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Create Copyright Page & Metadata Spreadsheet
⏱ Start 12 months before release
Why This Matters
Your copyright page and metadata are the backbone of your book's professional setup:
- The copyright page protects your intellectual property and shows ownership details
- The metadata spreadsheet stores all the information retailers and distributors need (KDP, IngramSpark, libraries, ISBN databases, etc.)
Together, they ensure your book looks legitimate, is easily discoverable online, and complies with publishing standards.
Part 1: Create Your Copyright Page
What Is a Copyright Page?
This page sits at the front of your book (usually after the title page). It identifies who owns the work, how it can be used, and key publishing information.
What to Include
Example Copyright Page
Born from the Broken
© 2025 Julieanna Mac
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means
— electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise —
without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published by Narratoria
London, United Kingdom
ISBN (Paperback): 978-1-23456-789-0
ISBN (eBook): 978-1-23456-789-1
First published in the United Kingdom in 2025
Cover Design by [Designer Name]
Edited by [Editor Name]
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents
are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Essential Elements
- Title - Your book's full title
- Copyright symbol and year - © 2025 [Your Name]
- Rights statement - "All rights reserved..." text
- Publisher name - Your imprint (e.g., "Published by Narratoria")
- ISBNs - List each format (ebook, paperback, hardcover)
- Publication year - When you're releasing the book
- Location - City and country of publication
Optional Elements
- Credits - Cover designer, editor, proofreader names
- Fiction disclaimer - "This is a work of fiction..." text
- Edition information - "First Edition" or "Revised Edition"
- Printing information - For print books, printer name/location
- Content warnings - If your book contains sensitive material
📍 Contact Address
You're required to include a contact address. If you don't want to use your home address, consider:
- A PO Box
- Just city and country (e.g., "London, UK")
- A business address if you have one
Part 2: Build Your Metadata Spreadsheet
What Is Metadata?
Metadata is everything that helps bookstores, libraries, and online retailers find and categorize your book. Having it in a spreadsheet keeps all your book data in one easy-to-update place.
Metadata Spreadsheet Template
Create a spreadsheet with these columns:
| Field |
Description |
Example |
| Title |
Main title of the book |
Born from the Broken |
| Subtitle |
Optional tagline |
A Celestial Courts Novel |
| Series Name / No. |
If part of a series |
The Celestial Courts, Book 1 |
| Author Name |
As it appears on the cover |
Julieanna Mac |
| Imprint / Publisher |
Your publishing name |
Narratoria |
| Publication Date |
Date you publish |
10 April 2025 |
| Edition / Format |
Ebook / Paperback / Hardcover |
Paperback |
| ISBN |
Unique identifier for each format |
978-1-23456-000-0 |
| Page Count / Trim Size |
For print books |
350 pages / 5.5" x 8.5" |
| Language |
Main language |
English |
| Price (GBP / USD / EUR) |
Retail price by market |
£9.99 / $12.99 |
| BISAC Subject Codes |
Official categories for your genre |
FIC027120 – Fiction / Fantasy / Romance |
| Keywords / Tags |
Search terms for discoverability |
romantasy, fae, slow burn, Scottish fantasy |
| Short Description |
150–200 characters (used on retailer listings) |
A mortal woman bound to gods who can't love without ruin. |
| Long Description |
300–1,000 words (used for marketing blurbs) |
Full back-cover or retailer description |
| Target Audience / Age Range |
Helps with marketing classification |
Adult romantasy (18+) |
| Distributor Links |
Where it's listed |
Amazon KDP, IngramSpark |
| Cover Designer / Editor |
Credits |
Cover: M. Artistry / Edits: L. Hayes |
BISAC Subject Codes
BISAC codes are the official categories used by booksellers to classify titles. You can choose 2-3 that best fit your book.
Examples for romantasy:
- FIC027120 – Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
- FIC009130 – Fiction / Fantasy / Epic
- FIC027110 – Fiction / Romance / Fantasy
- FIC009020 – Fiction / Fantasy / Contemporary
🔍 Keywords for Discoverability
Choose 7-10 keywords that readers might search for:
- Genre-specific terms (romantasy, fae romance, gods and monsters)
- Tropes (enemies to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn)
- Comparable titles ("for fans of Fourth Wing", "readers of ACOTAR")
- Setting elements (Scottish mythology, dark fantasy, Celtic lore)
Where This Metadata Goes
You'll use this information when:
- Registering ISBNs in Nielsen Title Editor
- Uploading to KDP and IngramSpark
- Creating your book's Goodreads page
- Writing marketing materials
- Submitting to retailers and libraries
How to Set This Up
Step 1: Create Your Copyright Page
- Open a new Word document
- Use the template above and fill in your details
- Save as
Copyright_Page.docx in your /ISBN & Metadata/ folder
- This will be inserted into your manuscript before formatting
Step 2: Create Your Metadata Spreadsheet
- Open Excel, Google Sheets, or similar
- Create columns for each metadata field (use the table above as a guide)
- Fill in what you know now - you'll finalize details in Phase 2
- Save as
Metadata_Sheet.xlsx in your /ISBN & Metadata/ folder
✅ Once you've created your copyright page and metadata spreadsheet (even if incomplete), mark this task complete!
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