Writing For Packt

Interested in writing for Packt? Click here. If you have a book idea you want to discuss click here

If you are interested in writing for Packt click here.
If you have a book idea you want to discuss click here or read further for more details.

The process:
The first stage is to develop a book idea to the point where we have a strong concept and a book outline. Authors and Acquisition Editors usually work together during this phase. We want to make sure that the book has an audience, and that we are going to develop a book that makes this audience happy. If you would rather get in touch with us with your queries than read further click here

Once the idea and concept is agreed, and Packt decides to invest money in publishing the book, we will draw up a contract for you. This would give us a timeline for delivering first drafts, as well as details about your financial rewards. There is also a lot of legal detail here about how various rights are assigned between author and publisher.

You as the author will then be expected to write your first drafts to that schedule. You will be working with a Project Manager (PM) and Acquisition Editor (AE) throughout this process. You will be expected to deliver drafts that meet the Acquisition Editor's approval, and both the PM and AE will help you to develop quality material in a way that means you can meet the schedule – and still get away from your word processor from time to time. Up for it? Here are some exciting ways to get back to us... or read further.
 
Once you deliver first drafts of your chapters, the Acquisition Editors have a look at them and then they are sent for technical review. You will then need to revise your chapters to take into consideration these technical comments.

Once this is done, your book enters the production phase. This means that a team of our technical editors will work on your manuscript, ensuring that it is well presented, logical, and clear. You would be expected to help our editors during this process, with queries that they may have and cannot resolve themselves. After this, the book is laid out, printed, and finally published. Have a look at the Editorial Process Flowchart for a better explanation.
For further details, write to us.

The qualifications:

• Good writing skills 
  
• Enthusiasm for communicating technical ideas and concepts
  
• A few hours a week of available time
  
• The will to keep working on the book even when you're busy
  
• Valuable experience of a technology or technical skill that you are keen to share with readers

• Writing is very satisfying. It's hard work, but nothing beats knowing you are responsible for a book that you can be proud of – and that is bringing pleasure to thousands of people
  
• A royalty and advance
  
• Packt books usually publish in specialist technical fields, and being known as the author of the definitive book on a topic can add to your credibility within that community.
  
• Conversely, a book can benefit the community for which it is published. For example those CMSs that have had books published about them have benefited greatly from the author's work.
  
• And of course, for the open source projects, Packt pays a project royalty, which means that your work on a book on that open source project will result in financial contributions to the project.
  

• A high author royalty based on revenues, and pays from the first copy sold – no editorial or production costs are recovered from your royalty. Also 15% is higher than the majority of established publishers. Have a go at the royalty calculator to find out more.
  
• A fast review and editorial phase means that your book can reach the market quicker.
• An innovative marketing model that does not rely on being stocked in bookstores – a 20th century strategy becoming more and more irrational for most technical books. Because our books sell mainly direct or with low discounts to retailers, our revenue per book is higher than most other publishers for books of a similar price – so 15% of revenue translates into a higher percentage of cover price than it would for most other publishers
• Our low cost, print on demand, direct marketing model means that we can make a good profit – and thus pay a good royalty with books that would not be profitable for many other publishers