• Low Quality: n/a • Acceptable: n/a • High Quality: n/a • Best Possible: n/a PUBLISHING COST: ISBN ISBNs are kind of a pain. For most of our authors, there are perks to having their own ISBN (which we provide as part of working with us, of course). The ISBN is the 13-digit number above the barcode at the back of your book, which tells bookstores and libraries all the important info about your book. If you use a free ISBN assigned to you by KDP or IngramSpark, there are downsides. First off, your book looks more self-published. Second, you’ll limit your chances of a bookstore carrying your own book, as many won’t take books from KDP especially. You do not have to get your own ISBN, but doing so will make you look more legit. • Low Quality: Free • Acceptable: $85–$99 • High Quality: $125 • Best Possible: $125 TOTAL PUBLISHING COST • Low Quality: ~$2,000 • Acceptable: ~$5,000 • High Quality: ~$13,000 • Best Possible: ~$18,000 Again, this is not a true total cost, because writing help and hard- 338 · ThE SCriBE METhOD