Last April, at IBPA’s Publishing University, I was reminded that no matter how long you’ve been in the industry, there’s always something new to learn. Independent publishers like us must be exceptionally resourceful to compete with large conglomerates, encouraging innovation and emerging practices that make the independent publishing space one to watch closely.
A good example of this is Microcosm Publishing & Distribution. Microcosm began in 1996 when founder Joe Biel started distributing zines and records from a bedroom closet in Portland, Oregon. Over the years, it has grown into a vibrant, fiercely independent publishing house known for its focus on DIY skills, social justice, and empowering readers to effect positive change.
Microcosm’s founder, along with its vice president, Elly Blue, participated in several panels, and they had much to share. However, what caught my attention was the announcement that they were making their title and inventory management system available to other publishers. I’ve always believed that a good database and title management system are crucial for growth, and I wasn’t surprised to learn that solid internal systems had contributed to Microcosm’s ability to scale up.
For small publishers, such solutions are often too expensive to implement, creating a catch-22 for those on their way up. So, I was excited to learn about an affordable solution for even the smallest publishers. I reached out to the team at Microcosm Publishing & Distribution to learn more about WorkingLit, their in-house solution for various publishing workflows.
In response to my questions, Biel shared the organic evolution of WorkingLit. Back in 2001, an employee suggested automating their processes with a database. “I thought, sure, if you want to! Sounds great!” Biel recalls. What started as a simple idea gradually developed into a comprehensive system managing inventory, royalties, accounting, and more. “Each addition was a bit of an impulsive ‘What if it could do this too?’ until we realized we’d built an ERP and publishing management system,” Biel says.
They didn’t set out to create a product; they were solving their own operational challenges. This hands-on approach ensured that the system was tailored to the real needs of an independent publisher. WorkingLit aims to address problems that many of us might not even realize we have until we’re in the thick of them. “A bestseller sounds great until you have to figure out how many to print and manage associated expenses,” Biel shares as an example. “Most publishers struggle with having too many or too few copies on hand—both scenarios can be costly.”
WorkingLit incorporates solutions for inventory management and turn ratios that are both innovative and practical, even for the smallest publishers. It also offers an affordable royalties management system, entirely owned by the publishers who use it, addressing a significant pain point in our industry.
Blue, WorkingLit’s chief operating officer, says, “Under the management of Chief Technology Officer Ben Parzybok (an author himself), WorkingLit is actively building new features, including custom ONIX exports, distributor statement importers, e-commerce capability, and sophisticated print run calculation and inventory management tools.”
Perhaps most inspiring is WorkingLit’s cooperative model. Publishers using the system accumulate ownership shares, meaning dividends come in the form of new features without increased costs. “We have infinite ideas to open the playing field,” Biel says. “Early adopters will help us expand more quickly on our plans.”
As Biel points out, the publishing landscape is shifting. According to Bookscan, smaller publishers have grown their market share by about 12% over the past four years. Biel envisions WorkingLit as a tool to further this trend by giving publishers maximum agency. “WorkingLit is likely the only platform designed to allow you to perform all aspects of your own distribution,” Biel says. “Our goal was to empower each publisher to make choices that are best for them.”
By integrating flexibility and autonomy at every stage, WorkingLit not only supports current needs but also encourages further innovation. “The smallest and most innovative publishers will bring us the best ideas for new features,” Biel says. “They’ll help their fellow software owners grow the platform they own—and their own and each other’s success.”
Reflecting on PubU, I share Biel’s enthusiasm for the fresh ideas circulating in our industry. “Attending PubU was magical and transformative,” Biel says. “It was a breath of fresh air to meet publishers who were bold—who pointed out what wasn’t working and what they wanted to see change.”
This willingness to question traditional methods and embrace new solutions is vital. As Biel puts it, “I am enlivened by people poking, challenging, and improving the model rather than insisting it cannot change. Because what size of publishers are benefiting from the existing models?”
Learning about WorkingLit reaffirmed my belief in the power of innovation and collaboration within our community. Microcosm Publishing’s journey—from a closet-based distro to a Publishers Weekly fastest-growing publisher—is a testament to what can be achieved when we address our challenges head-on and share solutions openly.
You can read more about WorkingLit and what it offers at workinglit.com/dashboard. WorkingLit is free for publishers with 10 titles or fewer.
María Jesús Aguilo the rights and contracts director at Blue Star Press | Sasquatch Books, a proudly independent publisher based in the US Pacific Northwest. She serves on the IBPA Board of Directors.