FOCUS ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Jane Bullard, author

The publishing industry should be a key focus for writers...its parts including query letters or e-mails, writing skills, genre knowledge, and stages of manuscript submissions, contracts, and editor-author relationships.  

When I was Writer working on a personal narrative/non-fiction book:

Focus was on Writing first, then Researching Publishers.

When I became a Published Author of that book:

Focus had to shift to Marketing.

When I wanted to buy All Rights to my first book’s first edition (UK publisher-1996):

Focus should have been on Book Rights Research about what a buying process should include, asking questions like:  

“Do I need to have hard copies shipped from England?”

“Should I buy the rights (as above) and leave books in UK for UK sales?

“Won’t the publisher’s digital files be the main purchase with rights?

When I owned All Rights, as of 1999:    

Focus became Customs requirements and Over stock of units/copies, shipped from England.

After Opine Publishing formed (late 1999, early 2000): 

Focus shifted to Publishing, specifically, Industry Standards and Practices in seven categories:

—Publisher-industry relations

—Publisher-author relations

—Contracts & agreements

—Production*

—Printing*

—Distribution & marketing*

             —Professional development*

   

*Starred items are the most demanding to learn and activate. *Marketing is entrenched, for now, as a key responsibility of writers.  

To begin: What are two main hard copy and digital company names for book distribution?  For book sales? What is a major publishing journal in the U.S.?

In addition: Learn business requirements for book sales receipts and marketing expenses.

Posted by Jean Purcell, publisher, Opine Publishing

a.k.a., Jane Bullard, author: Not All Roads Lead Home