks

My post about book darts was picked up by O’Reilly radar and lifehacker, and wouldn’t you know it: word got round to the makers of these great little things.

Bob Williams, one of the founders of the company, chimed in and made this offer:

Readers of the Berkun Blog, may, if they wish to, buy our Book Darts for the wholesale costs. Order on the reseller side of our site or alert us in the comments box when you order, and we’ll make the adjustment.

Thanks Bob!