Whether it’s a 500-page book or a small section on your organization’s web site, every great product needs to go through a consistent development process. Skip a step now, and you’ll only pay for it later. Below are some of the most common steps in the nonfiction product development process. Note: Please check the Common Publishing Terms section of this Web site for definitions of any terms with which you are unfamiliar.

Planning
· Product conceptualization
· Research
· Product proposal
   - Development
   - Review
   - Revision

Development
· Writing 
  - Sample chapter review and revision
  - First draft review and revision
  - Second draft review and revision
· Content editing
· Fact checking
· Permissions
· File prep and documentation for production

Production & Manufacturing
· Cover and template design
· Copyediting/Style editing
· Typesetting/Layout 
  - First pages review and revision
  - Second pages review and revision
· Electronic product testing
· Proofreading
· Indexing
· Final pages review and revision
· Printing and/or duplication*
· Binding/Packaging*
· Bulk shipping

Distribution
· Order taking
· Order fulfillment
· Shipping

*Stages vary depending on medium (print, CD, web-based, etc.).