As a publisher, you’ll obtain a block of ISBNs specific to your publishing name and assign a unique ISBN to each edition of every book you publish. Each edition of every book? Let’s clarify what that means. Continue reading
Author Archives: Fiona
Getting your own ISBNs
One of the things you’ll need to do as a publisher is obtain a block of International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs) for your books. Some printers, print-on-demand publishers, and eBook vendors will offer to provide you with an ISBN for your book, but it’s better to get your own. Part of the ISBN includes a “publisher number” which is assigned to a specific publisher. Therefore, if you allow another company to provide the ISBN, then that company will be listed as the publisher of your book. ISBNs are easy to obtain online, and using your own numbers means that you’ll retain control over your books. Continue reading
Estimate your page count
You’ve finished your manuscript (or nearly finished it!) and you’re ready to get some quotes for book design and printing. But first you’ll want to know approximately how many pages your finished book will have. Here’s a simple way to calculate your book’s approximate page count using the word count of your manuscript. Continue reading
Print or print-on-demand?
Authors often ask me whether they should get a quantity of books printed or simply sign up with a print-on-demand (POD) company and avoid the cost of printing altogether. Which choice is right for you? Continue reading
Start a style sheet
Editors create style sheets to keep spelling and punctuation consistent throughout your book. A style sheet usually consists of a chart with a space for each letter of the alphabet, and a space for notes at the bottom. Continue reading
Typesetting 101
You and your book designer have created an outstanding design for your book pages, and now your book is ready for typesetting. The irony of excellent typesetting is that no one will notice it! Your reader will find it smooth traveling from cover to cover. Continue reading
Setting your book’s retail price
Written with help from Renee and Jack Brodie, publishers.
Determining your book’s retail price can be nerve-wracking. If it’s too expensive, your book may be priced out of the market. If it’s not expensive enough, you won’t even recover your costs. How do other publishers decide? Consider three things: cost per book to print, pre- and post-printing expenses, and the price of similar books in the marketplace. Continue reading
Your publishing name and logo
Many authors choose a publishing name for publishing their book. A publishing name separates you-the-author from you-the-publisher. Your publishing name can be your own name, a business name, or a corporation. For example, if I publish a book, I might choose “Raven Books” or “Raven Press Ltd.” as my publishing name. Of course, I would first need to make sure the name was not already in use, and then register it through the appropriate government authority. Continue reading
Why hire a freelance editor?
(Reprinted with permission from Ann Harmer, freelance editor.)
You’ve spent months, perhaps years, writing your masterpiece, polishing and perfecting it, and now you’re ready to release it to the world. You even ran it through your spell-checker and double-checked your commas, the same as editors do, right? Well, not exactly. Continue reading
Getting testimonials and endorsements
Whether you are selling a book or a product, testimonials and endorsements are a necessary and vital part of your marketing plan. Whether you need one endorsement to accent a particular feature of your book or product, or whether you need several endorsements to create credibility—you do NEED them. Continue reading