The Publishing Process

With a few additions or exclusions, the following is the general publishing process followed by most publishing houses:

1. Commissioning/Acquisition – The commissioning/acquisition editors procure the raw manuscript from the authors.
2. Development – The manuscript is reviewed and modified with the help of the author to give it a better shape from the point of view of the reader/market.
3. Transmittal – The commissioning department sends the manuscript (MS) to the editorial department for editing.
4. Copy-editing – The copy-editor edits the MS.
5. Quality Check – The production editor checks the copy-editor's work.
6. Queries – Queries on doubts raised are sent to the author.
7. Typesetting – Once the author replies to the queries, the MS's design is decided and it is sent for typesetting.
8. Proofreading – Once the PDF or hardcopy proofs of the typeset MS are available, they are proofread by proofreaders.
9. Indexing – Simultaneously or later, the proofs are send to an indexer for indexing.
10. Revision – The typos and errors caught by the proofreader are corrected in the typeset MS.
11. Free Reading – A senior editor not associated with the book project scan-reads the MS.
12. Second Revision – If any error still crops up, it is corrected.
13. Camera Ready Copy – The final printable digital copy copy is prepared. It is also checked internally to see that all elements are in position.
14. Ferros – The negatives of the printing plates are checked as a last and final check before the book is sent into print.
15. Print – The book is printed and bound. The cover is printed separately and inserted during binding.