It’s not always clear how manuscripts move between departments in the publishing industry. Who decides when they’re ready to go and what information gets exchanged? This process may vary from press to press depending on the size of the departments, but here at Ooligan, there’s a standardized process to transfer the manuscript from acquisitions to copyeditor and the project manager who will take the manuscript throughout the rest of the publishing process.
Tabling at an event comes with all sorts of factors to consider, many that you need to get a head start on. Working with a new venue, however, is a whole different ball game. In starting fresh somewhere new, there’s only so much you can figure out in advance.
A majority of my position is digital collaboration: reviewing Marketing or Publicity documents for project teams, corresponding with Project Managers, or reaching outside Ooligan for various extracurricular publishing activities. Marketing and Publicity are actually two distinct departments at Ooligan Press. The role of Marketing and Publicity Manager is unique because it is one of the few positions that is currently combined; while the responsibilities vary, the skillset is similar.
Marketing plans are a foundational document that make sure the entire process of publishing a book is cohesive, intentional, and appropriate to the audience and the goals of the book. The marketing plan is referenced in almost every other stage of the publishing process, so we have to be careful and put a lot of thought into the decisions we make because mistakes could cascade throughout the process and cause problems later.
This fateful upheaval of the current social media landscape means big opportunities to innovate the book marketing mix. Publishers need to be proactive in forming strategies to reap the unique splendors of a new host of social media platforms, and one channel is especially promising: Geneva.
At Ooligan Press, we have a set of best practices for supporting our authors and their books with social media channels. As part of the “Inside Ooligan” series, here’s a look at what the Ooligan Press Social Media Manager does for our books in production.
Like many Oolies before me, when I first started the graduate program in Book Publishing at Portland State University, I thought I would be most interested in editorial. In fact, besides being an editor, I didn’t really know anything about the other jobs that existed in the publishing industry. I had a lot to learn!
Most books that are published these days have some number of quotes of praise from various sources, usually other authors or major newspapers… The question becomes, how do publishers choose who to contact for a blurb or review of a book?
At Ooligan, everyone is a designer, editor, proofreader, marketer, and publicity specialist. So our efforts, while always noble, are not always cohesive and streamlined.
The WHERE WE CALL HOME launch party went off without a hitch. Now we get to do the whole book production process all over again!