Fiction Book Publishing Services for Authors
Fiction book publishing services from BookPublishersNYC.com take a finished novel, novella or story collection through the stages that prepare it for readers: editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, publishing setup and marketing. Authors choose the services the book needs, and authors keep ownership of their books.
Fiction raises different questions from nonfiction. A story depends on plot, character, pacing and consistency, and a fiction reader judges the cover and the first pages quickly. BookPublishersNYC.com is a book publishing services provider, not a traditional or hybrid publisher, so the author publishes the book and decides what to buy.
What Is Fiction Book Publishing?
Fiction book publishing is the process of taking a story from a finished manuscript to a published book that readers can buy. The process covers editing the story, preparing the text and the cover, setting the book up on sales platforms and promoting it. An author can publish fiction through a traditional publisher, a hybrid publisher or independently.
This page covers independent publishing with professional services. The author keeps ownership of the book and buys only the services it needs, while BookPublishersNYC.com carries out the work.
At a glance
Novels, novellas and story collections
Editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, publishing setup, marketing, audiobook production
Publishing services provider; the author publishes the book
Authors keep ownership of their books
Remote, to authors worldwide
The Path From Finished Novel to Published Book
A novel usually moves through these stages. Each has its own page with the scope, the rates and the turnaround.
Editing
The story is improved at the level it needs, addressing plot, pacing, and structure.
Step 02Proofreading
The final text is meticulously checked for surface errors, typos, and inconsistencies.
Step 03Formatting
The text is professionally laid out as a print interior and an optimized ebook file.
Step 04Cover Design
The ebook, paperback, and hardcover covers are uniquely produced for your genre.
Step 05Publishing Setup
The book is fully set up, registered, and prepared on your chosen sales platforms.
Step 06Marketing
The book is strategically positioned for its readers to maximize visibility and sales.
Step 07Audiobook Production
The book becomes a high-quality audio edition narrated by professional voice talent.
Editing Fiction: What Each Level Looks At
Fiction editing asks different questions at each of the three levels. Book editing services describes the levels and their rates in full.
Developmental Editing
Developmental editing looks at the story as a whole: plot structure, character development, pacing, point of view and the shape of the narrative. It suits a draft whose story is not yet settled.
Line Editing
Line editing looks at how the prose reads: sentence rhythm, dialogue, tone and voice. It suits a manuscript whose story works but whose writing needs polish.
Copy Editing
Copy editing checks correctness and consistency across the book: names, ages, timelines, places and spelling. In fiction, continuity errors, such as a character’s eye color changing, are one of its most useful catches.
Designing a Fiction Book Cover
Fiction readers recognize genres by their covers. A thriller, a romance, a fantasy and a literary novel each follow different conventions in color, imagery and type, and a cover that ignores them may reach the wrong readers.
A fiction cover also has to read at thumbnail size, because most readers first see it as a small image on a retail page. The title has to stay clear, and the design should suit the ebook, the paperback and the hardcover.
Book Cover Design
- Three initial concepts
- Ebook cover file
- Paperback cover file
- Hardcover cover file
Formatting a Novel for Print and Ebook
A novel’s interior has its own conventions. Chapter openings, scene breaks, the title page, the copyright page and the pages at the back, such as an author biography, all follow patterns that readers expect. Page numbers and running heads are set for the printed book, and the ebook is built so the text reflows on any screen.
Formatting works on the approved text, so it comes after editing and proofreading. The final page count from formatting also sets the spine width of the printed cover.
Explore Book Formatting Services →Publishing a Novel on Sales Platforms
Publishing setup prepares the book’s files and listing for sales platforms. For a novel, the listing’s description and metadata matter, because readers search by genre and keywords and choose from the description.
Editions
Each edition has its own requirements. The service sets up ebook and paperback editions, and hardcover editions where the platform supports them.
ISBNs
An ISBN identifies a specific edition. BookPublishersNYC.com provides ISBN guidance for each edition. ISBN purchases are paid separately where applicable.
Platforms
BookPublishersNYC.com supports setup on Amazon KDP, Kobo Writing Life, Apple Books, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble Press, Lulu, Draft2Digital, StreetLib, PublishDrive and IngramSpark.
Program Terms
Some platform programs attach conditions, such as exclusivity, to the books enrolled in them. Authors should read each program’s current terms before choosing.
