Have you ever thought about publishing your writing? Or wondered what process it went through to get from an idea in someone’s mind to an item on a bookshelf? Before working at Daybreak Press I had no idea what it took to get a book from an idea to a tangible product. I’d like to share what I’ve learned to those who may be curious as well.
The publishing process at Daybreak Press starts with writers submitting their work. But even before that happens, there are months or years of thinking, writing, rewriting, revising, editing, proofreading, and sometimes even translating that happen before it is submitted to us. Writers submit their manuscript, book proposal, and any other necessary materials required by our submission guidelines. Then the publishing assistant (me) uploads all of the submitted files into one folder for our editors to read and evaluate.
One of the first things that surprised me was how much time our editors spend discussing a manuscript before acquisition. Our editors read and carefully consider the plot and writing style and also whether a project aligns with our mission. The team also discusses if this book fills a need or a gap in the market or if there are other books we are working on now that have similar content. If the editors agree that they want to acquire a manuscript, we draft a contract and reach out to the author with a congratulatory message. Then the real work for our team begins.
Once a manuscript is acquired, there’s a whole world of behind-the-scenes work that readers never see. One of my responsibilities is preparing everything the team needs to move the project forward. I assign the book’s ISBN, apply for a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN), and compile an information sheet with key details about the author and the book. I create a home for the project—a place where every version of the manuscript, design file, illustration, contract, and proof can be organized. It may not sound glamorous, but having everything in one place allows dozens of moving parts to come together without losing track of the project. Simultaneously the editing for the book begins!
Something else I learned about the publishing process is that a manuscript doesn’t simply get “edited” once. Instead, it goes through multiple rounds of editing, with each stage focusing on a different aspect of the writing. Usually an editor will begin with a developmental edit. A developmental editor focuses on the big picture, shaping the manuscript into a cohesive and engaging book. They refine the overall structure, improve the flow between chapters, ensure ideas are introduced in a logical progression, and identify areas that need to be expanded, condensed, or reorganized. After several rounds of feedback between the editor and the author, the manuscript becomes clearer, stronger, and easier to read. The goal is to create a reading experience that feels clear, natural, and easy to follow while remaining true to the author’s vision.
After developmental editing, usually the manuscript will be passed to a different person who uses their fresh eyes for line editing. The editor looks at the manuscript sentence by sentence, searching for extra, missing, or overused words, awkward phrasing, and sentence structure. Consistency is equally important. The editor also checks that terminology stays consistent throughout the book. We use a standard transliteration style everywhere.
Once the manuscript is finalized, the design stage begins. We carefully scout and select a cover designer for each manuscript. Someone who can be trusted to reflect the tone of the work and communicate its subject with their cover design. For illustrated books, we search for an illustrator who can capture the spirit of the story with their illustrations. Inside the book, design becomes just as important. We select a typesetter for each manuscript who can choose the right typeface, font size, line spacing, margins, and other design elements. Page layout requires countless small decisions that the typesetter is an expert in making. Around this stage, the team also begins making practical decisions that readers rarely think about. We determine the book’s retail price, choose the printing company that best fits the project, and decide on the size of the print run. Each decision involves balancing quality, cost, and the needs of our readers. Seemingly small decisions that the publishing team made about each book come to life. I’ve sat in meetings where we’ve debated paper weight for nearly an hour. These conversations transform into the trim size of the book, the paper color and weight, and the type of cover we choose. Those decisions affect how comfortably someone can hold the book during a class or whether there’s enough room to write notes in the margins.
Next comes the remarkable transformation from digital file to physical object. After the cover and interior files are completed the book is sent to the printer and one hard proof is produced. This complete book undergoes another series of careful reviews. Proof copies are examined page by page to catch any remaining errors that may have escaped earlier rounds of editing. We pay attention to the smallest details: page numbers, line breaks, spacing, and headings. The cover is reviewed separately to ensure colors reproduce accurately in print, text remains sharp, and every design element aligns correctly. What looks perfect on a computer screen may appear different once ink meets paper, so adjustments are often necessary before giving final approval. Only after every detail has been reviewed and approved does the full print run begin.
Large printing presses transfer thousands of pages onto the paper we have carefully selected. Those printed sheets are folded, gathered into their proper sequence, sewn or glued together, trimmed with precision, and bound within their covers. One by one, stacks of printed pages become recognizable books. From the printer, books travel to warehouses, bookstores, libraries, and homes around the world. Some are purchased as gifts. Others become well-used study companions, filled with notes and bookmarks. Some sit on classroom desks, while others find a place on family bookshelves where they will be read for years to come. Through many small decisions and a lot of love and care, something that once lived as an idea in someone’s mind is transformed into something you can hold in your hand.
Written by Ricki Butler, Publishing Assistant of Daybreak Press