Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2026 - PUB 372 B100

The Book Publishing Process (4)

Class Number: 4744

Delivery Method: Blended

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 6, 2026: TBA, TBA
    VANCOUVER

  • Prerequisites:

    60 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Students will follow the book-publishing process from the acquisition and editing of manuscripts through to production, promotion and distribution. Each topic proceeds from basic concepts and precepts to case studies of particular kinds of publishing companies (e.g., literary, regional and general trade) and particular types of books (e.g., children's, genre, fiction and poetry). The publishing decision-to-publish process is simulated. Required readings focus on the history of book publishing, as well as on current developments. Students with credit for CMNS 372 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Scheduling
Lectures B100 - (Asynchronous/Online)
Tutorials - In Person (Harbour Centre)
B101 - Thursdays, 10:30am - 11:20am (HCC 1525)
B102 - Thursdays, 11:30am to 12:20pm (HCC 1525)

The Book Publishing Process will take students through the fascinating journey a writer’s idea takes from a manuscript to a book on the shelves in a bookstore—or increasingly, on your phone as a podcast or audiobook or an ebook on an electronic reading device. Book publishing has an extensive history and spans centuries. In the context of the “book publishing process,” students will examine the publisher as the mediator of the publishing process. The publisher as a gatekeeper who selects and filters manuscripts, shapes and develops the text, and “makes public” the final product for the reader.

 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Students will:

• Trace a manuscript's journey from acquisition and contract negotiation through the editing, design, production, and marketing stages, differentiating how these processes adapt for physical books, ebooks, and audiobooks.

• Assess the impact of emerging technologies and market shifts on traditional publishing models, specifically focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital rights management, piracy, and the market dominance of "mega" players like Amazon, Google, and Apple.

• Interpret and utilize the core business and creative documents that drive the publishing process, including publishing contracts, profit and loss (P&L) statements, costing sheets, creative briefs, and marketing plans.

• Critique the publisher's role as a cultural gatekeeper and mediator, evaluating how the industry responds to critical societal issues such as Indigenous publishing, diversity in staffing and book lists, and the representation of women in publishing.

 

Grading

  • Short Assignments 30%
  • Module Quizzes 10%
  • Participation 5%
  • Book Proposal Group Project 45%
  • Self/Peer Assessment 10%

NOTES:

This outline is subject to change.

Materials

RECOMMENDED READING:

The Elements of Indigenous Style, Gregory Younging

The complete Canadian editor, Leslie Vermeer


Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.