Publishing Glossary
A Plain-English Guide for Aspiring Authors
Publishing has its own language, and learning it before you sign anything, frankly, just makes good sense. This glossary covers the terms you are most likely to encounter on your journey from manuscript to published book, organized by stage so you can find what you need when you need it.
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The model most people picture: a major publisher acquires your manuscript, covers all production costs, and pays you an advance against future royalties. Entry is fiercely competitive, typically requiring a literary agent, and the process can take years. Authors also give up significant creative control and receive lower royalty percentages.
Why It Matters: This path may offer professional investment and broader industry access, but authors give up some control and may spend years pursuing a deal that is never guaranteed.
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A publishing model in which the author contributes financially to the publication of the book and receives professional editorial, design, production, distribution, and publishing support. A reputable hybrid publisher is selective about what it publishes, operates according to professional standards, and generally pays authors higher royalties than traditional publishers.
Why It Matters: Authors can receive professional publishing support without waiting for a traditional deal, but they must be able to distinguish a legitimate hybrid publisher from a company that is simply selling expensive services.
See Also:
Self-Publishing
Traditional Publishing
Royalties
Book Proposal -
A publishing model in which the author serves as the publisher and is responsible for arranging and paying for editing, design, production, distribution, and marketing. The author controls the publishing process, owns the publishing accounts and files, and receives the income from book sales after retailer, distributor, and production costs are deducted.
Why It Matters: Authors retain control and can publish on their own schedule, but they are responsible for assembling the right team and ensuring that the finished book meets professional standards.
See Also:
KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
Print-on-Demand (POD)
Vanity Publishing
Book Distributor -
A pay-to-publish model in which a company makes most of its money from authors rather than book sales, often with little to no selectivity or meaningful investment in a book’s quality or success. Vanity publishers may charge inflated fees, make misleading claims about distribution or marketing, and retain rights or control that should remain with the author.
Why It Matters: Authors who mistake a vanity publisher for a legitimate publisher may pay too much, surrender valuable rights, and receive a book that is poorly produced or inadequately distributed.
See Also:
Self-Publishing
Hybrid Publishing
Royalties
Traditional Publishing -
A query letter is a one-page pitch sent to a literary agent or traditional publisher introducing your book. It typically includes a brief summary of the book, information about the author, and why the project is a good fit for that agent or publisher.
Why it matters: A strong query letter can determine whether your manuscript gets read.
See Also:
Literary Agent
Book Proposal
Traditional Publishing
Comparable Titles (Comp Titles) -
A book proposal is a business plan for a nonfiction book. It usually includes an overview, chapter outline, sample chapters, target audience, competitive titles, and the author's credentials or platform.
Why it matters: Many traditional publishers evaluate nonfiction books based on a proposal before requesting the full manuscript.
See Also:
Query Letter
Literary Agent
Comparable Titles (Comp Titles)
Author Platform
Types of Publishing
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The process by which a publisher evaluates and selects manuscripts to add to its list. At BSP, this includes a review of your manuscript, a conversation about fit and vision, and a publishing agreement.
Why It Matters: A publisher’s decision is based on whether the book fits its list and appears commercially viable, so a rejection does not necessarily mean the manuscript is poorly written.
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A brand name under which a publisher releases books. A single company may operate multiple imprints serving different genres or audiences. Bold Story Press and Xander Press are both imprints.
Why It Matters: Knowing the imprint helps an author determine whether a publisher genuinely publishes books like theirs and whether the book will be positioned for the right audience.
See Also:
Acquisitions
Traditional Publishing
Literary Agent
Publishing Rights -
A literary agent represents authors and submits manuscripts to traditional publishers. Agents negotiate publishing contracts, advocate for their clients, and earn a commission—typically 15%—on any publishing deals they secure.
Why it matters: Many first-time authors assume they need an agent. Whether you do depends on your publishing goals. If you're pursuing traditional publishing, an agent can be essential. If you're considering hybrid publishing, you generally don't need one.
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An advance is money paid by a traditional publisher before a book is published. It is an advance against future royalties, meaning the author does not receive additional royalty payments until the advance has been earned back through book sales. (Think interest-free loan.)