Publishing a Fiction Series
A series asks for consistency across books. The covers should look like they belong together, the listings should present the books as a series, and the editions should be planned so each new book can follow the same pattern.
An author planning a series can plan the covers, the formatting style and the metadata together, which keeps the books consistent as they are released. Request a quote and describe the series, and the quote states the deliverables for each book.
Request a Quote →Marketing Fiction
Fiction marketing starts from the genre and the reader. The retail listing, the description, the keywords and the launch plan all aim to put the book in front of readers who enjoy that kind of story. Book marketing services include listing and keyword research, launch planning and promotional copy and graphics.
Explore Marketing Services →Important Note
No marketing service guarantees sales, reviews or rankings. The outcome depends on the book, the genre and many factors outside any provider’s control.
Turning a Novel Into an Audiobook
Fiction suits audio, and the narrator’s performance shapes how the story is heard. Audiobook production services cover narrator selection, recording, editing, mixing and mastering, chapter files and delivery, and the author may use a professional narrator or narrate the book personally.
An audiobook needs the audio rights to the book and the final, edited text. Pricing is a project quote based on the estimated finished hours.
Explore Audiobook Services →Rights and Permissions for Fiction Authors
Authors keep ownership of their novel, title, characters and original content when they use BookPublishersNYC.com. Providing services does not transfer ownership of a book to the company, and the company does not take a percentage of royalties for its services.
Fiction raises a few permission questions. Quotations, song lyrics and text written by other people may need permission, and the author is responsible for holding it. An audiobook needs the audio rights, which are separate from print and ebook rights. Read about author rights and royalties →
Author Ownership
You retain full rights to your manuscript. We do not take a percentage of your royalties for our services.
What Publishing an 80,000-Word Novel Can Cost by Service
The table applies your published rates to an 80,000-word novel, which is 320 units of 250 words. It lists only the services with a published rate. The final price is set in each quote.
| Service | Rate | Cost for 80,000 words |
|---|---|---|
| Developmental editing | $8–$13 per 250 words | $2,560–$4,160 |
| Line editing | $7.50–$12.50 per 250 words | $2,400–$4,000 |
| Copy editing | $5–$7 per 250 words | $1,600–$2,240 |
| Proofreading | $3 per 250 words | $960 |
| Book cover design | $99 fixed | $99 |
| Formatting | Billed by final formatted pages | Quoted |
| Publishing setup | Individually quoted or in a package | Quoted |
How to Start Publishing Your Novel
Request a quote
Describe the book, its word count, its genre and the services of interest.
Talk it through
BookPublishersNYC.com discusses the book with the author by phone and email.
Receive the quote
The quote states the deliverables, the billing basis and the exclusions.
Sign & pay advance
The service agreement and the confidentiality agreement are signed, and the advance payment is received, before work begins.
Questions Fiction Authors Ask About Book Publishing
What are fiction book publishing services?
Fiction book publishing services prepare a novel, novella or story collection for readers through editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, publishing setup and marketing. BookPublishersNYC.com sells these services individually, and the author keeps ownership of the book.
Is BookPublishersNYC.com a fiction publisher?
No. BookPublishersNYC.com is a publishing services provider. It does not acquire manuscripts, pay advances or offer publishing contracts. The author publishes the book.
What editing does a novel need?
It depends on the manuscript. A draft with an unsettled story may need developmental editing, a revised manuscript may need line editing, and a polished one may need copy editing. Not every novel needs every level.
How much does it cost to edit an 80,000-word novel?
Editing is priced per 250 words. An 80,000-word novel is 320 units, so copy editing costs about $1,600–$2,240, line editing about $2,400–$4,000 and developmental editing about $2,560–$4,160.
Can I publish a series with BookPublishersNYC.com?
Yes. The services apply to each book, and the covers, formatting and metadata can be planned together so the series stays consistent.
Do I keep the rights to my novel?
Yes. Authors keep ownership of their books, and BookPublishersNYC.com does not take a percentage of royalties. The written service agreement states the exact terms.
Do I need permission to quote song lyrics in my novel?
Often, yes. Song lyrics and quotations from other writers can need permission, and the author is responsible for holding it.
Can I turn my novel into an audiobook?
Yes, if the author holds the audio rights. BookPublishersNYC.com produces audiobooks with a professional narrator or the author narrating.
Request a Quote for Your Novel
Describe the novel, its word count and the services you are considering. The quote states the deliverables, the billing basis and the exclusions.