Inside Knowledge
Jargon is technical, occupation specific language used when communicating with other members in the same profession using words as a shorthand which those outside the profession would find difficult to understand.
The publishing-related jargon removes the necessity for extensive explanations
When communicating with colleagues in the same industry, jargon can be useful. It is logical for a publishing team participating in a meeting to talk and write in technical terms when speaking with work colleagues, as they will all understand the terminology in a similar manner. The publishing-related jargon removes the necessity for extensive explanations.
Avoid using 'jargon' when speaking to a non-technical audience
When speaking to a non-technical audience, avoid using jargon. If technical terms are needed, explain each term and its context. Individual businesses will have their own version of 'jargon'.
Difficult for Others Outside a Business to Understand
Acronyms, jargon or coded words used by a profession or a group can be difficult for those outside a business or group to understand. Sometimes the words in use are used as barriers for only those in the know. The British class system for example is incomprehensible to foreigners and the British alike - and operates its own version of ‘jargon’, which constantly changes. Toilet, mirror, and lounge are examples of words classified as Non-U (Non-upper class) and lavatory, looking glass, and drawing room as U (upper class) by linguist Professor Alan Ross in 1954. This concept gained popularity through 1950's socialite and author Nancy Mitford, who used it as a way to distinguish between the upper class and those aspiring to join it. Social media has created slang, abbreviations and acronyms: Banny Hols – Bank Holiday, ICYMI – In Case You Missed It
TLDR – Too Long; Didn’t Read, GOAT – Greatest Of All Time. FLAE - Full List At End!
Linguistic Shortcuts
Specialised jargon and acronyms have become deeply embedded in business communication, evolving as industries and technologies advance. These linguistic shortcuts often serve to streamline conversations among experts, allowing for precise and efficient exchanges. However, they can also create barriers for those outside a particular field, turning everyday discussions into a kind of code only the initiated can decipher. This phenomenon isn't new; it has historical roots, with some acronyms and terms dating back centuries. An example is the term 'foolscap', which refers to a specific size of paper traditionally used in Britain, derived from the watermark of a jester's cap. Time has lost track of whether this mythology holds true or not.
Publishing Glossary: Decoding Industry Jargon
Acquisition Meeting: Colleagues from different departments in a publishing house who all give their input as to whether a book should be acquired or bought for publication.
Assertion of Moral Rights: The UK's Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988 allows creators to assert their moral rights, including the right to receive credit for their work and object to derogatory treatment, which must be asserted in writing for enforceable rights, unlike economic rights.
Advance: A pre-publication payment to an author, credited against future royalties.
AIs (Advance Information Sheets): A document containing key details about a book, including a brief bio, blurb, selling points, and ordering info.
ARC (Advance Reading Copy): A preliminary version of a book shared with press and influencers before the final copy is printed.
Auction: Numerous publishers place bids on a manuscript or concept, with the highest bid securing the publishing rights.
Backlist: A publisher's collection of previously published books.
Back Orders: Orders placed for books before they are published.
Biblio: A content management system containing essential information about each book.
Belles-lettres: A term originally used to describe beautiful or fine writing. In a more contemporary and specific context, it refers to literary works that do not fit into the traditional categories of fiction, poetry, or drama. At times, the term is used with a negative connotation to describe writing that prioritises the aesthetic aspects of language over its practical use. A belletrist is a writer of belles-lettres.
Blad (Book Layout and Design): A booklet showcasing a book's design and content, often used for pitching to booksellers.
Bound Proof: An almost-final version of a book used for early promotions or reviews.
Buy-In: The process of obtaining the rights and permissions from an international publisher to translate a book to publish it in a different region.
CIP data: Essential data to ensure libraries are ready to add the book to their collections as soon as it’s available.
Co-Agents: These are agents who possess in-depth knowledge of the local market and are responsible for selling translation rights on behalf of the rights team.
Co-Edition: Printing multiple language versions in one run to reduce costs.
Copy Editor: The professional responsible for checking a manuscript for grammar, style, and consistency.
Ebook: An electronic format of a book, usually accessed on e-readers or smartphones.
Electronic Rights: Rights pertaining to electronic or multimedia formats.
Elevator Pitch: A concise and compelling description of a book or screenplay, intended for a brief presentation.
Endcap: A specialized retail display positioned at the end of an aisle, commonly found in bookstores.
Evaluation Fees: Fees charged by an agent for writing a report on submitted material.
Exclusive: When an author grants an agent or publisher the exclusive right to review a submission without competition.
Fair Use: A copyright doctrine permitting limited use of copyrighted material without obtaining permission.
Feature: An article focusing on human interest rather than hard news.
Filler: A short piece used by editors to occupy space in a publication.
