A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: What is taking so long to get my book out and on shelves?

 

 

It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.

This week, the topic is one that comes up quite often. Authors frequently do not understand why getting a book out takes so long. (Yes, we can hurry a book to the top of the list if necessary for marketing purposes -- with a book we received just a few months before the 2024 election that was about the election, we did get it out in time for pre-election sales, but that is difficult and has a slowing impact on other books in process. Here is an explanation of why it takes "so long" to produce a high quality book, one an author can be proud of.

Why Is It Taking So Long to Get My Book Out?

If you’ve self-published before—or know someone who has—you may be scratching your head wondering why a traditionally published book seems to move at the speed of molasses. With Amazon KDP and other self-publishing platforms, a book can be formatted and live in under 72 hours. So why can’t traditional publishing keep up?

The short answer: because traditional publishing isn’t just about getting your book out—it’s about getting your book right. Let’s take a look behind the curtain.

1. Manuscript Development & Editorial (4–8 weeks)

Even before the copyeditors come in, developmental editors dive deep. They look at structure, pacing, character arcs, and clarity. In nonfiction, they probe the argument’s coherence, tone, and whether the material supports the thesis. This is where your book gets shaped—not rushed.

2. Copyediting (2–4 weeks)

Once the big-picture items are handled, a copyeditor combs through the manuscript for grammar, sentence structure, consistency in voice and style, and adherence to the publisher’s preferred editorial guidelines (think Chicago Manual of Style).

3. Permissions & Legal Review (Concurrent, 2–6 weeks)

While editing unfolds, permissions teams work on clearing content: this includes quoted song lyrics, long passages from other works, personal photographs, or any identifiable material that requires consent. ISBNs are registered, a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) is applied for, and copyright attribution is reviewed.

4. Design (4–6 weeks)

This includes two distinct design tracks:

• Interior layout: where typesetters determine font, spacing, page flow, and graphic placement.
• Cover design: where marketing and design teams collaborate to create a book that’s visually compelling and communicates genre, tone, and audience in a glance.

5. Proofing Galleys & Author Approval (2–3 weeks)

Once the book is laid out, you’ll receive page proofs or “galleys.” This is your chance to catch any lingering errors. Proofreaders, editors, and often the author review these line-by-line.

6. Endorsements & Pre-Pub Reviews (4–8 weeks)

Publishers send advanced copies to review outlets like Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal, as well as respected figures in your field or genre who can offer endorsements. These blurbs—those glowing lines on your back cover—take time to gather, especially if you’re wooing busy voices.

7. Sales & Marketing Setup (8–12+ weeks)

Marketing doesn’t start after your book is printed—it begins long before. Sales reps need time to pitch your book to distributors, bookstores, libraries, and wholesale accounts. Metadata must be refined. Pre-orders set up. Launch strategies crafted. That takes synchronized effort across teams.

8. Production Scheduling (Dependent on list, 3–6 weeks buffer)

Your book is not alone in the queue. Most publishers juggle multiple titles per season, with coordinated releases to maximize impact. Your book’s launch slot depends not just on production readiness, but on marketing calendars, catalog schedules, and retailer timelines.

9. Printing & Distribution (2–4 weeks for offset; POD is faster)

If you’re doing offset printing (common for larger first runs or illustrated books), add freight time from overseas printers. Domestic print-on-demand can be quicker, but lacks the economies and quality control of offset for certain genres.

Total Estimated Timeline: 6 to 12 months after final manuscript acceptance.

So when you hear that your book is "in production," know this: it's not stalled. It's being meticulously shepherded through a process designed to honor your work, protect your rights, amplify your reach, and position your book to succeed in a competitive market.

Bottom line: Self-publishing is fast—and sometimes that’s what an author needs. But traditional publishing invests in quality, longevity, and a team that treats your book like it matters. Because it does.

The Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic that you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 22 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.

 See more Publisher Conversations with Authors HERE.

 Learn more about publishing from an acquisitions editor -- how to get your book proposal accepted, why proposals are turned down/accepted, and how to find the right publisher for your book. On special sale for $5 while inventory lasts at MSI Press webstore. Also available as an e-book and an audiobook.

To purchase copies of this book at 25% discount,

use code FF25 at MSI Press webstore.

Want to read this book and not have to pay for it?

Ask your local library to purchase and shelve it.

Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter

(recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list, author advice, and more -- stay up to date)

Check out recent issues.

 

Follow MSI Press on Twitter, Face Book, Pinterest, Bluesky, and Instagram. 

Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC?
Check out information on how to submit a proposal.

We help writers become award-winning published authors. One writer at a time. We are a family, not a factory. Do you have a future with us?

Turned away by other publishers because you are a first-time author and/or do not have a strong platform yet? If you have a strong manuscript, San Juan Books, our hybrid publishing division, may be able to help.

Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our author au pair services will mentor you through the process.

Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book in exchange for reviewing a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com.

Want an author-signed copy of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.

Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.

Want to communicate with one of our authors? Send a note to info@msipress.com

Steven Greenebaum, author of award-winning books, An Afternoon's Discussion and One Family: Indivisible, talking to a reader at Barnes & Noble in Gilroy, California.

   

MSI Press is ranked among the top publishers in California.

Check out our rankings -- and more -- HERE.