Pipelines contain stages, which in turn contain cards that represent works.

For all the examples here, you follow the same basic approach. First, create a new pipeline. Next, define its stages. Then add cards which move between pipeline stages as events unfold.

Here are ten uses of pipelines in Consonance. 

1) Acquisition management

Set up a pipeline with stages such as Proposals, Revisit, Approved, and Rejected, to keep track of your submissions. Call the pipeline something like Acquisition meeting 2025-03-15. Use the pipeline stage Ready to propose as your meeting agenda. Have Consonance open in the acquisition meeting and click through to the Plan, Discussions, cover ideas, contract and all the other information you need to make an informed acquisition decision. You have a complete record of your acquisition process, and everyone will have visibility into upcoming works, too.

2) Rights deals: the licensor’s perspective

If you have a rights licensor who buys a lot of your rights, use pipelines to keep track of it all. Set up a pipeline called the name of the licensor. With stages such as Interested, Considering, Offered, Rejected and Accepted, you get an overview of all the works they’re considering.

3) Rights deals: the work’s perspective

Set up a pipeline for one work, and keep track of the licensors interested with stages such as Interested, Considering, Offered, Rejected and Accepted. In this pipeline, the cards are the licensors, not the works.

4) Ideas notes

Instead of PostIt notes, jot down rough ideas for new products and commissions in your own pipeline. Give it stages such as Early ideas, and Proposal received.

5) Special sales

Pipelines are named after the traditional ‘sales pipeline’ concept. Set up a pipeline for a work, and stages called Lead, Prospect, Closed or whatever reflects your sales process. Move contacts along the stages.

6) Rights deals: the imprint perspective

Want to keep a track of how all your works are faring in terms of rights deals? Set up a pipeline called Rights, with stages Enquiry, Interest, Confirmed, and Signed. Add all your works with rights deals to have a pictorial overview.

7) Catalogue selection

To choose which works should appear where in the catalogue, set up a pipeline called Catalogue with stages of Lead, Frontlist, Backlist. Your team can shuffle work cards around until they’re happy with it. Click Create product batches to convert the pipeline into a batch, then go to Batches › Tools › Generate catalogue.

8) Job candidates

Set up stages in a pipeline to reflect your recruitment process, such as Applicant, Shortlist, Invited to interview, Second Interview, Finalists. Move contact cards between the stages as the application process advances.

9) Prize entry shortlist

Decide which of your products you’re going to submit to a literary prize or festival call for submissions. Set up a pipeline with stages such as Eligible, Shortlisted, Final list. Make notes on the likelihood of winning and your reasons for wanting to submit.

10) Submit books to retailers

Add stages to a pipeline such as Waterstones, Gardners and Bertrams and refine the list of works you’re going to submit to them. Click Create product batches to create AIs for all the works in the stage.