As ghostwriters, we have many conversations with prospective authors. They often have questions, some of which revolve around what happens after their book is written. How will it be published and find its way into the world?

When I explain the different publishing options and how each will take a few weeks or months to a couple of years, it can come as a shock to the author. ‘How long?’ they ask.

But the thing is, it takes a village to raise a book.

Because a published book is rarely a solo endeavour by a lone creator beavering away in a garrett. It’s a team effort. And if you’re planning to write a book, it can help to know who the various members of the team are, from when you have the original idea all the way through to the day when readers turn its pages (now there’s an exciting thought).

I’ve divided the village into three encampments: writing, creating and selling

Writing

The most important person here is you, the author. It’s your vision, creativity and perseverance that will get the book written. In a way, you could think of yourself as the Head of the Village – the driver of the project and the one who will receive the accolades when you bring it home.

But you don’t have to do the writing alone. There are people who can help you if you choose.

If you’re pressed for time or don’t have the stomach for the task, a ghostwriter can take the hard work off your hands. Or, if you want to write your book yourself but don’t know where to start or how to carry on, a book coach can be a great companion. They’ll keep you motivated and help you write a better book than you would have on your own.

Then there are editors. Usually brought in at the publishing stage, they (broadly) come in two flavours: developmental and copy. A developmental editor gives you feedback on the broad sweep of your book – the narrative flow, the way you present your argument, and (for fiction) the development of your plot and characters. A copy editor comes later, when your manuscript is finalised. They go through your writing line by line, picking up on errors such as spelling mistakes, inconsistencies within the text, and incomplete references.

The final ‘person’ in the village who might have a hand in writing your book is AI. For all sorts of reasons to do with quality and copyright, we don’t recommend AI for the writing itself, but some authors find it helpful as an assistant. Just be extremely careful about how you use it.

Creating

Have you ever chosen a book by its cover? Join the club. The cover designer is a key member of the village and for good reason. Their work tells prospective consumers what type of book it is, tempts them to pick it up and consider buying it, and has a subconscious impact on how much they enjoy reading it.

Then there’s what goes between the covers. A layout designer makes sure your words are easy to read, with the right fonts and spacing. After they’ve done their work, a proof reader works their way through the text word by word to ensure there are no stray errors that have crept in during the interior design process.

Finally there’s the book printer, e-book creator and, for some titles, the audio book producer. These people turn the digital files into an actual book people can read or listen to.

Selling

Depending on how you publish your book, there are some collections of experts who make up villages in their own right when it comes to getting it into the hands of readers.

First there’s the sales team that reps your book to retailers. Then there’s the marketing team that promotes it to readers. And let’s not forget the bookstores themselves, whether online or bricks and mortar, to say nothing of rights agents who might sell your book to foreign publishers or TV producers.

And finally, we must acknowledge the most important village of all: your readers. For without them, no book can find its true purpose.

Is the creating of a book starting to look more like a team activity now? Is the myth of the solo ‘auteur’ now fading? The fact that so many people are involved can be a comfort to you as you embark on your book-writing journey. And it should make the role of a ghostwriter or book coach feel like a more natural and integral part of the process.

Because, just like a child, it takes a village to raise a book.

Ginny Carter is a bestselling ghostwriter of over 25 books, a book coach, and an award-winning author in her own right.