- A near-final version of a book used for proofreading and pre-publication review.
- Modern galleys are PDF or print proofs from layout software.
- Ships 30-90 days before publication.
- Recipients: proofreaders, bookstores, major reviewers, librarians.
- The term comes from old typesetting (galley = long metal tray).
A galley (or galley copy) is a near-final version of a book used for proofreading and pre-publication review. The term comes from old typesetting; modern galleys are typically PDF or print proofs from the interior layout software. Galleys ship to proofreaders, bookstores, and major reviewers 30-90 days before publication.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Galleys are how the industry checks the typeset book before mass production. A galley pass catches errors that survived copy editing — formatting issues, image placement problems, header inconsistencies. Skipping the galley pass is how typos and layout errors reach final printed books.
Chapter ii·What to include
- An interior-formatted PDF or print proof.
- A galley distribution list: proofreaders, bookstores, reviewers, librarians.
- A clear "galley copy, not for sale" watermark or label.
- A 30-90 day timeline before publication.
- A proofreader review against the galley.
- A list of acceptable changes during the galley stage (typos, formatting only).
Chapter iii·Example
A small press ships 50 galley PDFs at T-90: 20 to industry reviewers, 15 to bookstores, 10 to libraries, 5 to the proofreader. The proofreader returns 23 catches (12 typos, 8 formatting, 3 image placement). All 23 are fixed before final production at T-30.
Chapter iv·Related questions
In WriteLoom
Everything this article talks about, in one project
WriteLoom holds galley files alongside the master manuscript, so the proofreader has the right version.
Not ready for a workspace yet? Get the free six-part series on winning the writing game: finishing drafts, editing in the right order, querying with real math, and launching on a runway.