What shapes the cost of publishing a book?
There is no single price for publishing a book. These are the factors that decide what yours will cost, and how to get an accurate quote.
"How much does it cost to publish a book?" is the question authors ask first, and the honest answer is that it depends on the book. Two manuscripts of the same length can need very different amounts of work. Here is what makes the difference.
1. Where the book is today
A finished, well-edited manuscript needs far less than an idea or a first draft. Ghostwriting a book from interviews is a much bigger project than formatting one that is ready to go.
2. Word count
Editing, proofreading and ghostwriting are usually priced on length, because length is a good guide to time. A 30,000-word guide and a 120,000-word fantasy novel are very different projects.
3. The level of editing
A developmental edit takes longer than a copy edit, and a copy edit takes longer than a proofread. A manuscript assessment tells you which level you need, so you do not pay for more than the book requires.
4. Design choices
A typographic cover, a licensed photograph and a custom illustration take different amounts of work. Image-heavy interiors, such as cookbooks and picture books, take longer to lay out than a novel.
5. Formats
Each format needs its own files: ebook, paperback, hardback and audiobook. Audiobook production in particular depends on the length of the book and the narration style.
6. Marketing
Marketing ranges from a simple launch plan to a longer campaign with advertising. Any advertising budget is separate from the cost of planning and running the campaign.
7. Timeline
Tight deadlines can affect cost because they need more people working at once.
How to get an accurate quote
Send your genre, approximate word count, where the book is today and when you would like to publish. A sample chapter helps for editing and formatting. We will reply with a recommended route and a written quote that lists exactly what is included.