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Jargon words used by publishers: Explained (N-Z)

Jargon words used by publishers: Explained (N-Z)

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This is the second and final part of the blog series that goes into the common jargon used by publishing professionals. It will help you to quickly understand what your publisher or literary agent is talking about.

Contents

N O P Q R
 S T
 U
V W X Y Z      

 

N

Net sales

 The overall revenue publishers earn from the sales of a book after taking into account any sale discounts and returns.

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O

Offset printing

 A high-quality and efficient way of printing large quantities of books using plates that transfer ink onto that paper.

Open submission

 The ongoing call for writers to submit their manuscripts unsolicited to publishers or literary agents.

Out-of-print

 Used to describe a book that is has stopped being printed and restocked for sale online and in bookstores.

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P

Pen name / Pseudonym

 The name an author choses to use on thier book instead of their real name to remain anonymous or establish a particular brand separate from others.

Print advertising

 A kind of advertising found in print publications including magazines and newspapers.

Print on consignment

 The  method of small-inventory book distribution where retailers stock only a few copies of a book and order more as needed.

Print proof

 A printed copy of a book used to check for errors and product quality that is not evident in the digital files of a book. Typically reviewed by publishers and authors.

Print quote

 The estimated cost of printing a book based on the book’s specifications and desired quantity.

Print run

 The number of printed copies of a book in a singular, isolated production cycle.

Print-on-demand (POD)

 The method of printing a book when a purchase is made and not keeping physical inventory of the book.

Print-ready files

 Digital files of a book that have been quality checked to meet industry standards and are now ready to be printed, distributed, and read.

Proofreading

 The kind of editing that usually takes place just before publication. It is focused on catching errors and inconsistencies that have been missed.

Public domain

 Applies to works that no longer meet the requirements of copyright and can now be used and distributed freely.

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Q

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R

Remaindered

 The sale of excess copies of printed books at a discounted rate.

Royalty statement

 A document that an author receives from their publisher detailing the sales and overall royalty payment earned from book sales.

Royalty / Royalties

 The percentage that the author receives from the sales of their book, paid to the author by the publisher.

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S

Sales territory

 The geographical region in which a sales representative or distributor is responsible for promoting and selling their assigned books.

Serial rights

 The rights to a book that is published in instalments, including in newspapers or magazines.

Simultaneous submissions

 When an author has submitted their manuscript (published or unpublished) to more than one literary agent or traditional publisher at the same time.

Slush pile

 The term for the collection of unsolicited manuscripts received by a literary agent or traditional publisher.

Submission guidelines

 A set of instructions given to authors by a publisher or literary agent to assist in the proper submission of their manuscript.

Subsidiary rights

 The rights licensed to other companies or organisations for additional publication or adaptation of a book, including film or TV rights.

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T

Trade book

 A book that is intended to be read by a general audience and does not contain specialised or academic content.

Trade discount

 A discount that is given to bookstores and online retailers who purchase books in large quanitities.

Trade paperback

 A paperback book that is printed in a larger-format than standard. This is often used for non-fiction and literary titles.

Trade sales

 When a book is sold to bookstores and online retailers, as opposed to being sold to readers.

Translation rights

 The rights to translate a book into alternate languages for the purpose of publication and distribution in other countries.

Typesetting

 The process of designing and laying-out the text and images on a book’s interior pages.

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U

Unbound manuscript

 Refers to a completed manuscript that has yet to be bound into a book. They can be physical, loose-leaf copies or digital files.

University press

 A publishing house that is directly associated with a university and specialises in printing academic titles.

Unsolicited manuscript

 An unrequested manuscript that is submitted by an writer to a traditional publisher or literary agent.

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V

Vanity press

 A publisher that charges authors for publishing services, rather than paying authors for their work.

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W

WIP

 Work in progress (WIP) that can refer to a manuscript or project that is yet to be finished.

Wholesaler

 A company that buys large quantities of books from publishers and then goes on to sell them to retailers and other official buyers.

