Publishing Consultant
Why Hire a Publishing Consultant?
When you publish on your own, you’re responsible for knowing not just all the pieces but how they all fit together.
You need to verify that you’ve gotten the editing your book needs to connect with readers. You need to work with a cover designer to create an eye-catching and genre-appropriate cover. You need to be sure your metadata is accurate for your book and will help you connect with readers. You need to build a distribution plan that’s appropriate for your publishing goals.
When you hire a publishing consultant, they can help you plot a course that best supports the publishing journey you want to embark on. Not interested in the near-impossible task of having your book stocked in major bookstores? Be sure you’re set up for the highest possible royalties on direct-to-consumer sales. Hoping to become an Amazon bestseller? Make sure your book is listed in the right categories.
Even if you decide to spend hours upon hours scouring blog posts and learning to self-publish your book on your own, there’s a chance the information you collect could be out of date (or just plain wrong). Here are just a few major distributor policy changes we’ve seen in the last year alone:
- New AI disclosure requirements with KDP
- More rigorous KDP file review process to check for plagiarism
- An increase of IngramSpark’s minimum wholesale discount from 30% to 40%
- New e-commerce share & sell opportunities from IngramSpark
- Significant changes to the traditional 10-category KDP request option many authors relied on
Who Can Benefit from a Publishing Consultant?
The short answer: Anyone.
The long answer: If you know you want to self-publish but you’re overwhelmed by your options, consider hiring a publishing consultant. You might find yourself in one (or more) of the following situations:
- You aren’t sure which of the myriad self-publishing tracks works best for your situation.
- You finished your book but don’t know what steps to take next.
- You aren’t planning to hire Spoonbridge Press for a full publishing plan, but you have questions about the publishing process and want guidance from someone who has been in the industry a long time.
If any of the above rings true for you, our self-publishing consulting package might be right for you.
Purchase a Self-Publishing Consultant Package from Spoonbridge Press
Depending on your needs, you can meet with our lead editor, publication specialist, or both. Schedule a single meeting to get you up to speed with what you need or bundle several meetings for regular support. We’re here to help!
Here’s just a sample of topics we can discuss:
- How to self-publish a book
- The impact editors and book designers can make on your chances of success
- The best wholesale discount and distribution options for your book, budget, and goals
- How to maintain the flexibility to pivot your author career in the future
- Whether a free or paid ISBN is best for your needs
Note: We can only advise on self-publishing. We can’t help you find an agent or submit your manuscript to traditional publishers.