How the production queue works

Nimble Books works off a production queue which determines the order of books worked on and published.

The order of operations is determined by a number of hard nosed factors such as contractual obligations and business prospects plus some squishier factors such as how much work is left to do and what human resources are available. In the meantime, the routine business of acquisition, marketing, sales, and accounting is always going on. Some books in the list require very small amounts of additional work, others will require a great deal of effort. Things that are closest to complete tend to be nearer the top because publishers (and authors, in the Nimble model) only make money when books are actually published. Naturally, manuscripts that are not yet received or complete are at the bottom.

This FOFI (first out first in) algorithm works for Nimble but from the author’s perspective it does tend to produce long bursts of inactivity followed by seemingly frenzied bursts of progress.

While at this point, Nimble’s scheduling is an art, not a science, it would be reasonable to assume that four to six books will be published each month. Firm publication dates for each title are issued only when the book has been accepted by the printer and there are no remaining obstacles that might produce inaccurate expectations.

Related posts:

1. Morris Rosenthal on Writers’ Actual Priorities
2. “Complete” means complete
3. A Tale Of Two Clocks by James H Schmitz