{"id":22215,"date":"2019-10-07T03:00:30","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T10:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=22215"},"modified":"2019-10-02T07:55:47","modified_gmt":"2019-10-02T14:55:47","slug":"how-to-spot-a-professional-book-shepherd-introduction-and-industry-standards-by-mary-neighbour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/07\/how-to-spot-a-professional-book-shepherd-introduction-and-industry-standards-by-mary-neighbour\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Spot a Professional Book Shepherd: Introduction and Industry Standards by Mary Neighbour"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/a>Please welcome back guest author Mary Neighbour<\/a> as she shares with us \u201cHow to Spot a Professional Book Shepherd: Introduction and Industry Standards.\u201d Enjoy!<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

After the writing, after the editing<\/strong>, after the designing of the book, authors are faced with actually publishing<\/i> their books; that is, making a physical and\/or digital book available for readers, distributors, libraries, and\/or booksellers.<\/p>\n

Manufacturing and producing a physical product is\u2014you guessed it\u2014complex, entailing far more than handing off a file to an online publishing platform or commercial printer.<\/p>\n

Self-publishers at this point may seek the help of a freelancer who has experience in the printing, binding, and manufacture of books.<\/p>\n

Yet I would argue that the help you hire should be knowledgeable about all<\/i> areas of publishing, regardless of how \u201chands-on\u201d they are.<\/p>\n

Why? Because the final book product is the sum of its parts, and you want someone who can assess the professionalism of each of those parts.<\/p>\n

Book Shepherd<\/h2>\n

\"sheep-road\"<\/a>Book shepherd<\/i> is a common handle for such an overall publishing consultant, though you\u2019ve likely heard book doctor, book guru<\/i>, and others.<\/p>\n

They all refer to full-service consultants who have the expertise to guide you along any or every mile of the publishing journey.<\/p>\n

Even if you only engage this professional after the editing and design are finished, I advocate bringing them onboard for the finalization of the publishing process.<\/p>\n

This type of professional is knowledgeable about all aspects of publishing\u2014and there are many aspects to consider:<\/p>\n

Aspects of Book Publishing<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Editing, design, and layout<\/li>\n
  2. What belongs in the front and back matter, what belongs on the cover, etc. In short, is everything where it needs to be?<\/li>\n
  3. Rights, permissions, disclaimers, and ISBN<\/li>\n
  4. Creating digital files for ebooks, uploads, and delivery to service providers<\/li>\n
  5. Printing and binding<\/li>\n
  6. Proofs and review copies<\/li>\n
  7. Business plans, names, imprints, logos, domains, and websites<\/li>\n
  8. Pricing, bar codes, EAN, and ASIN<\/li>\n
  9. Researching and selecting keywords, categories, PCIP, audiences, competition, reviews, and endorsements<\/li>\n
  10. Author goals, platforms, and book launch<\/li>\n
  11. Marketing and promotion<\/li>\n
  12. Distribution, discovery, delivery, and discounts<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We\u2019ve covered some of these topics in detail, in previous blog posts<\/a>. Now we\u2019ll zoom out and review the publishing process as a whole, integrated, strategic<\/i> process.<\/p>\n

    Publishing Process as a Whole, Integrated, Strategic Process<\/h2>\n

    The book shepherd who manages this operation fundamentally needs to be someone who has their finger on the pulse of the industry, which changes and updates regularly in this vigorous digital age.<\/p>\n

    They also need to be able to work within budget and within deadline, so communication with you must be clear, supportive, and instructive.<\/p>\n

    Book Publishing Industry Standards: What A Book Shepherd Knows
    \n<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Many aspects of the publishing industry will change position and move to greener pastures over time. But the fundamental standards remain terra firma<\/i>.<\/p>\n

    Assuming that the actual writing of the book is up to par in terms of grammar and style, the following standards should be followed to ensure your book is a class act, from your desktop all the way to the reader\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

    Standard #1<\/b><\/p>\n

    A professional book adheres to<\/p>\n

    (a) the norms of its genre\u2014in presentation and production\u2014and also to<\/p>\n

    (b) the purpose of its content, so that a reader can easily understand and navigate the book\u2019s content.<\/p>\n

    Standard #2<\/b><\/p>\n

    A professional book is edited, designed, and produced by industry experts. (See all previous blogs in this series for details<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

    A physical proof of the book is carefully reviewed to ensure this. The review of the proof includes factors of content accuracy and legibility, binding durability, as well as ink and paper quality.<\/p>\n

    Standard #3<\/b><\/p>\n

    A professional book displays appropriate title page(s) and copyright page.<\/p>\n

    Standard #4<\/b><\/p>\n

    The author or publisher owns the ISBN. Books intended for retail sales have a barcode. Complete and consistent metadata is used with every vendor and service provider, by whatever means the book is manufactured.<\/p>\n

    Standard #5<\/b><\/p>\n

    A professional book is released into the marketplace in a strategic manner at a strategic time. It is competitive within its genre.<\/p>\n

    Standard #6<\/b><\/p>\n

    By its very nature, publishing is collaborative, making it one of the most fulfilling professional experiences for all involved.<\/p>\n

    \"meadow-storm\"<\/a>Moreover, the guardianship of books carries significant social responsibilities. Make sure all the sheep in your care are properly sheltered before<\/i> a storm hits.<\/p>\n

    Ethical Standard for A Book Shepherd (and Other Book Professionals)<\/h2>\n

    Incumbent upon authors, publishers, book shepherds, freelancers, and consultants is the duty to uphold basic ethics.<\/p>\n

    Many publishing houses make their ethical standards public. However, where do self-publishers go for information on this important topic?<\/p>\n

    No doubt you have heard the criticisms about vanity and some subsidy presses who not only may be inexpert, they place profit (theirs) above any other consideration.<\/p>\n

    Self-serving exploitation has no place in publishing, such as:<\/strong><\/p>\n