The First 5 Steps of Networked Publishing

The first step in publishing with Hol is finding a book project you want to work on, either by applying to one already on the project books list, or by starting your own.

Once you have a book project, you'll need a project team. Project teams include the author, an editor, graphic designer, publicist, bookstore sponsor and project manager. Before going further, each of these roles needs to be filled.

Here's the first trick: Everyone has to agree to work on the project without getting paid until the book sells. We believe that if people think highly enough of a project book to take a risk on it not selling and them not getting paid, it might be a book worth publishing. We'll help get your project in front of people that might be interested, but we encourage you to do some pitching of your own.

Once assembled, the project team works together to assemble a more formal book proposal. Using a template we provide, the proposal includes marketing and publicity ideas, analysis of similar titles already available, and sales projections. It requires the knowledge and expertise each team member brings to the table and when completed, it's submitted for peer review.

For the peer review, other project teams who are publishing their own project books, evaluate your proposal. If the teams collectively approve your project, you get a contract from Hol and begin the work of publishing the book. If not, your team can decide to scrap the project entirely or go back, revise your proposal, and try again.

Back to the Work on a Project
or Start Your Own page>>

Or, in the site archives there's a longer, more detailed, early description of the publishing process if you'd like to read more.