How Publishing a Book is Like a Wedding

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

While reading a wedding invitation, my thoughts took a journey of comparing the writer’s road to releasing a new book like planning a wedding. The project brought a few giggles and a few sobering analogies.

How Publishing a Book is Like a Wedding

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Read the following 7 likenesses of publishing a book to a wedding. Note the #7 is the number of completion.

  1. The event begins with an invitation.

Invitations can be verbal or written, the “come join in the celebration.” The editor offers a verbal contract/invitation and follows up with a legal contract to purchase the manuscript either directly with the author or through an agent.

  1. Bride

I look at the writer as the bride. She wants to show her best. The story or nonfiction book must be laced with a must-read title and topic. Content, theme, format, grammar, punctuation, and literary techniques according to genre blend to present a perfect, orchestrated manuscript.  The writer looks forward to the cover and excitement of a new book release.

  1. Groom

The groom is the editor. That person is excited about a new acquisition and filled with anticipation to share the manuscript with readers. The editor weaves the writer’s brand with the publishing house’s guidelines and produces a book overflowing with integrity.

  1. Pastor/Priest

I look at the publisher as officiating the ceremony. For the writer and editor to present a quality book to readers, the editorial staff, marketing, promotion, and sales team establish a schedule for a timely event.

  1. Ceremony

The ceremony is the time allotted for the editing, production, marketing, and promotion of the book. Each department is specialized and pledges a vow to promise the work, the love, and the commitment from all parties are in place.

  1. Guests

Guests are readers! They’ve waited eagerly for this event to happen. All those connected to the book are working hard to present a wonderful release. The guests’ experience is paramount to the success of the book.

  1. The Reception

The event has happened, and everyone is celebrating. Highly acclaimed reviews are paving the way for the next book and the next.

The comparison of the writing process and a wedding shows the hard work involved in preparing and presenting a new book to readers.

Do you have other ways that a writer and a wedding share similarities?

Comments 28

  1. Hi DiAnn,

    I love your abstract and creative thinking.
    You had asked for other ways a writer and a wedding share similarities.
    I was thinking:
    For a book, there is a setting
    For a wedding, there is a venue
    It’s fun to think outside of the box.

    Reply

  2. Hi DiAnn! I’m doing my taxes and adding up the expenditures for my Garden Tea Book Launch last July. It was worth every penny. It not only launched the book, but my ministry. It involved many people and I was overwhelmed at their willingness to prepare food, set up tables, sign up each person with a name badge, MC the drawing for prizes, and take care of my book table. One person volunteered to bring fresh flowers and arrange a bouquet at each table! Over 80 people attended and heard testimonies, the gospel, and sang my theme song from the book; “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.” (see pictures at ginnygraham.com) Yes, a wedding. I love your analogy! Thank you so much for editing the first 10 pages, encouraging me, and making suggestions.

    Reply

  3. Great analogy. It seems I’m spending far too much time heading for a divorce of late, but love the analogy. Thanks Ms. DiAnn. Always the encourager, ma’am.

    Reply

  5. Thanks DiAnn. How fitting this analogy, right up my alley! It is not a cancellation, despite the teptation to do so, more than once over the last two years. I nearly stomped on my bouquet: my manuscript, and throw into the trash. It is a delay! This bride with an abundance of petulance, is trying to exchange that for needed housekeeping skills, like preparation to handle priests.

    Reply

  8. I am a newbie at writing and self publishing children’s books. My analogy is childbirth. My idea is conceived and goes through trimesters. The first trimester I am asking myself, “Am I really doing this? Do I have any idea what I am doing? When will the morning sickness ( self doubt) go away?” The second trimester is growth and development. “I have started this and I will stick with it to completion. There is no turning back. Morning sickness still rears its ugly head from time to time, but it is getting more manageable. I am beginning to feel movement. That makes it so real. Anticipation increases.” The third trimester is the hardest. “I’m very weary. Will this ever end? There is still so much to do. Will this task ever be completed?” Finally, there is the birth. I hold my book in my hands and smile. Even with imperfections, it is mine, and I love it.

    Reply

      1. Absolutely it depends on the publisher. My books are self-published POD, and every other month I’ve had to make the author pay for books the marketing department bought that had to be withdrawn because my editor found things to change (all changes were necessary, by the way).

        Reply

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