Why it matters: Most hybrid publishers and self-publishing companies do not pay advances because the publishing model is different.
See Also:
Royalties
Literary Agent
Acquisitions
Publishing Rights
The Publishing Industry
The Editorial Process
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Your complete written work before it becomes a published book. Publishers typically refer to a manuscript as "ms" (singular) or "mss" (plural).
Why It Matters: The quality and readiness of the manuscript affect the kind of editing it needs, its chances of attracting a publisher, and the cost and length of the publishing process.
See Also:
Beta Reader
Developmental Editing
First Pages
Copyediting -
A beta reader is someone who reads your manuscript before publication and provides feedback as a typical reader—not as a professional editor.
Why it matters: Beta readers can help identify confusing sections, pacing issues, and places where readers may lose interest before you invest in professional editing.
See Also:
Manuscript
Cold Reader
Developmental Editing
ARC (Advance Reader Copy) -
A reader brought in late in the editorial process to review the manuscript with fresh eyes, catching issues that editors and authors who are close to the work may have stopped seeing.
Why It Matters: A cold reader can reveal places where the book fails to communicate what the author believes is already clear.
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The first and deepest level of editing, focused on structure, pacing, voice, point of view, and content. A developmental editor looks at the big picture, not spelling or grammar. This is where a book is shaped and strengthened before line-level work begins.
Why it matters: This is the stage where books change the most. A strong developmental edit can dramatically improve the structure, pacing, and reader experience before sentence-level editing begins.
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Line editing focuses on how your writing sounds at the sentence and paragraph level. A line editor improves clarity, flow, tone, and word choice while preserving your voice.
Why it matters: Line editing helps make good writing stronger. It comes after developmental editing and before proofreading.
See Also:
Developmental Editing
Copyediting
Manuscript
Proofreading -
Line-level editing for grammar, consistency, style, punctuation, and clarity. A copyeditor works through the manuscript sentence by sentence after the structure is set. This is not the same as proofreading.
Why It Matters: Without copyediting, errors and inconsistencies can undermine the author’s credibility and distract readers from the book itself.
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The final read-through before a book goes to press, catching any remaining typos, formatting inconsistencies, or errors that slipped through earlier rounds. Proofreading happens after the book is typeset.
Why It Matters: Once a book is printed or released, remaining errors are difficult and sometimes expensive to correct.
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A detailed letter from your editor outlining their feedback and suggestions for revision. A good editorial memo explains the why behind each suggestion, not just what to change.
Why It Matters: It helps the author understand the manuscript’s larger problems and prioritize revisions rather than making disconnected changes.
See Also:
Developmental Editing
Manuscript
Line Editing
Acquisitions -
The first typeset version of your manuscript, sent to you for review before the book goes to final proofreading. This is your final chance to identify and fix errors.
Why It Matters: Weak first pages can cause agents, publishers, reviewers, and readers to stop before they discover the book’s strengths.
Book Design & Production
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The typesetting and visual arrangement of the text inside your book: fonts, spacing, chapter headings, running headers, margins, and more. A well-designed interior makes your book easier and more pleasurable to read.
Why It Matters: Poor interior design can make even a well-written book difficult to read and immediately signal that it was not professionally produced.
See Also:
Typesetting
Trim Size
Front Matter
Castoff -
The process of flowing your edited manuscript into professional page layout software (typically Adobe InDesign) to create the final interior file. The person doing this work is called the compositor or typesetter.
Why It Matters: Good typesetting makes the reading experience feel effortless; poor typesetting makes the mechanics of the page distract from the author’s words.
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The front, back, and spine artwork and typography that represent your book to the world. Your cover is your most powerful marketing tool; it communicates genre, tone, and audience before a reader has read a single word.
Why It Matters: Readers often decide within seconds whether a book appears relevant and credible, making the cover one of the book’s most important marketing tools.
See Also:
Spine
Trim Size
Back Cover Copy
ISBN (International Standard Book Number) -
The narrow side of the book visible when it sits on a shelf. Usually includes title, author, name, and the publisher logo. Spine width is determined by page count and paper type.