Film Rights: The rights sold to allow a book to be adapted into a film.
Foreign Rights: Rights sold to publish a book in other countries or languages.
FTP (Files to Print): The process of sending final files to the printer to produce the book.
FOB: (Free on Board or Freight on Board) This indicates that the buyer pays shipping costs and takes responsibility for the goods as soon as they leave the seller's premises.
Galley Proof: A preliminary version of a book used to check for errors before mass printing.
Galleys: The first typeset version of a manuscript, without page divisions.
Genre: A category of writing, such as fiction or nonfiction, or subcategories like horror or romance.
Ghostwriter: A writer who produces work that is officially credited to another person.
Graphic Novel: A book-length story presented in comic-strip format.
Hi-Lo: Fiction for readers with low reading skills but high interest.
High Concept: A story that can be summarized in a quick, compelling sentence.
Honorarium: A small payment for services, often in a ceremonial context.
Hook: The element that makes a story unique and draws in the reader.
Imprint: Imprints play an important role by allowing publishing houses to cater to niche markets and specific genres. Each imprint typically has its own editorial direction, branding, and target audience, which helps differentiate the various types of books published by a single company. For example, The Salariya Book Company had three imprints: Book House, Scribblers and Scribo each imprint specialised in different types of books for different age groups.
Indies: Independent bookstores.
IP (Intellectual Property): Creative works and ideas owned by individuals or companies.
ISBN (International Standard Book Number): An exclusive code assigned to books, usually located in close proximity to the barcode.
Joint Contract: A publishing agreement involving multiple authors and illustrators, specifying how royalties are divided.
Kill Fee: Compensation paid to a writer if a commissioned article is not published.
Key Words: The words that descibe the contents of a book
Lead Time: The period between acquiring a manuscript and its publication.
List: The selection of titles a publisher plans to release within a specific timeframe.
Logline: A brief, enticing summary of a book, film, or TV show.
Marketing Fee: Costs charged by an agent to cover marketing expenses for a manuscript.
Mass Market: Books designed for a broad audience, typically with wide appeal.
Masthead: A section in a magazine or publication listing key staff and contact information.
Memoir: A narrative based on the personal or family history of the author.
MG (Middle Grade): Books targeted at readers aged 9-11.
Midlist: Books expected to have moderate sales, not bestsellers.
Metadata: Data that provides information about other data, aiding in organization and searchability.
Model Release: A document signed by a subject, granting permission to use their photograph.
Moral Rights (Assertion of): Unlike economic rights, moral rights cannot be sold or otherwise transferred. However, the rights holder can choose to waive these rights.
There are four moral rights recognised in the UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-rights-granted-by-copyright
The right to attribution
This is the right to be recognised as the author of a work. This right needs to be asserted before it applies. For example, in a contract with a publisher, an author may state that they assert their right to be identified as the author of their work.
The right to object to derogatory treatment of a work
Derogatory treatment is defined as any addition, deletion, alteration to or adaptation of a work that amounts to a distortion or mutilation of the work, or is otherwise prejudicial to the honour or reputation of the author.
The right to object to false attribution
This is the right not to be named as the author of a work you did not create. This would prevent, for example, a well-known author being named as the author of a story they did not write.
The right to privacy of certain photographs and films
This right enables someone who has commissioned a photograph or film for private and domestic purposes to prevent it from being made available or exhibited to the public. For example, this would allow you to prevent a photographer from putting your wedding photographs on their website without your permission.
(MS) Manuscript: The author's draft of a book before it is published.
Multiple Contract: A publishing deal covering more than one book.
Multiple Submissions: Sending multiple works to different publishers simultaneously.
Narrative Nonfiction: Nonfiction presented in a storytelling format.
Net Royalty: Royalties calculated after deductions like discounts and returns.
NetGalley: An industry-standard service that delivers secure digital files to approved readers and coordinates closely with publishers on targeted promotions
Novella: A concise book, around 60 to 120 page.
On Spec: A manuscript submitted without a prior commitment from the publisher.
One-Time Rights: The right to publish a work only once, allowing the author to sell it elsewhere later.
Option: A writer would need to offer their next book to the publisher as a contractual clause that grants a particular party, typically a publisher or a production company, the opportunity to consider and potentially acquire the author's subsequent piece of work before it is offered to others. Option Clause: A contract provision granting a publisher the right to publish an author's next book.
Packager: A company that creates books, often from concept to finished product, for publishers. I started 'Editorial Packaging' first for Giunti Marzocco in Florence, then Franklin Watts and Simon Schuster in the UK. Editorial Packaging was supplying the concept and the finished, edited text, illustrations as a 'paste-up' to the publisher who would print and sell rights in the book. Later I controlled the printing as well, supplying finished bound copies to publishers in the UK and the USA.
