There are many functions of a publishing house. They include: Seeking out manuscripts that fit its commercial vision; negotiating contracts for the sale, distribution and subsidiary rights of new acquisitions; working with authors to bring their projects to the highest standard; and overseeing all aspects of printing and production.
Traditional publishers and university presses produce paperback and hardcover books at no expense to the author. Ebook publishers distribute their titles as CDs or electronic downloads, and may or may not charge authors a set-up fee. Self-publishing and print-on-demand (POD) entities require authors to share the expense of producing their titles in paperback or hardcover.
Most major publishing houses require that queries and manuscripts be submitted to them via literary agents. University presses, independent publishers, ebook companies and PODs are open to hearing from authors directly, and have their submission guidelines posted on their websites. You can also find this information in annual publications such as Writer's Market.
Due to significant reductions in staff, publishers now expect authors to take an aggressive stance in promoting their own books through advertising, book signings, attendance at writers' conferences, speakers' engagements, blogs, articles, interviews and podcasts. An author's lack of a marketing plan can sometimes result in him or her not being offered a publishing contract.
Once a book is accepted for publication at a traditional publishing house, it could take anywhere from 18 months to three years before it hits bookstores. Time-sensitive topics or titles by celebrities are the exception to this rule. For ebooks and PODs, however, the turnaround time is generally less than two months.
The average royalty at traditional publishing houses is 10 percent and it is paid biannually or annually. Typically, non-traditional publishers pay a higher royalty on a quarterly basis. Unlike traditional houses, these publishers rarely offer advances to authors upon contract signing.