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Publishing Map

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.

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The short answer

  1. 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.[2][3][11][39]
  2. Who runs production overall: The publisher.[2][3][11][64][65]
  3. Upfront author cost for this route: £0 / $0 (they pay).[2][3][11][64][65]
  4. Overall route timing: 2–4 years after signing, plus querying.[2][3][11][64][65]
  5. Publisher production step: Resolve structure and argument first with a developmental pass.[2][3][11][39]

01

What the publisher's production team handles

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. The production steps below belong to the publisher's production team, not the author.[2][3][11][39]

  • Resolve structure and argument first with a developmental pass.
  • Only then improve voice, rhythm, clarity, and consistency line by line.
  • Proofread the final formatted files, not an earlier manuscript draft.

02

The route changes the handoff

Overall production is run by the publisher. At the editing stage, the publisher handles and pays for the work after acquisition. Rights and economics for this route: the publisher holds a bundle of rights.[2][3][11][64][65]

  • Finish and pressure-test a fiction manuscript; for nonfiction, validate the audience and case for the book.
  • For fiction, prepare the query, synopsis, and requested pages. For nonfiction, build the proposal and sample chapters.
  • Research agents and follow each submission guideline exactly; memoir may require a proposal, a complete manuscript, or both.

03

Sources behind this answer

Publishing Map uses the same canonical data and numbered sources for this answer and the full reference.[2][3][11][39]

  • The Authors Guild: Model Trade Book Contract
  • Jericho Writers: If An Agent Accepts Your Work, What Are the Chances of Getting Published?
  • Reedsy: How Long Does It Take to Publish a Book?
  • Reedsy: How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book?

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