White space

 The blank space around the text and images in a book. Often used to help with the visual appeal and readability of the book.

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X

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Y

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Z

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Jargon words used by publishers: Explained (A-M)

Jargon words used by publishers: Explained (A-M)

This is the first part of a two-part blog series that goes into the common jargon used by publishing professionals. It will help you to quickly understand what your publisher or literary agent is talking about.

Contents

A B C D E F G H I
J K L M          

A

Advance reading copy (ARC)

 A copy of a book that is sent out to reviewers, booksellers, and other professionals in the industry for promotion.

Advance

 A lump-sum paid by the publisher to the author before the book is published, often against book royalties of future sales.

Anthology

 A compilation of short stories, poems, or essays written by multiple authors. There is usually a focus on a particular genre or theme.

Author platform

 An author’s presence on online platforms. This includes social media profiles, email newsletters, and author websites.

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B

Back matter

 The final pages of a book after the main content has ended. This includes an index, glossary, bibliography, Acknowledgements, and etc.

Backlist

 The previously published works of a single author that remain in print and can be purchased by customers.

Blurb

 A short but engaging description of a book typically located on the back cover.

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C

Copyediting

 A kind of book editing that is focused on correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, but also continuity issues and flaws in plot, characterisation, and more.

Copyright

 Legal protection that prevents the copying or reproduction of creative works without the creators express permission.

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D

Developmental editing

 A kind of editing that is focused on improving flaws in a manuscript’s structure and content.

Digital advertising

 Using digital platforms, including social media, email newsletters, and websites, to advertise books.

Digital publishing

 Publishing a book in a digital format instead of print. These digital formats include eBooks and audiobooks.

Distribution channels

 The locations where books are available to readers. This includes online retailers, bookstores, and libraries.

Distribution

 The way in which books go from the publisher to retailers  to readers.

DRM

 Digital Rights Management (DRM) is software that protects digital books against unauthorised copying and distribution.

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E

EBook conversion

 The process of turning a print-ready book or a basic manuscript into an eBook.

EBook distribution

 Getting eBooks into to online retailers and libraries.

EBook reader

 A device or software that allows its users to access and read eBooks.

Editing

 The broad term for the process of reviewing, revising, and improving written manuscripts to prepare them for publication.

Endorsement

 A statement written by a reputable and relevant author or expert that supports and recommends the book to readers.

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F

Front matter

 The pages at the beginning of a book before the main content, including the title page, half title page, copyright page, dedication, contents page, and more.

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G

Grant

 Funding rewarded to authors intending to financially support promising writers while they focus on completing their writing ventures.

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H

Hybrid publishing

 A kind of publishing service which is a combination of aspects from both traditional publishing and self-publishing.

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I

Imprint

 A specialised area of a larger publishing company that is focused on a particular subject, target audience, or genre.

Independent publisher

 A publisher that is separate from a larger corporation, conglomerate, or publishing house.

ISBN

 International Standard Book Number (ISBN) are unique identification numbers which are assigned to each edition of a published book, allowing for tracking and effective cataloguing.

ISMN

 International Standard Music Numbers (ISMN) are niche identification numbers specifically dedicated to the music industry.

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J

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K

Keywords

 The specific words and short phrases that are used to describe a book’s content and topic. They are often used to boost Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and online marketing efforts.

 

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L

Library market

 Selling books to libraries and other similar institutions.

Line editing

 A kind of editing that works to improve the style and language of a manuscript.

Literary agent

 An industry professional who will represent an author when negotiating publishing contracts and other deals with publishers.

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M

Manuscript evaluation

 The assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of a manuscript, often undertaken by either editors or writing coaches.

Manuscript format

 The custom guidelines from a publisher to assist the author in correctly formatting their manuscript. This includes the correct font, spacing, margins, and more.

Manuscript

 A hand-written or typed work that is yet to be published as a book.

Metadata

 Detailed information about a specific book, such as the title, subtitle, author name, and synopsis. It is used to increase searchability of the book online.

