We previously covered setting up a publishing imprint. Let’s back up a moment and talk about ISBNs.
If you decide to self-publish on your own (at least in the U.S.), you’ll have to buy your own ISBNs. Every book has one and a different one is assigned for books in each format. This means print (hardcover and paperback), audio and ebooks each get a separate ISBN.
In the U.S., ISBNs are assigned by R.R. Bowker. You can also get them in the U.S. at www.myidentifiers.com. Unless you think you’re going to be as prolific as Isaac Asimov or plan to write a 10-book series really soon, I’d start off buying a set of 10 ISBNs, to keep the costs down. However, you can buy them in sets of 100, if you’re ambitious and think you can use them. They’re cheaper in bulk.
ISBNs are currently not required on Amazon ebooks for Kindle. However, be advised that some distributors do require them on ebooks, which is another reason why you’ll want to purchase them in bulk if you plan to write more than one book. In any case, buying one ISBN simply isn’t cost-effective, so buy them in sets of 10 or 100.
For more about why you should care about them, if you set up your own publishing imprint, just click here! 🙂 I hope to post more random tips of interest to bookish types and other writers/creators/multi-hyphenates on Substack. 🙂
PS: The header image obviously has nothing to do with ISBNs! But have you tried finding a stock image that screams “ISBN!” at you? 🙂
PPS: When I searched Pixabay on the term “ISBN”, I got the above image, amongst many other obviously unrelated ones. Like the one below, which I’m including because it’s awesome! 🙂
PPPS: Please consider helping to fund research on dystonia (a rare movement disorder that I happen to have) by joining my team, DMV Dystonia: https://letszoothis.swell.gives/fundraisers/Debbi.Mack
Check out the team page! We’re up to seven members! 🙂 Can we make it 10 (or even 25) by August 1, 2021?? I sure hope so!
Just click here to see your options.
And here are the incentives! Please note the important deadlines at the bottom!
And feel free to tell everyone about this!
Thank you! 🙂
