March 9, 2020– Everyone who knows me knows that I’m a huge hockey fan. Publishing, for me, is a lot like hockey in the sense that there are coaches, teammates, and special teams who kill penalties/score on powerplays. Why is it important to have special teams in publishing, and what are they? I’m glad you asked.
- Illustrators/Graphic Artists-These are the teammates that we depend on when we’re in a dire situation. These are the teammates behind the bench that are stitching us up after we’ve been hit with a puck to the face, and they’re making sure we can get back on the ice quickly and safely. They are always performing their best, and they stick to deadlines. Without them, our books would be black, white, and grey. They bring colour and imagination to an otherwise dull world. These are the teammates that I call on when we need changes made quickly and accurately. Thank you, Alex, Erin, Emily J, Emily K, Shamayal, Chris, Sarah, Dani, Nikki, Danielle, and Chi.
- Editors-These are the teammates that are sent in to kill penalties and ensure that the House is protected and error-free in each and every manuscript that we publish. We depend on them to make sure we won’t be caught doing something stupid. They check for spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and sentence structure. They make sure that we are putting out our best work. Thank you, Helen.
- Authors-These are the teammates that are sent out on a powerplay. They’re the ones who drive the business forward by selling their books, they do book signings, and get people interested in our publishing company. They are the ambassadors of our team, and they represent us well. They score the goals when the opportunities arise. They are the storytellers and they bring their genius to every project. Without them, there would be no team. Thank you, Tamara, Tim, Ken, Michelle, Samantha, Tonya, Joanne, Gina, Lindsay, Paul, and Rachel.
- Coaches-This is me. I’m the one drawing up the plays on the ice and coming up with strategies. I say where we go and in which direction we’re headed to contend for Lord Stanley. I put the players where their strengths are and make adjustments as needed. I see the best in them and work with them accordingly for the benefit of the entire team. I’m on the ice with them for every practice, and at the end of the day, the team will rise to the level of their training. It’s my job to make sure that we are profitable, winning, and that everyone succeeds. I, like any other coach, am focused on developing my team to be the best that they can. And I’m also hoping to keep my job…
Special teams in publishing are so crucial because the entire team has different roles and will be called upon at various times to help the team where and when it needs it most. I’m not sending in our penalty killers when we’re on the powerplay. X LLB
