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. 

Indexing
Creating an ordered or alphabetical list of subjects/topics or names, giving the page number(s) of where it is referred to in the main text of the book.
Ingram
A book and e-book distributor, and a print-on-demand service provider.
Print-on-demand (POD)
The facility to print and bind books at short notice without the need for a large print run, using digital technology. When an order comes through, a digital file of the book can be printed automatically and individually.
Sample assessment
In self-publishing, this is often free and can refer to when the author receives a sample of the editor’s work (eg. examples of their comments on two to three pages of the author's manuscript), so that the author can decide whether to purchase that editorial service. It can also refer to when editors assess a sample of the author's work to see what service suits the author's writing best.
Self-publishing providers
Companies which provide editorial, design, marketing, distribution and e-book services for authors.