✍️ Tandem Services Editing & Coaching: Capture Memories: 3 Easy Steps
Empowering you to write the stories of your heart and increasing your impact with a book. Never miss a Tandem Services Update! A recent update may have impacted how our messages hit your inbox. To always see my Updates, tap the three dots in the upper right corner of this message, select Categorize Sender, and add Tandem Services to your Primary tab. Your email provider might have a different process. Thank you! Helpful information for youIn my effort to provide resources to help you beyond just book writing and editing (because frankly, there’s so much more involved than just writing), I’ve connected with other folks who have resources I think could benefit you. Leave a Legacy: A Simple, Heartfelt Way to Preserve Your Family’s StoriesHave you ever thought “These are amazing stories! I wish I could share them with my friends/relatives/kids/other people!”?? If you’ve ever wished you could capture your parents’ or grandparents’ stories—before those precious memories fade—here’s something you’ll appreciate. My friend Wil Weldon just created a warm, practical 3-Step Guide to Recording Your Family’s Stories (with just your phone! 📱). It walks you through how to preserve those voices, laughter, and life lessons that make your family unique. It’s simple, meaningful, and something you can do together this weekend. You’ll be surprised how naturally the stories start to flow once you begin. There’s no better time than now to make sure your family’s legacy is heard and remembered. And turning those stories into something larger (for sharing) just got much simpler! 👉 Click here to get the 3-Step Guide before it’s gone. Dave Chesson’s Authorpreneur AcademyYou all know how much I trust Dave Chesson’s content. Now he’s put everything you need to know about book publishing (all the behind-the-scenes metadata) into one course. Fiction or nonfiction, he has the tools for you. Step-by-step, what to do and when to do it. Check it out here. He’s offering a special life-time access price of $99, which will soon go up to $179. So grab it now. The ISBN Turns 60!This year marks a major milestone for the publishing industry—the 60th anniversary of the International Standard Book Number (ISBN). Since its introduction in 1967, the ISBN has become an indispensable tool for authors, publishers, and booksellers around the world. So what exactly is an ISBN, and why is it so crucial for today’s authors? Let’s take a step back in time to explore the history and importance of this unique identifier. The Origins of the ISBNIn the mid-1960s, the book industry was facing a major challenge. With thousands of new titles hitting the market each year, it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of all the different editions, formats, and versions (even before ebooks and audiobooks!). Bookstores, libraries, and publishers needed a standardized system to simplify the identification and ordering of books. Enter the ISBN. Conceived in 1966 by a British librarian named Gordon Foster, the 10-digit numbering system was first implemented in the UK and West Germany in 1967. It quickly spread to other countries, and by the 1970s, the ISBN had become an essential part of the global publishing landscape. The Power of a Unique IdentifierSo why is the ISBN so important for authors? In short, it provides a clear, unambiguous way to identify your book and distinguish it from every other publication out there. When you obtain an ISBN for your book, you’re not just getting a random number; you’re securing a unique identifier that serves several crucial functions:
Many self-publishing platforms, such as Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark, will actually provide ISBNs for authors as part of their publishing services. However, I recommended that you weigh the pros and cons of using a provided ISBN versus your own unique ISBNs. Owning your ISBN gives you more control over your book’s metadata and allows you to maintain a consistent identifier across formats and editions. It also makes it easier to transition your book to other publishing platforms or distribution channels in the future. A Changing Industry, an Enduring StandardAs the publishing world has evolved over the past six decades, the ISBN has remained a steadfast and adaptable standard. The original 10-digit format gave way to a 13-digit system in 2007, allowing for the creation of millions more unique identifiers. Today, ISBNs are an integral part of the self-publishing revolution, empowering authors to take control of their publishing journey. Whether you’re releasing your book in print, ebook, or audiobook form, obtaining an ISBN is a crucial step in getting your work into the hands of readers. As the ISBN celebrates its 60th birthday, it’s a testament to the foresight and ingenuity of those who created it. For authors, this unique identifier continues to be an essential tool for navigating the modern publishing landscape and ensuring your book gets the attention it deserves. Fun Jen NoteWhen I worked in traditional publishing as a managing editor, we were the keepers of the ISBNs. We actually had a paper log when I first started (can you imagine!) listing the available ISBNs assigned to us and the books we had assigned to each ISBN. And they cost money, so we were hesitant to assign them to any projects unless it had a green light. But internally, we used ISBNs to track projects across various departments such as editorial, marketing, production, and accounting. Pressing on! Jennifer PS–You can assume any link in this newsletter is an affiliate link. It costs you nothing more but gives me a few extra pennies. 😊 |