Why It Matters: If the spine is incorrectly sized or poorly designed, the cover may print improperly and the book may be difficult to identify on a shelf.
See Also:
Cover Design
Trim Size
ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
Book Interior Design -
The physical dimensions of your finished book (e.g., 6 x 9 inches). Determined early in production and affects page count, spine width, and price. Common memoir and nonfiction trim sizes are 5.5 x 8.5 and 6 x 9.
Why It Matters: Choosing the wrong trim size can make a book look inappropriate for its category while also increasing its page count and printing cost.
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The pages at the beginning of a book before the main text: the half-title page, title page, copyright page, dedication, table of contents, and sometimes a foreword or preface.
Why It Matters: Poorly organized front matter can confuse readers, omit required information, or make the book appear amateurishly produced.
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Pages at the end of the main text, which may include acknowledgments, author bio, bibliography, index, and information about the publisher.
Why It Matters: Thoughtful back matter can extend the book’s value and lead readers to the author’s other books, resources, services, or community.
See Also:
Index
Copyright Page
Front Matter
ISBN (International Standard Book Number) -
A foreword is a short introduction written by someone other than the author, often a respected expert or well-known figure who lends credibility to the book.
Why it matters: A strong foreword can build trust with readers before they begin the book.
See Also:
Front Matter
Preface
Introduction
Prologue -
A preface is written by the author and explains why the book was written, how it came about, or what readers should know before they begin.
Why it matters: Unlike a foreword, a preface comes directly from the author.
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An introduction prepares readers for what's ahead by explaining what the book will cover and why it matters.
Why it matters: An introduction focuses on the content of the book, not the story behind writing it.
See Also:
Preface
Foreword
Front Matter
Prologue -
A prologue is an opening section—most often found in fiction—that provides background information before chapter one begins.
Why it matters: A prologue should deepen the reader's understanding of the story, not simply delay the start of it.
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A required page (usually the back of the title page) listing copyright ownership, ISBN, Library of Congress information, publisher contact, and legal notice.
Why It Matters: Missing or incorrect information on this page can create confusion about ownership, permissions, editions, and how the book should be identified.
See Also:
Front Matter
ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
Copyright
LCCN (Library of Congress Number) -
An index is an alphabetical list of important topics, names, and concepts in a nonfiction book, along with the page numbers where they appear.
Why it matters: An index makes it easier for readers to find specific information and is expected in many nonfiction books.
See Also:
Back Matter
Metadata
Front Matter
Book Interior Design -
An estimate of how many typeset pages your manuscript will produce. Used to calculate spine width, determine final price, and plan production timelines.
Why It Matters: An inaccurate page estimate can lead to an incorrectly sized cover, unexpected printing costs, or a retail price that no longer works financially.
Be Also:
Book Interior Design
Typesetting
Trim Size
Front Matter -
A 13-digit identifier unique to each edition and format of your book. Your paperback, hardcover, and ebook each require a separate ISBN. ISBNs are how retailers, libraries, and distributors identify and order your book.
Why It Matters: The person or company that obtains the ISBN is generally identified in industry records as the book’s publisher, which can affect control and professional positioning.
Technical Specs & Distribution
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The standard file format for ebooks, compatible with most e-readers and apps (Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play, and others). Amazon Kindle uses its own proprietary format, converted from EPUB.
Why It Matters: A poorly created EPUB may display incorrectly or be rejected by retailers, making the ebook frustrating or inaccessible to readers.
See Also:
Print-on-Demand (POD)
KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
Metadata
ISBN (International Standard Book Number) -
A printing technology where books are printed individually as orders come in, rather than in large print runs. Eliminates warehouse costs and minimizes waste. Most hybrid publishers, including BSP, use POD for standard distribution.
Why It Matters: POD allows authors to publish without buying large quantities of books, but its higher unit costs affect pricing, bookstore discounts, and profit.
See Also:
KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
Ingram/Ingram Lightning Source
Book Distributor
Self-Publishing -
Amazon's publishing and print-on-demand platform, used to distribute ebooks and paperbacks through Amazon.
Why It Matters: KDP provides direct access to Amazon’s enormous customer base, but decisions about exclusivity, distribution, pricing, and account ownership can limit an author’s future options.
