Doing the math for publishers since 2002
Excerpted from Microcosm zine Books and Math: A Manifesto On Publishing Tools by Elly Blue, Joe Biel, and Sara Balabanlilar. Take a look at the whole zine and purchase a copy on our website. For the unprepared, every small shift in the publishing industry can feel like a disaster on the horizon. But it doesn’t … Read more
In the great Tariff Measuring Contest where size is, apparently, everything, what are publishers to do? Especially in Canada, where both publishers and booksellers rely on being part of the North American supply chain? Kim Werker of Nine Ten Publications sits down with Joe and Elly to talk about tariffs, USPS’s oft-errant customs charges, and … Read more
Does author marketing make a difference, or is publisher marketing the only way to shift the public and draw hype to your book? Is it cheating if you ask your friends to buy your book? Jane Friedman of The Hot Sheet is back to clear up the huge variety of misconceptions around book marketing and … Read more
Orders and Customers Customer Classes These are different types of accounts with whom your publisher has a sales relationship. They give you money, you give them books. Whether they’re people you meet at your brick-and-mortar, distribution companies who go on to sell your books elsewhere, or something else, these customer classes add up to create … Read more
How do you bring your incredible, original idea to an author you want to work with? Should you? Is it worth worrying about the legal ramifications? And lastly, how do you get the darn thing written after you make an agreement? This week on the pod, Joe and Elly share a bit of their experiences … Read more
by Joe Biel, co-founder of WorkingLit A version of this post, “Why we use Math instead of AI,” is included in WorkingLit’s zine, Books and Math: A Manifesto on Publishing Tools, which is available on Microcosm’s website. There’s a lot of hubbub about how AI is going to revolutionize, well, just about everything. The trouble … Read more
Readers love knowing what to expect from a publisher. Having consistent theming in your titles can help with discovery, trust, and bringing readers back for more. But how do you find your theme? And what happens if you want to diverge from your theme? Jelani Memory of A Kids Co is back on the pod … Read more
How do you market your press? It’s not just social media and newsletters. Everything from your cover design, format choices, to who is on your marketing team tells the story of your publisher. Jane Friedman is back to talk to Joe and Elly about staying true to your brand and representing your press. Stay tuned … Read more
At WorkingLit, we’re invested in mutually supporting independent presses so we can all succeed. One of our dear publisher accounts, Blue Cactus Press, has been on board as WorkingLit has grown. We asked Chris Vega, founder: Why indie publishing? Why WorkingLit? WorkingLit: Tell us the story of your press! Chris Vega: Blue Cactus Press is … Read more
Publishers, look into your brain and your search history. I’m sure you see any number of the following: -How to save money while still making great books-How to publish without a small loan of a million dollars-Best publisher budget ever-Books + __ = profit??? Publishing books is a remarkably complex, rewarding process, but admittedly we’re … Read more