Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to your most common questions.
What is Tin House Press?
Key Features:
- Author Empowerment: Our authors and publishers retain 100% of their rights and earn 100% of their royalties.
- Global Reach: We have extensive distribution networks that connect books with readers around the globe.
- Diverse Genres: We accept a wide range of genres, including fiction, nonfiction, children’s literature, and more.
- Custom Services: Our a la carte services allow you to choose specific offerings, such as cover design or manuscript editing, without the obligation to publish.
At Tin House Press, we are committed to supporting authors at every step of the publishing journey.
How long does it take to make and publish my book?
Cover Design
We work on your cover design concurrently with the editorial and print book production processes, ensuring efficiency while maintaining quality.
Print Books (Paperback and Hardcover)
Formatting the interior file for print generally takes 3-5 weeks. This timeline includes preparation for both paperback and hardcover editions, ensuring a seamless and professional presentation.
eBooks
Formatting for eBook publication typically takes 2-3 weeks. If you’re opting for both print and eBook formats, we’ll begin eBook work after you’ve approved your physical proof copy.
Editing Services
Note: Timelines below are based on a manuscript requiring moderate edits. More complex manuscripts may require additional time, and expedited editing is not always available.
Developmental Edit + Copy Edit + Proofread
3-4 weeks for manuscripts under 25,000 words.
4-5 weeks for manuscripts between 25,000 and 50,000 words.
5-6 weeks for manuscripts between 50,000 and 100,000 words.
7-8 weeks for manuscripts over 100,000 words, with an additional week added for every extra 25,000 words.
Copy Edit + Proofread
2-2.5 weeks for manuscripts under 25,000 words.
2.5-3 weeks for manuscripts between 25,000 and 50,000 words.
3-4 weeks for manuscripts between 50,000 and 100,000 words.
4-6 weeks for manuscripts over 100,000 words, with an additional week for every extra 25,000 words.
Proofread + Post-Production Proofread
2-2.5 weeks for manuscripts under 25,000 words.
2.5-3 weeks for manuscripts between 25,000 and 50,000 words.
3-4 weeks for manuscripts between 50,000 and 100,000 words.
4-6 weeks for manuscripts over 100,000 words, with an additional week for every extra 25,000 words.
Illustrations
The timeline for illustrations varies based on complexity and other factors. Expedited options are not available for this service.
Content Revisions
Each batch of content changes generally takes 5-7 business days to implement, depending on the clarity of your instructions, the complexity of the edits, and our team’s workload.
These time frames are designed to guide you through the process with transparency and set realistic expectations. Rest assured, our team is committed to delivering high-quality results while keeping your project on track!
Will I maintain the rights to my book?
How are royalties calculated?
Retail Price – Retailer Charges – Production Costs = Royalty (Net Profit)
- Retailer Charges: This is the portion of the sale that third-party booksellers (such as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, etc.) keep to cover their expenses and generate profit. Typically, retailers retain around 40% of the retail price.
- Production Costs: These cover the expenses required to produce the book, including printing, shipping, taxes, and any other necessary fees.
By subtracting the retailer’s share and the production costs from the retail price, you’re left with the net profit—your royalty. It’s a straightforward process that ensures transparency and allows you to see exactly how much you’re earning from each sale. In short, you keep everything after retailer and production costs, with no deductions from us—allowing you to earn as much as possible.
Note: Royalty payments are not issued until the royalties owed exceeds $25 for U.S. citizens and $50 for foreign citizens.
Can I publish through you for free?
What should my manuscript include?
There’s no need to submit a preformatted manuscript—so don’t worry about setting font sizes, spacing, or adding page numbers. We’ll take care of all those details during the production process.
Before submitting your manuscript, we strongly recommend performing a thorough review and making any final edits. This will help ensure a smooth and efficient publishing process, and it will also save you from any additional fees that may be incurred for post-submission content changes.
