Common Self-Publishing Terms, Explained
One of the biggest benefits of self-publishing is the complete creative control.
As an indie author, you have the power to call all the shots, from the concept for your cover design to the details of your marketing plan. But there is a flipside to this freedom — it also makes you responsible for each and every step of the publishing process. And with so many aspects to keep track of, it can quickly become overwhelming for one person to manage.
The first step is to get familiar with the industry lingo so that you can make an educated decision about what to take on yourself and what to outsource. Consider this your handy glossary of terms every self-published author should know.
Alpha Reader
One of the earliest readers of your book. Alpha readers typically give feedback while the book is still being drafted and provide thoughts on any holes, inconsistencies, or writing concerns so that you can fix them as you go.
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC)
Copies of your book sent out to book reviewers and bloggers to generate early reviews ahead of its official launch. ARCs can be distributed via a service such as NetGalley or Booksprout or through reaching out to reviewers on your own.
Back Matter
The series of pages that follow the main text in a book. These can include appendices, notes, references, glossaries, bibliographies, or indexes.
Beta Reader
Early readers of your book who provide feedback on a polished draft before it is sent for professional editing. Beta readers should be people in your target audience who can share thoughts from the perspective of an average reader.
Blurb
A brief, attention-catching description of your book that is typically displayed on the back cover or inside the front jacket flap. Book blurbs usually range from about 100 to 200 words.
Copy Editor
An editor who addresses grammar, spelling, punctuation, consistency and readability in a text. The copy editor receives the manuscript after it has been reviewed by a developmental editor and revised by the author.
Copyright
Exclusive rights to reproduce, license or use an original creative work such as a book, song, film, play or piece of artwork. In the United States, copyright is automatic, but registering your copyright through the U.S. Copyright Office makes it easier to sue for infringement if necessary. Copyright does not apply to facts, ideas, systems or methods.
Cover Artist
A designer who develops the art and typography for your book cover. Some cover artists also offer premade designs for various genres at a lower cost than a custom design.
Critique Partner
Another writer who provides feedback on your work during the drafting process, usually in exchange for your feedback on their work. Many critique partners swap work in batches (a chapter at a time, for example) but may also read and comment on the full manuscript once it is finished.
Developmental Editor
An editor who provides big-picture feedback on your manuscript, focusing on elements such as the plot, characterization, themes, pacing, structure, setting, scene dynamics, tense and point of view. Developmental editing happens early in the editorial process to polish the content before the language and style is reviewed.
Formatter
The person who creates the interior design of your book and prepares the formatted file for upload to print-on-demand platforms such as Kindle Direct Publishing and Ingram Spark.
Front Matter
The series of pages that precede the main text in a book. This can include everything from the title page and copyright page to a dedication, table of contents, acknowledgments page, or illustrative map.
Ghostwriter
A writer who creates a written work, such as an article, speech, or book, based on another person’s ideas or experience to be published under that person’s name (rather than the writer’s).
Hybrid Author
An author who is both self-published and traditionally published.
Hybrid Publishing
A publishing approach in which authors pay a hybrid press to prepare their book for self-publication. It is called “hybrid” because the financial responsibility is the author’s, just like with self-publishing, but the press operates based on submissions and provides professional-level support such as editing, formatting, and cover design.
Imprint
A brand name under which your book is published. This typically appears on the copyright page and is attached to the book’s ISBN. Traditional publishers use imprints to group books they publish into different genres or subcategories. For example, Dutton Children’s Books is an imprint of Penguin Random House that releases books for young readers. Indie authors often create an imprint to establish a brand separate from their author name.
Indie Author
An author who publishes their work independent of a publishing house or press, typically through a self-publishing platform such as Kindle Direct Publishing, Ingram Spark, or Kobo. Indie authors retain all rights to their work.
Ingram Spark
A print-on-demand platform that allows authors to publish and distribute paperbacks and hardbacks through wholesalers, retailers, and bookstores.
International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
A unique, 13-digit number used to identify a specific edition of a book, with distinct numbers for physical and eBook versions. This number is what creates the barcode you typically see on the back cover. You need an ISBN if you want to make your book available through libraries, bookstores, and wholesalers. In the United States, ISBNs must be purchased through Bowker.
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
A print-on-demand platform that allows authors to publish paperbacks and eBooks for direct distribution through Amazon.
Kindle Unlimited (KU)
An eBook platform that allows readers to “borrow” as many books as they want (up to 10 titles at a time) for a monthly subscription fee. Indie authors can enroll their books in Kindle Unlimited through the Kindle Select program, but the book must be available exclusively through Amazon for 90 days after its release.
Launch Team
A group of supporters, sometimes also called a street team, who agree to promote a book during the week of its launch. Typically authors recruit people for their launch team through their personal network, social media pages, email list, or direct outreach. Team members may be asked to share an honest review on Amazon or another platform, post about the release on social media, or share photos of themselves holding a copy of the book.
Line Editor
An editor who focuses on the style, syntax, and flow of the writing in a manuscript, paying attention to how the phrasing, word choice, and description affect the story and the reader’s experience. Line editing sometimes occurs in tandem with copy editing but always comes after developmental editing.
Logo
A symbol or visual design created to represent your brand as an author or your self-publishing imprint.
Media Kit
A collection of materials prepared in advance to send to media outlets, bloggers, event coordinators, and other publishing industry professionals. The kit typically includes a press release, synopsis or excerpt, author bio, headshots, book cover image, early reviews, and other promotional materials.
Pen Name
A pseudonym other than your legal name used to publish your books, often in the interest of protecting privacy.
Platform
An author’s network and channels for reaching their target audience, including social media presence, mailing lists, speaking opportunities, media appearances, etc.
Pre-Sale (or Pre-Order)
A period in which readers are able to purchase or reserve a copy of your book in advance of its publication date. Planning a pre-sale period can help indie authors generate buzz and create a good foundation for post-release sales.
Print-on-Demand (POD)
A service that prints books only when they are ordered, as opposed to printing in bulk quantities like most traditional publishers do.
Proof
A formatted, pre-publication edition of your book used for final proofreading or distributed as galleys to advanced readers.
Proofreader
An editor who performs a final read of the manuscript once it is ready for publication, typically after the text has been formatted. The proofreader checks for minor errors such as typos, misspellings, inconsistencies, and formatting issues.
Royalty
The percentage of revenue an author receives for each copy of their book sold. The percentage varies depending on the platform and format of the book (eBook, paperback, or hardback).
Synopsis
A brief summary of a story or book. Your synopsis may be included in your media kit or promotional materials.
Target Audience
A defined group of readers or segment of the market that your book and promotional efforts are geared toward. This can include readers of a particular genre, in a certain demographic, with a specific set of interests, etc.
Wide
A distribution strategy in which an author distributes and sells books through multiple channels by uploading them directly to different platforms or using an aggregator.
What other terms would you add to the list? I hope to continuously update this self-publishing glossary based on feedback from clients and the way the industry continues to evolve, so please get in touch with your suggestions for additional words and terms to include!