Packaging: The design and presentation of a book.
Payment on Acceptance: Payment issued to a writer once their work is accepted for publication.
Payment on Publication: Payment made to a writer when their work is published.
Pen Name: A pseudonym or nom de plume used by an author instead of their real name. I use David Stewart, Max Marlborough, and another, best not mentioned.
PI (Print Instructions): Orders for books to printers.
Photo Feature: A feature in a publication that emphasizes photographs over text.
Picture Book: A book for young children that combines illustrations with text, or uses only illustrations.
PLR (Public Lending Rights) The amount paid to authors and illustrators fro books being borrowed from libraries.
POD (Print on Demand): Printing small editions of a a book as required.
POS (Point of Sale): Marketing materials used to promote a book at the point of purchase.
Pre-Empt: An early offer made to secure a book before it goes to auction.
Production The stages a book will go through at the prionters.
Proposal: A book proposal is a document to outline a book idea to show a publisher that your concept is a well constructed idea and financially feasible for their publishing house.
Proof: A sample copy of a book for final checks before printing.
Roman à clef: Novel with a Key: A novel where actual individuals, locations, or occurrences are depicted under false names or altered details, creating a blend of fiction and reality.
Royalties: Payments made to an author based on book sales.
Royalty Deal: Selling rights to an overseas publishing company, who then prints and sells the book, paying royalties to the original publisher.
Scouts: Professionals who search for book ideas or manuscripts for publishers or film or TV studios.
Serial Rights: Publishing an excerpt from a book in a magazine or newspaper, either before or after the book’s release.
SKU (Stock Keeping Unit): A unique identifier for tracking books in inventory.
Slush Pile: Unsolicited manuscripts submitted to a publisher, often without an agent. Publishers will often have an internee going through a 'slush pile' who probably has no experience.
Social Media: Covers a variety of content creation in different formats to be used online.
Specs (Specifications): In design, specifications are detailed documents that outline essential requirements, constraints, and specifications for book production to adhere to. They act as fundamental blueprints in product development, guiding teams from concept to completion.
Sub-Rights: Rights beyond primary publication, such as translation or serialization rights.
TCM (Total Consumer Market): Data from Nielsen BookScan tracking book sales across various outlets.
TPB (Trade Paperback): A larger paperback, usually less expensive than a hardcover.
Typesetter: The person responsible for arranging the text layout of a book working to specifications from a designer..
Wholesale: Buying books in bulk at a highly discounted price.
WIP (Work in Progress): A project currently being developed and worked on by an editorial team, author or illustrator.
From the Spark of an Idea to a Bookshelf: The Journey of a Book's Creation
Every book you’ve ever held in your hands started as just an idea - an inkling in a author’s mind or perhaps someone like me who develops ideas and designs the projects. But what happens between that spark of inspiration and the moment you lift that book off the book shelf, open it and crack the spine or order it online?
A Blend of Creativity and Business Acumen
The journey is a mix of creativity, business acumen, some magic with a lot of hard work by differently talented people. Let's go through the process, step by step, from concept to publication, using the insider jargon (above) of the publishing world. By the end, you'll understand not only the creation of books, but also the business of publishing. Remember that this is in theory how things might work - in reality you will be dealing with the wide ranging elements of human behaviour in all it's different forms: unpredictable managment, internal sqabling, editorial rivalry and perhaps rejection...but just keep at it.
The Birth of an Idea
Every book begins with a spark - a high concept idea that promises to capture readers' imaginations. Once the idea is worked into a more concrete plan, the author or the creator and designer might draft a proposal (especially for non-fiction) or outline the plot for fiction. The project officially begins when the creator or author sends out a proposal and letter to agents or publishing teams, having followed submission instructions carefully, hoping that their project catches the eye of a person who believes in their vision.
If the idea is strong enough, an agent may agree to represent the author, and together they prepare to acquire a contract with a publisher. This stage is where the rights negotiations begin. Authors often assert their moral rights, ensuring their name is always associated with the work and no changes occur without their consent. Work commissioned by a publisher, especially in non-fiction, can be 'waived'. Some unscrupulous publishers will not agree to the 'assertion of moral rights' for work created and designed by a creative - or create a contract that you need to agree to dictated terms - for example, not to say anything derogatory about the CEO, management, or employees, even going to the length of who you might tell about this NDA contract. Any such publisher would generally be regarded as unprofessional, and you would be advised to not have anything to do with the company.
The Contract and Advance
Once a publisher is on board, they will offer a contract that outlines the terms, their is no such thing as a standard contract or as it can be referred to as a ‘boilerplate’ contract including the advance - an upfront payment made to the author, which is essentially a stake on the book’s future success. The contract also covers subsidiary rights, world rights, and the less glamorous kill fee (a payment made if the book never reaches publication).
