Mission Statement
Although hybrid publishing companies are author-subsidised, they are different from other author-subsidized models in that hybrid publishers adhere to professional publishing standards. Regardless of who pays for editorial, design, and production fees, it is always the publisher that bears responsibility for producing, distributing, and ultimately selling professional-quality books.
ISP Hybrid Publisher Criteria includes the following list of exceptions, which all hybrid publishers are expected to meet (expanded details here):
- Define a mission and vision for its publishing program.
- Vet submissions.
- Publish under its own imprint(s) and ISBNs.
- Publish to industry standards.
- Ensure editorial, design, and production quality. (Author funded proofreading or equivalent).
- Pursue and manage a range of publishing rights.
- Provide distribution services.
- Demonstrate respectable sales.
- Pay authors a higher-than-standard royalty.
ISP Hybrid Publishers Criteria points to functions that a reputable hybrid publisher is expected to perform. An author-subsidized business model in no way relieves a publisher of its, design, marketing, sales, and distribution responsibilities, in conjunction with author participation.
Definition: A hybrid publisher must
Define a mission and vision for its publishing program.
A hybrid publisher has a publishing mission and a vision. In a traditional publishing company, the published work often reflects the interests and values of its publisher, whether that’s a passion for poetry or a specialization in business books. Good hybrid publishers are no different.
Vet submissions.
A hybrid publisher vets submissions, publishing only those titles that meet the mission and vision of the company, as well as a defined quality level set by the publisher. Good hybrid publishers don’t publish everything that comes over the transom and often decline to publish.
Publish under its own imprint(s) and ISBNs.
A hybrid publisher is a true publishing house, with either a publisher or a publishing team developing and distributing books using the hybrid publisher’s own imprint(s) and ISBNs.
Publish to industry standards.
A hybrid publisher accepts full responsibility for the quality of the titles it publishes. Books released by a hybrid publisher should be on par with traditionally published books in terms of adherence to industry standards, and Professionally Published Book.
Ensure editorial, design, and production quality.
A hybrid publisher is responsible for producing book, design, and produced to a professional degree. This includes assigning own editors for developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading, as needed, this aspect is at authors cost. Authors can do proofreading etc, if they are qualified, or have an accredited person do the job.
To be accepted by Inspiring Publishers an author must take an active roll in the promotion of their book and drive sales to ISP Bookshop, or if overseas to an International platform, like: Amazon, IngramSpark, Lulu.com.
We do not take submissions if the author does not want to be involved with the marketing of their book. We know from years of experience if an author does nothing then they get nothing.
