When the manuscript is finalized after multiple rounds of edits and revisions between the editor and author, it is scheduled for publication. Editors will deliver the finished manuscript to the production department, where they—along with the design department—begin planning the creation of the copyedited and designed final book.  

Copyediting takes approximately 8 weeks, and during this time the interior design of the book is created. Furthermore, many nonfiction and some fiction manuscripts are vetted at this time for legal concerns.  

Additionally, during this stage, the art department begins work on the cover or jacket design. This is a process that involves discussion between the art department, editor, publisher, and author.

What jobs fall under this stage of a book’s life cycle?

ART/DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Art Designers: With the editor and publisher, the art designers and art directors create concepts for book jackets that are appealing to the tone, audience, and character of each title. The art designer oversees artists who create original work for book covers, or the photo shoot, including choosing the clothes, finding the best photographer, and casting models who best represent the book. Along with managing editors, production, and copyediting staff, the cover designers work simultaneously on multiple titles. 

Your Possible Career Path: Design Assistant, Junior Designer, Designer, Senior Designer, Associate Art Director, Art Director

Managing Editors: Managing editors work diligently to oversee the production of an imprint’s complete list of upcoming books and are responsible for setting and monitoring the schedules of each individual title. A managing editor oversees every book from manuscript to finished book—while responding to the individual situations that arise with each title. They often solve problems that cross departmental bounds since Managing editorial works closely with nearly every other department to make sure the books are produced on time and with the highest quality. 

Your Possible Career Path: Managing Editorial Assistant, Managing Editorial Coordinator, Assistant Managing Editor, Associate Managing Editor, Managing Editor, Senior Managing Editor, Associate Director, Director

Production Editors: Production editors, along with freelance proofreaders, check for style, consistency, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Throughout the proofreading process, production editors maintain communication with the editors and authors to resolve any inconsistencies in style and information. Production editors check multiple drafts of the book, called proofs, for errors, and also proofread the jackets, covers, and promotional materials for each title. 

Your Possible Career Path: Assistant Production Editor, Production Editor, Senior Production Editor, Associate Director, Director 

Desktop Department: Desktop staff builds book interiors in Adobe InDesign; inputs corrections to those electronic files based on feedback from the author and production department; prepares final files to be printed. Desktop staff members work most closely with the interior design department, but also integrally with production, manufacturing, and digital production. Less often, they collaborate with editors, managing editors, and cover designers.

Your Possible Career Path: Desktop Publishing Assistant, Desktop Publishing Associate, Junior Desktop Designer, Associate Manager, Manager, Associate Director, Director 

Interior Designers: Unlike art designers who design book jackets, these designers oversee a book’s interior from manuscript to typeset book. An interior designer will choose the fonts and type sizes used in each title, create a template for the pages in InDesign, direct and supervise illustrators, create illustrated elements, and design the book’s layout. They work closely with editorial to ensure the interior is pleasing to the reader’s eye while creating a design that is appropriate to the topic and tone of the book. They also work closely with production, managing editorial, and the desktop department. They also create layouts for photo inserts and illustrated books. 

Your Possible Career Path: Design Assistant, Design Associate, Junior Designer, Designer, Senior Designer, Associate Director, Director

Production Managers: Production managers are in charge of all of the various aspects of manufacturing a book and put together the costs for each component of the book, everything from photo inserts to covers. They are also in charge of putting together the costs and orders to produce the finished books.

Your Possible Career Path: Production Assistant, Production Coordinator, Production Associate, Production Supervisor, Production Manager, Senior Production Manager, Associate Director, Director