Glossary

We’ve curated a glossary of terms regarding all things writing and publishing related. From commonly-used terms to abbreviations, our glossary will guide writers and people starting out in publishing, to cut through the jargon and gain a better understanding. 

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Advance
Money paid by a publisher to an author before the book is published. The author usually does not receive any further royalties until the amount of the advance payment has been reached by sales of the book.
Advance Information sheet
A sales and marketing document which contains information about the content and format of the book, as well as key selling points, intended audience, promotions and reviews that is circulated to sales reps, potential retailers and customers.
B format
A medium sized paperback (129mm x 198mm), smaller than a trade paperback.
Blad (book layout and design)
A pre-publication sales and marketing tool. It is often a printed booklet that contains sample pages, images and front and back covers, which acts as a preview for promotional use or for sales teams to show to potential retailers, customers or reviewers.
Blurb
A short piece of writing or paragraph that praises and promotes a book, which usually appears on the back or inside cover of the book and may be used in sales and marketing material.