A book that is headed for a store needs a little paperwork: the facts that go on the copyright page and into a store's listing. Storybench gives you a tidy place to set all of it, and folds it into your exports.
The basic details
- Author name. The name that appears as the book's author. This is you, or your pen name.
- Publisher. The name publishing the book. If you are self-publishing, this can be your own name or an imprint you invent.
- Copyright year. The year you are publishing, for the copyright notice.
- Language. The language your book is written in.
Subject codes (BISAC)
BISAC subject codes are the standard categories bookstores use to shelve a book, for example a children's picture-book category. Setting them helps a store list your book in the right place, so the right readers can find it. You do not need to memorise them: you choose the ones that fit your story.
ISBNs, per format
An ISBN is the unique number that identifies a published book. If you plan to sell through stores, you will usually need one. Storybench lets you record an ISBN for each format separately, because a printed edition and an ebook edition are treated as different products and each carries its own number.
You provide the ISBNs (some stores can supply one for you, or you can buy your own). Storybench checks that the number you enter is well-formed, so a simple typo does not slip through, and then places it into the right files for you.
Why it is worth doing
These details are what turn a lovely PDF into a proper, listable book. Filling them in before you export means your files arrive at the store already carrying the right author, the right year, and the right numbers, with less back-and-forth. Next, make sure it is print-ready: the print-readiness check.