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The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

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How to market your self-published book

How to market your self-published book

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Marketing your self-published book doesn’t have to be difficult – Green Hill Publishing provides guidance on how to engage in marketing successfully.

Contents

1. What is book marketing?
2. Who is the target audience for my book?
3. Strategies for marketing my self-published book
4. What does successful book marketing look like?
5. What is a good book review and how does it help with marketing?
6. Connect with Green Hill Publishing

1. What is book marketing?

Book marketing is the process of promoting a book to potential readers and increasing your book’s visibility within the book market. This can include many different tactics which will be touched on below, such as, creating a successful social media presence, reaching out to book bloggers and book reviewers on different platforms, using paid advertising, collaborating with authors and reading groups or book clubs, and more.

The goal of book marketing is to generate interest in your book, attract new readers, and increase sales. It is an ongoing process which requires creativity, persistence, and a deep understanding of both your book and the target audience, as well as your book’s place within the market. Additionally, self-marketing efforts would work best in conjunction with book publicity, which is a focused effort to help generate reporting and coverage of your book via the media.

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2. Who is the target audience for my book?

Determining who the target audience for your book is an important and vital step in the marketing process. A target audience is a group of people who are most likely to be interested in your book and will more than likely purchase it.

Consider the following points when determining your target audience:

  1. Genre: Who is most likely to read your genre of book?
  2. Theme: What themes does your book touch on?
  3. Setting: Where does your book take place?
  4. Character: Who are your main characters and what are they like?
  5. Audience demographic: Understand and consider the age, gender, income level, education and occupation of your target audience.
  6. Interests: What are your target audience’s interests?

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3. Strategies for marketing my self-published book

Self-marketing is not an easy job by any means. You must put in the work if you want your book to succeed. Remember: marketing of any kind is a long-term job, and it takes time, effort and consistency, but it will pay off in the end if you do it right.

3.1 Establish an author platform

The first key component of marketing your book is ensuring that you have an author platform to use as your ground-zero. Building an author platform means that you need to develop a strong online presence to help connect with readers and build a fanbase which will be loyal to you and your book or books.

3.2 Self-marketing strategies

There are also many marketing strategies that can you can use to promote your book in a specific way that works for your author platform, author brand, and book type.

Some of these include:

  1. Social Media: Use online platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest to connect with potential readers and promote your book. Engage with readers and authors to determine your place in the market.
  2. Online distribution/bookstores: Make sure your book is listed on online retailers such as Amazon, Book Depository and Booktopia.
  3. Advanced reader copies (ARCs): Give away copies of your book in exchange for honest reviews. This can help boost visibility on online retailers, as well as other online platforms such as social media and online blogs. It not only does this, but can also generate a buzz on your book and attract new readers.
  4. Blogging and guest blogging: Reach out to online bloggers, social media influencers and website owners who do work related to your book. Ask if you can write a guest post or review of your book on their website. There is the chance they may say no, but this is good way to reach a wider audience which you may not get the chance to do in the future.
  5. Book clubs and reading groups: Contact book clubs and reading groups in your local area to see whether they would be interested in hosting an author talk, or if they’d be interested in featuring your book as one of their monthly reads.
  6. Readings and book events: Attend events and conventions in your local area to connect with readers and authors. This helps to expand your audience.
  7. Book launch: Planning a book launch is a great way to make sales and get the local community around a new author. This can include a launch party, book signing, book reading and an online launch.
  8. Author networking: Attend writing conferences, workshops and festivals to expand your network and connect with likeminded authors and readers. There often publishers and literary agents in attendance, too!
  9. Email marketing: Build a list of email contacts who are interested in your book and send them updates and exclusive content.
  10. Create a website or blog: Promote your book and gain readership by having your own website to drive traffic back to.
  11. Reviews: Encourage your readers to leave reviews of your book on online retailers’ websites, social media and review platforms such as Goodreads.
  12. Podcasts: Reach out to book podcasters to see if they would be interested in talking about your book.
  13. Use paid advertising: Pay for paid adverts on a variety of different online settings, such as Facebook and Instagram. You can narrow down audience and demographics to target the right people.
  14. Influencer Marketing: Partner with well known book influencers to promote your book.
  15. Publicity: Consider reaching out to journalists, newspapers and magazines to secure coverage for your book.
  16. Consider hiring a marketing expert: Sometimes you just need a little extra help. Look for marketers that specialise in helping authors gain readership.

