{"id":2881,"date":"2022-02-15T04:17:54","date_gmt":"2022-02-15T04:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.booksandpublishing.com.au\/independentpublishing\/?p=2881"},"modified":"2022-03-08T23:54:20","modified_gmt":"2022-03-08T23:54:20","slug":"your-key-independent-publishing-partners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.booksandpublishing.com.au\/independentpublishing\/articles\/2022\/02\/15\/2881\/your-key-independent-publishing-partners\/","title":{"rendered":"Your key independent publishing partners"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the key roles of Independent Publishing<\/em> is connecting authors with reputable providers of services and advice to help you at each step of your writing and publishing journey. By way of introduction, Independent Publishing<\/em> spoke to a number of professional organisations, industry service providers and consultants to give them the opportunity to explain\u2014in their own words\u2014who they are, what they offer and how they can help you.<\/p>\n

The ISBN agency: More than just a number<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Maria Watts from the ISBN Agency writes:<\/em><\/p>\n

The ISBN Agency is an integral part of a publishing journey.<\/p>\n

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 13-digit number that uniquely identifies books and book-like products published internationally. It is the principal world-wide ordering device for the international book trade and library market. The Australian ISBN Agency assigns ISBNs at the direct request of publishers (including self-publishers).<\/p>\n

Thorpe-Bowker is the official ISBN Agency for publishers physically located in Australia. The Australian ISBN agency is managed via the MyIdentifiers website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For some self-publishers, once their project is complete it can be a daunting prospect to navigate the plethora of publishing services available. As well as ISBNs, we provide marketing options, an ebook conversion service, and other tools such as barcodes and QRCodes, as well as information for new publishers that will enable their book to find its potential audience.<\/p>\n

As part of the process, all publisher and title information that is supplied to us via our MyIdentifiers website is included in our publications Bowker Books In Print\u00ae, Bowker Syndetic Solutions\u2122 and Bookwire.<\/p>\n

These publications are sold via subscription to those in the industry who are researching and purchasing titles regularly, including bookstores and libraries. This gives titles and publishers greater exposure and adds to the discoverability their title needs.<\/p>\n

For my colleague Ruth Cartwright and I, making connections with authors and new publishers is one of the most enjoyable aspects of our job. We both have many years\u2019 experience with the ISBN Agency, which has given us a wealth of knowledge to assist anyone starting a publishing journey.<\/p>\n

Assisting a new author taking the first steps to publishing their labour of love or guiding someone through the process of creating their first ebook is such a rewarding experience for us, as I hope it is for our customers.<\/p>\n

The Australian Society of Authors (ASA): Supporting authors<\/strong><\/p>\n

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ASA CEO Olivia Lanchester writes: <\/em><\/p>\n

Congratulations B+P<\/em> on the launch of Independent Publishing<\/em>!<\/p>\n

The Australian Society of Authors<\/a>\u2019 (ASA) membership is broad; we welcome authors publishing independently or traditionally or both, and we\u2019re thrilled to see a publication serving the dynamic and growing group of indie authors.<\/p>\n

The ASA has been the national peak professional association, community and voice of Australia\u2019s writers and illustrators since it was established in 1963. Whether you\u2019re traditionally or independently published, we help you pursue a sustainable creative career through our advocacy, support and advice.<\/p>\n

I have been at the ASA for six years, the last two as CEO, and during my time I have become even more convinced of the importance of community and knowledge sharing.<\/p>\n

The opportunities for self-publication have grown dramatically in recent years. The barriers to entry are low, particularly in digital-only publishing, but the risks are high. As indie authors, you do not have the same opportunity as traditional publishers to spread your risk across many titles, meaning the investment of your time and money must be even more carefully assessed.<\/p>\n

On the positive side, these days you can engage high-quality editor and designer freelancers, develop direct relationships with readers, and enjoy a greater share of sales revenue. Our experience is that it is entirely possible to publish a high-quality book, indistinguishable from traditionally published work, through careful planning and expert help. There are, however, drawbacks to independent publishing: you bear the upfront costs, print distribution and discoverability remain challenging for indie authors and some genres are far more suitable for independent publication than others. We are highly aware of the millions of books available for sale on Amazon, the majority of them self-published, which earn virtually nothing from sales.<\/p>\n

As an indie author you must organise editing, design and lay-out, printing, distribution, and marketing your work (or outsource these tasks), as well as managing your cash flow and ensuring a profit margin. You need to understand your target audience, the formats in which they read and where they buy their books. You must build a reading community and continually leverage your backlist to provide ongoing income.<\/p>\n

How then to manage the budget, breadth of skills required and investment of time to self-publish successfully? The answer lies in researching widely to build knowledge and upskill, and being prepared to experiment and change. I encourage all indie authors to consider joining the ASA for access to the information, advice and support you need to navigate the publication process.<\/p>\n

How can the ASA help you?<\/p>\n