See Also:
Print-on-Demand (POD)
Self-Publishing
EPUB
Amazon Keywords -
One of the world's largest book distributors. Getting your book into Ingram's catalog makes it orderable by bookstores, libraries, and online retailers worldwide.
Why It Matters: Ingram can make a book available to the wider book trade, but authors may mistake availability for actual placement in bookstores and libraries.
See Also:
Print-on-Demand (POD)
Book Distributor
ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
Self-Publishing -
A book distributor makes your book available to retailers, libraries, wholesalers, and online booksellers.
Why it matters: A distributor helps bookstores order your book, but it does not guarantee that bookstores will stock it.
See Also:
Ingram/Ingram Lightning Source
Print-on-Demand (POD)
ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
Self-Publishing -
A number assigned by the Library of Congress that allows libraries to catalog your book. Having an LCCN improves your book's chances of being acquired by public and academic libraries.
Why It Matters: An LCCN can make a book easier for libraries to catalog and may support the book’s acceptance within the library market.
See Also:
ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
Copyright Page
Metadata
Front Matter -
The information that describes your book to retailers, libraries, and search engines: title, subtitle, author name, book description, categories, keywords, price, and publication date.
Strong metadata is essential for discoverability online.
Why It Matters: If the metadata is incomplete or inaccurate, retailers and readers may not find the book even when it is exactly what they are looking for.
See Also:
BISAC Codes
Amazon Keywords
ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
EPUB -
BISAC (Book Industry Standards and Communications) codes are standardized categories used by publishers, bookstores, and online retailers to classify books.
Why it matters: Choosing the right BISAC categories helps readers discover your book when searching by subject.
See Also:
Metadata
Amazon Keywords
ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
Comparable Titles (Comp Titles) -
Amazon keywords are search terms assigned to your book to help readers find it on Amazon.
Why it matters: Selecting thoughtful keywords improves your book's visibility in Amazon search results.
See Also:
BISAC Codes
Metadata
KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
Comparable Titles (Comp Titles)
Marketing & Launch
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Your existing audience and public presence: social media following, speaking engagements, newsletter subscribers, podcast appearances, and professional networks. Publishers care about platform because it directly affects a book’s reach at launch.
Why It Matters: A strong platform gives an author a reliable way to reach readers, which can influence both a publisher’s interest and the book’s sales potential.
See Also:
Author Bio
Media Kit/Press Kit
Book Launch
Query Letter -
A professional biography used on your book cover, website, and press materials. You will typically need both a short version (50-75 words) and a long version (150 - 200 words).
Why It Matters: Readers and media contacts use the bio to decide whether the author is credible, relevant, and worth paying attention to.
See Also:
Author Platform
Media Kit/Press Kit
Back Cover Copy
Press Release -
The promotional copy on your back cover and on your retail listings. A great book description is part synopsis and part sales pitch. It should hook the reader and leave them wanting more. This is not the same as a plot summary.
Why It Matters: If the copy does not quickly communicate who the book is for and why they should read it, an interested browser may decide not to buy it.
See Also:
Cover Design
Author Bio
Comparable Titles (Comp Titles)
Endorsements/Blurbs -
Comparable titles, often called "comp titles," are recently published books that are similar to yours in subject, audience, or style.
Why it matters: Comp titles help publishers position your book in the marketplace and help readers understand what kind of book you've written.
See Also:
Book Proposal
Query Letter
BISAC Codes
Back Cover Copy -
An early, unfinished version of your book distributed before publication for review and endorsement purposes. ARCs are shared with reviewers, booksellers, librarians, and potential blurb writers. They typically carry a banner indicating they are uncorrected proofs.
Why It Matters: Without an ARC produced early enough, an author may miss important opportunities for advance reviews, endorsements, bookseller interest, and media coverage.
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Praise quotes from notable people, other authors. subject-matter experts, or public figures, printed on your cover, in your front matter, and/or on retail pages. Blurbs lend credibility and should ideally be gathered before your book publishes.
Why It Matters: A credible endorsement can reduce a reader’s uncertainty about an unfamiliar author and make the book easier to promote.