Crafting the Manuscript
With a deal in place, the author or packager starts the work of designing or writing the project or manuscript. The process begins with research, writing, design, developmental editing, which entails making major structural changes, and continues with line editing and copyediting to refine the text. The type of the book's genre, such as literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, or young adult, each with its unique set of expectations.
Preparing for Production
After working on the design and the manuscript, the book moves into the production phase. A lot happens here—cover design, choosing the trim size, and assigning an ISBN (International Standard Book Number). Before the final product is printed, galleys are sent out to proofreaders, reviewers, and influencers as ARCs (Advance Reader Copies), creating interest ahead of publication.
During this phase, publishers also gather CIP (Cataloguing in Publication) data, which helps libraries catalogue the book. CIP data incorporates essential details such as the book's title, author, publisher, and subject classification, facilitating readers' access to the book upon publication.
Marketing and Distribution
As the publication date approaches, the publisher's marketing plan kicks into high gear. The publicist finalises the book's blurb, gathers endorsements, and organises interviews, blog tours, and social media campaigns. The goal? To get the book in front of as many eyes as possible.
The distribution channels to ensure the book is available at every major point of sale (POS), whether it's online or in brick-and-mortar stores, on release day. Meanwhile, CIP data is essential for ensuring libraries across the country are ready to add the book to their collections as soon as it’s available.
The Launch and Beyond
Finally, the day is here for publication! Readers can now find the book on book shop shelves, whether it’s in hardcover, paperback, or on ebook readers in e-book format. But the work doesn’t stop here. Royalties start coming in, calculated as a percentage of each sale, with the advance recouped first.
Post-launch, the book becomes part of the publisher’s backlist - those reliable older titles which continue to sell steadily. Authors can focus on their next project while their previous work remains available to readers.
Special Considerations and Legalities
But what about all those behind-the-scenes legalities? Terms like asserting moral rights, ISBN, and CIP data may sound dry, but they’re crucial. Moral rights ensure the author's name remains associated with the work and protect against unauthorised alterations. ISBNs are like a book's fingerprint, essential for tracking and sales. CIP data, provided before publication, streamlines the cataloguing process in libraries, aiding discoverability.
From the first spark of an idea to the final book in a reader's hands, the journey of a book is as layered as any of the book's contents within. Along the way, every term, acronym, and process plays a critical role in turning an idea into something solid, something real. So the next time you pick up a book, take a moment to appreciate the creativity, business, and work that has made it possible. Behind every cover, there’s not just a writer and an illustrator, but a whole world of effort that has brought these pages to life.
Glossary: Decoding British Slang, Abbreviations and Acronyms
Banny Hols – Bank Holiday
BFF – Best friends forever
Breakky Prep – Breakfast Preparation
BRB – Be Right Back
BSAAW – Big smile and a wink
Buzzy Vibes – Busy Day Feels
BWL – Bursting with laughter
Chrissy Lims – Christmas Limbo
Corrie Nash – King's Coronation
Cozzie Livs – Cost of Living
CSL – Can’t stop laughing
FIMH – Forever in my heart
FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out
GAF – Going around Flexing
Genny Lec – General Election
GOAT – Greatest Of All Time
Holibobs – Holiday
Holijobs – Holiday Job
ICYMI – In Case You Missed It
IRL – In Real Life
Jackie P – Jacket Potato
JK – Just Kidding
LMAO – Laughing my a** off
Menty B – Mental Breakdown
Mon G P – Monaco Grand Prix
Movvy Buff – Movie Buff
Newby Resos – New Year’s Resolutions
Notty Carns – Notting Hill Carnival
Panny D – Pandemic
Parrie Limps – Paris Olympics
Platty Joobs – Platinum Jubilee
PMA – Positive Mental Attitude
Prezzy Wrapz – Present Wrapping Time
Prommy Dreamz – Prom Night Anticipation
Savvy B – Sauvignon Blanc
SLAY – Successfully Living Another Year
SMH – Shaking My Head
Spenny – Expensive
Sunni Sipz – Summer Sips (drinks)
Taxy Time – Tax Return Season
TDTB – Too Driven To Bother
TFW – That Feeling When
TLDR – Too Long; Didn’t Read
Valley Vibes – Valentine’s Day Mood
VIBES – Very Important Beats Everyone’s Stress
YOLO – You Only Live Once
Errors all my own, please advise or suggest additions - and also changes in the meaning of terms. Acronyms and language is constantly changing eg 'Something wicked this way comes...means something completely different from when it was written ifor Macbeth by William Shakespeare in 1606-07.
David Salariya
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