by Jay Hartman
Thanks for coming in. Feel free to lie down on the couch over there. Comfortable? Great. You’re in a safe space here. You can always speak freely and say exactly what’s on your mind. Okay? Terrific. Let’s start off with an easy question.
Who are you?
That’s not intended as a loaded question, but I can practically hear your panic over on my side of the room. It’s obvious you’re somebody different to each person you interact with. Maybe you’re a spouse. Maybe you’re a parent. Maybe you’re an author. Maybe you’re a serial killer who leaves bodies in shallow graves in the Mojave Desert.
Here’s the thing. If you’re an author, there’s a good chance your readers have absolutely no idea who you are. I mean, sure, you’ve got family and friends who will buy your books and they know you, but what about the average Joe or Jane on the street? Other than a 100-word bio on a back cover and maybe a short write-up in a blog post somewhere, a reader goes into your book only knowing the plot and a brief bit about you. That’s it.
We both know you’re more than that. When it comes to a writing life you wear many hats and identify in many ways. Psychologists say the order in which you describe yourself is the order of importance you put on those things in life. For example, I typically say I’m a “neurodiverse, gay, lapsed Jew.” For some, they’ll list race or cultural heritage upfront. The point is, how you describe yourself is how the world learns what’s important to you.
This is where metadata comes in. If you’re only publishing through Amazon, you can skip ahead five or six paragraphs because Amazon is pretty much the only operation in the whole world that doesn’t rely on any type of true, systematic metadata. They ask a few questions about your book, but they don’t use any of the classification systems retailers and libraries around the world use. So, if you’re only with Amazon…join back up with the rest of us in a bit.
Okay, now that those folks have gone out for a popsicle, let’s talk about the most important piece of metadata you’ll come in contact with via places like IngramSpark: BISAC codes. The Book Industry Study Group is an organization that looks to standardize the categorization of titles based on subject matter. They produce a yearly update list known as BISAC, or Book Industry Standards and Communications. Check out their the whole catalog.
For example, imagine Misti Media published a novel by Kaye George titled Death in the Time of Ice. It’s a mystery novel with a female protagonist set in the time of the Neanderthals. The BISAC codes I’d choose when completing metadata for this book would be:
FIC022100 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Amateur Sleuth
FIC022060 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Historical
FIC022040 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths
This accurately classifies the novel in its subject categories. Now when libraries or bookstores want to find books that fit in these categories, a search by BISAC code is likely to turn up DITTOI (Death in the Time of Ice) as a possible book for them to buy.
The BISAC program isn’t perfect, really only works in North America, and it misses a lot of categories that may seem obvious. I serve on the Independent Book Publishers Association committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. One of the things we notice is how few categories exist to properly break down a book into correct categories for ethnic groups, the disabled, and so forth. One subcommittee is tasked to work with BISG to get new codes adopted. The latest update of BISACs includes a slew of codes for Indigenous Peoples, something that didn’t exist before, but now does, thanks to the efforts of our committee.
If you’ve tried to classify your title into subject categories at retailers other than Amazon or IngramSpark and haven’t found a code that best fits your work, I want to know about it. Shoot me an email at the address below. I can roll up the suggestion to our committee and see what we can do.
Welcome back, Amazon-only writers/publishers!
In addition to BISAC codes, there’s a lesser-known tool named the International Standard Name Identifier, or ISNI for short. Any author can file for a free ISNI number. With ISNI, you tell the world all about yourself. It’s a way to identify you and your works and it’s used by libraries and bookstores around the world.
Why is this a critical database? Think of a library that wants to put together a reading list of African-American authors. You can’t always tell from BISAC, a book detail page, an author’s name or their subject matter if they identify as African-American. An ISNI number tells you, should the author choose to share that. It’s a great way to tell the world who you really are. Include your website, titles, biography…whatever makes you…well…you. It’s a free service and = open for searching on the web. See if you’re already in the database. If you aren’t, I recommend adding your information.
Looks like our time up is up for this session. Take a deep, cleansing breath. Feel relaxed? Excellent.
Now go out in the world of BISAC and ISNI. Tell us who you really are.
Looking to get The Publisher Perspective? Send your questions to jhartman@mistimedia.com with TPP in your subject line.
Jay A. Hartman, founder of Untreed Reads Publishing, promotes ebooks with an emphasis on independent authors and publishers. He’s written about the ebook industry for fifteen years and previously served as content editor for KnowBetter.com, one of the internet’s oldest sites reporting on ebooks and epublishing.
