INBOUND BOOKS CHARTER

A Cooperative Publishing Model

1. Purpose

Inbound Books exists to publish high-quality fiction and non-fiction across all genres through a collaborative model that provides writers with support throughout the publishing process.

We believe strong writing comes from distinct voices, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to craft and audience. We are not a volume-driven publisher. We are a curated collective designed to create beautiful art and get it into the hands of as many readers as possible through a cooperative approach to creation, editing, production, distribution, and marketing. 

Simply stated, our purpose is to be a collective of writers who help each other get their work out into the world. We are a community of mutual respect and mutual support.

Vision: We see a world where creatives thrive on their own terms and lift each other up in the process.

Mission: Inbound Books exists to provide strong voices with a supportive structure that helps writers and illustrators reach readers, further their craft, and build community.

Simply stated: We want to give good books a chance to succeed.

2. Membership

Membership in Inbound Books is curated and invitation-based.

Writers are selected based on:

• Strength of voice and originality
• Ability to complete and refine work
• Willingness to collaborate on other authors’ works and contribute their own works
• Alignment with the values of the collective

This is not an open platform. It is a working group of committed creators who contribute creatively, financially, and with sweat equity through marketing, editing, and expert support.

1. Members of the collective are able to have their work published through the collective
2. Members are expected to contribute to the collective by helping edit other members’ work, market other Inbound projects, produce artwork for other Inbound projects, staff Inbound marketing events, or otherwise help drive attention to Inbound Books.
3. Members are not expected to be exclusive. Some works may not fit Inbound Books; some books may find a home with another publishing company. However, members are expected to participate regardless of how many works they have contributed.

3. Ownership & Rights

• Authors retain copyright to their work.
• Inbound Books is granted publishing rights for agreed formats (print, digital, audio, etc.) for a defined term.
• Rights structure will be outlined in individual publishing agreements, negotiated on a case-by-case basis with each author.
• Every contract will have a clear Rights Reversion clause, making it easy for artists to remove their work from the publisher if they so choose.

We are partners in publication, helping to facilitate the distribution and production of that work–not owners of each other’s work.

4. Revenue Model

Inbound Books operates on a shared-support, individual-reward model. Our goal is to help authors produce their work in a cooperative partnership. The goal is to ensure the best possible product reaches the marketplace with the best chance of success, while maximizing the author’s profit margin so they can control their own publishing destiny.

Standard Structure:

• Inbound will cover the full cost of producing and publishing the books we sign, including all editing, proofreading, layout, design, and cover art (note: each author will have the option to pay for and own their own cover art rights). 
• The author will cover the costs of marketing their own work, but Inbound will be by their side, providing guidance, resources, support, and assistance. We’re in this together.
• In exchange for the royalties, Inbound Books will support the author with:
  • Developmental Editing, Copyediting, and Proofreading
  • Layout and Design of the book
  • Distribution and Print Production Management (through KDP/IngramSpark)
  • Marketing infrastructure, including maintaining social media and website presence for the publisher
  • Inclusion at Inbound sponsored marketing events

Author copies can be purchased at cost (printing plus shipping).

To incentivize all Members for supporting all other Members, at the end of each quarter, after all operational expenses are accounted for, the remaining corporate profits are divided among Members. This means the more successful we are as a Publisher, the better we all do. Shares of this dividend will be divided based on how many hours of sweat equity each member has logged during the quarter, so the more you help your fellow authors, the more dividend you stand to make.

If no hours are logged in a quarter but there are profits, those profits will be reinvested in the company.

5. Member Responsibilities

This is a collaborative model, not a service model.

Members are expected to:

• Deliver completed work within agreed timelines
• Participate in light peer support (feedback, review, encouragement)
• Actively promote their own work
• Support fellow members’ launches when possible
• Contribute to the overall health and reputation of the publisher

Writers are not passive participants. They are part of the system and are required to contribute monetarily and with time, as agreed in advance.

6. Governance

Inbound Books is founder-led to ensure clarity, consistency, and forward momentum.

• The Managers (Founders) hold final decision authority on:
  • What is published
  • Brand direction of the publishing brand
  • Quality standards of the work that we support
• Members may offer input and ideas, but decisions are not made by committee.

This structure exists to protect both quality and efficiency.

7. Submissions

Inbound Books will accept submissions for projects that will include membership in the coop. We do not accept every project. We seek work that has a high degree of excellence and/or potential as well as members who are willing to adhere to the philosophy of the coop itself. 

Submissions must be reviewed and approved by at least three (3) Founders in order to be accepted. We will consider the quality of the work, its potential, marketability, and overall fit within Inbound’s catalog structure. We will also consider our current editorial calendar when deciding what to publish and what not to publish.

Submissions will follow this process:

1. Author submits manuscript
2. Editorial Board (Founders) Reviews – At least 3 members agree to move it forward
3. Contract (include word count, rough timelines)
4. Inbound assigns lead editor
5. Developmental editing stage. At least 3 editors do a full story analysis of the project. Lead editor gathers all feedback and delivers to author
6. Author processes feedback and produces revised draft
7. Lead editor reviews draft. Works with Author on an approved version.
8. Lead editor presents final draft to the editorial board for recommended sign-off.
9. Copy and line editing
10. Layout
11. Cover design/discussion
12. Back of book and listing blurb writing
13. Marketing plan
14. ARC review

8. Exit from the Coop

Philosophically, we exist to help the writer and illustrator be more successful – financially, creatively, and professionally. That may mean allowing individual books or entire works to move on to other opportunities. We want to ensure that we do not create barriers to those opportunities. That said, transitions need to be transparent and spelled out in every contract.

• Authors may leave the collective with reasonable notice. If they leave before the end of a quarterly period, they forfeit any accrued dividends for that quarter.
• Existing publishing agreements remain in effect unless otherwise negotiated
• Rights may revert based on agreed terms (clear rights reversion clauses will be included in all contracts)

We aim for long-term collaboration while respecting individual paths.

9. Culture

Inbound Books is built on:

• Respect for voice and craft
• Professionalism without pretense
• Collaboration without dilution
• Curiosity, intelligence, and emotional honesty
• Mutual support for each other’s work

We value writers who:

• Finish what they start
• Take feedback seriously
• Support their fellow artists
• Bring both skill and perspective

This is a place for people who care about the work—and about doing it well.

10. What This Is (and What It Isn’t)

Inbound Books is:

• A collaborative publishing model
• A curated creative community
• A platform for distinct voices

Inbound Books is not:

• A vanity press
• A passive service provider
• An open submission marketplace

11. AI Philosophy

We believe that true creation is, at its core, a human endeavor.

At the same time, we recognize that creative work exists within an increasingly complex technological landscape. Tools powered by artificial intelligence are now embedded in many aspects of writing, editing, research, and design. We do not ignore this reality, nor do we dismiss the role these tools can play in the creative process.

However, as a publisher, we believe it is both necessary and responsible to draw a clear line around the work we produce and accept.

That line is authorship.

We do not publish written works that are generated or substantively drafted by large language models (LLMs). We do not publish visual art created by generative AI systems. All published content must originate from human creators.

We recognize that certain technologies—such as grammar tools, editing software, research platforms, and search engines—may incorporate elements of AI. At present, we consider these tools part of the broader creative toolkit, not a replacement for authorship. Distinguishing between assistive technology and generative creation is not always simple, and we acknowledge that this boundary will continue to evolve.

As technology, legal standards, and creative norms develop, this policy may be revisited and refined. We remain committed to ongoing dialogue and thoughtful evaluation of these issues.

If you have questions about this policy or how it applies to your work, we welcome the conversation.