Developing a well-rounded marketing strategy that combines at least a couple of these tactics is a good idea. It is also important to be consistent and to research your target audience. The more you know about your target audience, the more you can tailor your marketing efforts to make sure you reach the right people.

The most important thing is to keep your readers engaged. Keep in touch with them through a website, social media and email lists to keep them up to date on your writing and any new projects or opportunities you are working on.

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4. What does successful book marketing look like?

Successful book marketing is one that generates interest and sales for your book in an effective manner. Your marketing should have a strong and consistent message which can be determined easily—it must effectively communicate the value and unique selling points of the book.

Successful book marketing has measurable results. This means that clear goals and objectives should be set to measure the results of the marketing (this also makes it easier to track).

Ultimately, successful book marketing is dependant on the individual book, the target audience, and resources used in the marketing campaign. As well as this, the author must be willing to consistently work on the marketing. It is essential for both the author (and/or the marketing team) to have a clear understanding of the book market, the genre of the book and the target audience, and adapt their marketing strategy appropriately.

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5. What is a good book review and how does it help with marketing?

A good book review is an honest and well-expressed analysis of a book that provides prospective readers and a sense of the strengths and weaknesses of a book. Some key elements of a good book review are:

  1. Reviewer objectivity: A good book review should be unbiased and provide a critique of a book with no prior influence. Sometimes reviewers add personal opinions on the book’s readability also.
  2. A good analysis: A good book review should include an in-depth analysis of the book, including structure, themes, characters, writing style, strengths and weaknesses.
  3. Provides clarity: A good book review should be clear and concise. It should be written well and easy to understand for the average person. Reviewers should also steer away from using jargon or complex language—it should be accessible for all.
  4. Goes into specifics: A good book review should provide specific examples from the book to support the analysis. This helps readers understand how the book was perceived by the reviewer.
  5. Provides context: A good reviewer should be able to place a book in a specific genre and compare it to other books of the same genre.
  6. Has a personal touch: A reviewer should also be able to share their own perspective, but not in a way that sways the opinion of the reader. It will provide the reader insight into how the book affected them.
  7. Doesn’t include spoilers: Reviewers should not give away any spoilers or reveal vital parts of the book’s plot.
  8. Comes from a credible source: A good reviewer should have knowledge of the book’s genre and a history of reviewing in your genre. A credible reviewer will have a history of offering extensive reviews and usually do so on more than one platform e.g. Goodreads, Instagram, TikTok, etc.

Book reviews assist in marketing your book as they provide potential readers an overall idea of what they can expect in a book, which gives the reader a chance to decide if this is something they are interested in. Not only do they do this, but they also give an independent assessment of the quality of a book, often shortcutting lead times and encouraging people to pick up a copy.

Positive book reviews also provide word-of-mouth advertising, as most readers, reviewers or book bloggers will share their thoughts with their friends, family and followers. In addition to this, a good number of positive reviews can help books become more visible on online retailer websites such as Amazon, Booktopia and Book Depository (as well as others) which can lead to increased sales.

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6. Connect with Green Hill Publishing

Marketing does not happen overnight—it takes time, effort and consistency. However, it can be easy once you wrap your head around the wants and needs for your book!

Don’t know where to start on your marketing journey? Enquire with us to claim your copy of The Little Book of Big Marketing Tips and give yourself a head-start into the book marketing world!

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No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Interested in publishing your book but unsure where to start or what is even involved? Tell us about your project and we will post you a copy of our:

 

The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

submit your project details