Publishing Glossary
A comprehensive A–Z of writing, publishing, and book marketing terms every indie author should know.
A
Advance Review Copy (ARC) – A near-final version of a book distributed to early reviewers, influencers, and launch teams to build buzz and collect advance reviews before publication.
Amazon Algorithm – The system Amazon uses to rank, recommend, and promote books based on sales velocity, conversion rate, keywords, and engagement.
Amazon Bestseller – A book that reaches #1 in at least one Amazon category (Kindle or print). Achieved through strategic launch timing, pricing, and category selection.
Alpha Reader – A trusted first reader who reviews a very early draft of your manuscript, often before major revisions. Alpha readers focus on story clarity, pacing, tone, and character believability.
Author Bio – A short, professional paragraph about the author, used on book covers, websites, and retailer listings.
Author Platform – The total reach and influence an author has — through Substack, social media, podcasts, speaking, and email lists — to connect with readers and sell books.
Author Branding – The consistent tone, visuals, and messaging that communicate who you are and what readers can expect from your work.
B
Back Matter – Everything that appears after the main text of a book, such as acknowledgements, author bio, and “About the Author” or “Next in the Series” pages.
Beta Reader – A reader who reviews your manuscript after major revisions but before final editing, providing feedback on readability, engagement, and story flow.
Blurb – The short, persuasive book description that appears on the back cover or online sales page. Its job is to hook readers emotionally and convince them to buy.
Book Funnel – A marketing sequence that guides readers from awareness (freebie or “reader magnet”) to purchase, review, and ongoing engagement.
Book Launch – The coordinated period when a new book is released, often including pre-orders, email campaigns, Substack posts, and media outreach.
Book Proposal – A detailed pitch package used for traditional publishing submissions, outlining the book concept, audience, competitive titles, and marketing plan.
Book Trailer – A short promotional video designed to excite potential readers, often used on social media or Amazon Author pages.
C
Call to Action (CTA) – A line prompting the reader to take action, such as “Buy Now,” “Join My Newsletter,” or “Leave a Review.”
Category (Amazon) – The genre classification under which your book appears on Amazon. Choosing the right (often low-competition) category can help you hit #1 bestseller faster.
Character Arc – The emotional or psychological transformation a character undergoes throughout a story.
Copyright – The legal right that protects your creative work from being copied or distributed without permission.
Copyediting – The editing phase focused on grammar, punctuation, syntax, and clarity while preserving the author’s style and voice.
Cover Design – The process of designing a visually appealing cover that reflects your genre and hooks readers instantly.
Creative Non-Fiction – True stories told with literary style and narrative techniques, such as memoirs, essays, and travel writing.
D
Developmental Editing – Big-picture editing that focuses on structure, plot, pacing, voice, and reader engagement. Often the first professional edit a manuscript receives.
Distribution – The process of making a book available for sale through platforms like Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or Bookshop.org.
Draft – Any version of your manuscript before the final published one. Authors typically go through multiple drafts.
E
Ebook – A digital version of a book that can be downloaded and read on devices like Kindle, Kobo, or Apple Books.
Elevator Pitch – A 1–2 sentence summary that captures your book’s essence, target audience, and hook.
Email List – A group of readers who’ve subscribed to receive updates, newsletters, or special offers from an author.
Endorsement – A positive statement from a respected individual or publication that adds credibility to your book.
Editorial Review – A professional, impartial evaluation of a book’s strengths and weaknesses, often used to market the book post-launch.
Epilogue – A short concluding section at the end of a story that reveals what happens after the main events.
F
Formatting – The process of styling a manuscript for publication, ensuring consistent fonts, spacing, and layout for print and ebook editions.
Front Matter – The pages that appear before the main text, such as the title page, copyright notice, and dedication.
Funnel – The journey potential readers take from discovering you (awareness) to buying your book and becoming long-term fans (conversion).
Foreword – An introductory note written by someone other than the author, often a notable expert or endorser.
G
Genre – The classification of a book by type, content, or style. Common fiction genres include:
Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult (YA), Middle Grade, Speculative Fiction, Dystopian, Contemporary Fiction.
Common non-fiction genres include:Memoir, Biography, Self-Help, Business, Health & Wellness, Parenting, True Crime, Spirituality, Travel, Personal Finance, Education, Creativity, and Productivity.
Ghostwriting – Writing a book on behalf of another person, who is credited as the author.
Goodreads – A social platform where readers review and recommend books; a powerful tool for early visibility and social proof.
H
Hook – The attention-grabbing opening or premise that compels readers to keep reading (or buy).
Hybrid Publishing – A model that blends traditional and self-publishing, where authors invest in professional services but retain creative control and higher royalties.
Hyper-Niche Category – A specific sub-category on Amazon that’s less competitive but highly relevant to a book’s niche audience.
I
Imprint – The publishing brand under which a book is released (e.g. Stacks Publishing).
ISBN (International Standard Book Number) – The unique identifier assigned to each edition and format of a book for inventory and sales tracking.
Interior Design – The layout and typography used for the inside pages of a printed book.
Influencer Marketing – Partnering with social media creators or bookstagrammers to promote your book.
J
Jacket Copy – The promotional text printed on a hardcover book’s dust jacket, including the blurb, endorsements, and author bio.
Juvenile Fiction / Non-Fiction – Books written for children and teens, covering everything from picture books to young adult novels.
K
KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) – Amazon’s self-publishing platform that allows authors to publish ebooks and print books directly to Amazon’s store.