See Also:
ARC (Advance Reader Copy)
NetGalley
Back Cover Copy
Book Launch -
A digital platform where publishers distribute ARC’s to professional reviewers, librarians, booksellers, and media. A strong NetGalley presence can generate early reviews on Goodreads and retail sites.
Why It Matters: NetGalley can put a forthcoming book in front of influential early readers, but authors need to weigh the cost against the likelihood that their particular book will attract attention there.
See Also:
ARC (Advance Reader Copy)
Endorsements/Blurbs
Goodreads
Book Launch -
Goodreads is an online community where readers discover books, write reviews, and track what they are reading.
Why it matters: Goodreads can help generate early awareness and reader reviews before and after your book is published.
See Also:
NetGalley
ARC (Advance Reader Copy)
Book Launch
Author Platform -
A package of promotional materials for journalists, event organizers, and podcasters. Typically, it includes an author bio, headshot, book synopsis, key talking points, sample interview questions, and contact information.
Why It Matters: If media contacts must search for basic information or usable images, they may abandon a potential story or interview.
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A formal written announcement of your book’s publication, distributed to media outlets. Often invludes your book’s hook, key details, and a quote from you or your publisher.
Why It Matters: A press release without a genuine news angle is likely to be ignored, while a well-focused one can give media contacts a timely reason to cover the book.
See Also:
Media Kit/Press Kit
Book Launch
Author Bio
Author Platform -
The organized marketing push around your publication date: events, social media campaigns, email newsletters, media outreach, and review solicitations. A well-planned launch builds momentum in the crucial first weeks.
Why It Matters: A launch can create early momentum, but treating it as the entire marketing campaign can leave the book without support after its first few weeks.
See Also:
ARC (Advance Reader Copy)
NetGalley
Press Release
Media Kit/Press Kit
Rights & Legal
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Legal protection for your original creative work that exists automatically from the moment you create it. Registering your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office is optional but provides additional legal protections.
Why It Matters: Authors who do not understand copyright may give away more control than intended—or improperly use material that belongs to someone else.
See Also:
Public Domain
Permissions
Copyright Page
Publishing Rights -
Written authorization required when quoting or reproducing copyrighted material in your book: song lyrics (very expensive!), poetry, lengthy passages from other works, photographs, and artwork. Obtaining permissions is the author’s responsibility and should be secured before your book goes to press.
Why It Matters: Publishing copyrighted material without permission can result in legal claims, added expenses, or the removal of the material from the book.
See Also:
Copyright
Public Domain
Subsidiary Rights
Publishing Rights -
The percentage of book sales revenue paid to the author. Royalty rates vary significantly by publisher and contract. Bold Story Press pays 60% on print book sales and 70% on digital, considerably higher than traditional publishing rates, which typically range from 8 to 15%.
Why It Matters: Authors can misunderstand what they will earn if they look only at the royalty percentage and not at how it is calculated.
See Also:
Advance
Publishing Rights
Subsidiary Rights
Self-Publishing -
Legal permission to publish, distribute, and sell your work in specified formats, territories, and languages. A publishing contract defines which rights you grant to the publisher and which you retain. Always read carefully, and ideally have an attorney review, before signing.
Why It Matters: Granting overly broad rights can prevent an author from using, adapting, licensing, or republishing their own work elsewhere.
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Rights beyond the primary book publication, audio rights, film and TV adaption rights, foreign language translation rights, serial rights, and more. Who controls these rigts, and who benefits financially, should be clearly defined in your contract.
Why It Matters: These rights may become more valuable than the original edition, so authors should not give them away without understanding who can exploit them and how the income will be divided.
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Works in the public domain are no longer protected by copyright and may generally be used without obtaining permission.
Why It Matters: Incorrectly assuming that material is in the public domain can expose the author and publisher to copyright claims.
See Also:
Copyright
Permissions
Pen Name (Pseudonym)
Publishing Rights -
A name an author uses when publishing instead of their legal name. An author may use a pen name for privacy, branding, personal safety, or to distinguish books written in different genres. A pen name does not change who owns the copyright.
Why It Matters: Using a pen name affects how an author builds recognition, manages privacy, signs agreements, and connects the public identity to the legal owner of the work.