Keywords (Amazon SEO) – Search terms that help readers find your book. Effective keywords improve visibility and discoverability.
Kindle Unlimited (KU) – A subscription program where readers pay monthly to read unlimited Kindle books; authors are paid per page read.
L
Launch Plan – A detailed schedule covering pre-launch, launch, and post-launch marketing actions.
Line Editing – Editing that refines sentence flow, tone, and clarity to improve the reading experience.
Logline – A one-sentence summary of a book’s central conflict or theme, often used in pitches.
Long Tail Marketing – A strategy focusing on consistent sales in niche markets over time, rather than short-term mass appeal.
M
Manuscript – The complete written draft of a book before publication.
Metadata – The “behind-the-scenes” details (title, subtitle, author name, keywords, categories, description) that help a book get found online.
Micro-Category – A narrow Amazon sub-category where competition is low but reader interest is high.
Middle Grade (MG) – Fiction aimed at readers aged 8–12, often featuring young protagonists and age-appropriate themes.
Memoir – A first-person non-fiction narrative based on true personal experiences, usually exploring transformation or insight.
N
Narrative Arc – The structured path of a story from conflict to resolution.
Non-Fiction – Writing based on factual content, including memoirs, guides, how-to books, and business books.
Newsletter – A recurring message or publication authors send to subscribers, often via Substack, to nurture engagement and promote work.
O
Organic Reach – Visibility achieved naturally through shares, SEO, and word-of-mouth, without paid ads.
Outline – A structured plan for your book, used to map chapters, pacing, and key messages.
Opening Line – The first sentence or paragraph of a book — crucial for capturing reader attention.
P
Paperback – A soft-cover printed book that’s affordable to produce and easy to distribute.
Platform Building – The process of growing visibility, trust, and authority as an author through consistent content creation and engagement.
Proofreading – The final stage of editing, checking for typos, punctuation, and formatting issues.
Publicist – A professional who manages press releases, media interviews, and publicity campaigns for authors.
Publishing Pathways – The main routes to publication: traditional, self, and hybrid.
Pre-Order Campaign – Selling copies before release to build excitement and boost early Amazon rankings.
Q
Query Letter – A formal letter sent to literary agents or publishers to pitch a manuscript for traditional publication.
Quill (Metaphor) – A symbolic term for the writer’s creative instrument; used to describe craftsmanship and voice.
R
Reader Magnet – A free bonus (such as an ebook, worksheet, or short story) offered to entice readers to join your mailing list.
Restack (Substack) – Sharing another creator’s post with your own Substack audience to boost reach and cross-promotion.
Review Team – A group of early readers committed to posting verified reviews on Amazon or Goodreads during launch week.
Royalties – The percentage of sales revenue paid to authors. Amazon KDP typically offers 35–70% royalties.
Run-on Sentence – A grammar term for when multiple independent clauses are incorrectly joined without punctuation — the kind of thing editors fix.
S
Sales Rank (Amazon) – A constantly updated number showing how your book is selling compared to others in its category. Lower = better.
Self-Publishing – When an author publishes independently, retaining control and a larger share of profits.
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) – The practice of improving discoverability in online searches through strategic use of keywords and metadata.
Series – A group of connected books, either through recurring characters or a shared world.
Substack – A newsletter and blogging platform that helps authors build loyal audiences, monetise content, and promote books.
Synopsis – A brief summary of a book’s plot or content, often used in submissions or press kits.
T
Tagline – A short, catchy line that sums up your book’s promise or appeal, often appearing on covers and ads.
Traditional Publishing – When a publisher acquires the rights to a book, covers production costs, and pays the author royalties.
Trim Size – The physical dimensions of a printed book (e.g. 6" × 9" or 5.5" × 8.5").
Trope – A familiar theme or convention that helps readers identify the genre (e.g. “enemies to lovers” in romance or “chosen one” in fantasy).
U
Upmarket Fiction – Fiction that bridges literary depth and commercial appeal, often character-driven but accessible.
Universal Book Link (UBL) – A single smart link that directs readers to all available retailer options for your book.
Unboxing – A marketing moment where authors or influencers film themselves opening a box of new author copies — great for social media engagement.
V
Vanity Publisher – A company that charges authors large fees to publish, often without providing professional editing or marketing — usually a red flag.
Visibility – The measure of how easily readers can find your book online or in stores, often influenced by SEO, categories, and consistent marketing.
Voice – The distinctive style, rhythm, and perspective that make an author’s writing uniquely theirs.
W
Word Count – The number of words in a manuscript. Common ranges:
Novels: 70–100k
Novellas: 25–50k
Memoirs: 60–90k
Self-help / business: 40–70k
Worldbuilding – The creation of detailed settings, rules, and lore in speculative fiction genres like fantasy or sci-fi.
Writing Voice – The individual tone and style that convey an author’s unique personality.
X
XML Metadata – The digital format used by publishers and distributors to manage book data like ISBNs, titles, and categories.
Y
Young Adult (YA) – Fiction aimed at readers aged 12–18, usually featuring identity, independence, and coming-of-age themes.
Yield (Marketing) – The return on investment (ROI) from marketing activities such as ads, launches, or email campaigns.
Z
Zero-Party Data – Information voluntarily shared by readers (e.g. preferred genres, launch interests) that helps authors personalise future campaigns.
Zoom Launch Party – A virtual book launch event hosted online, allowing authors to celebrate with readers and supporters around the world.