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 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.
Auction
An auction, usually arranged by a literary agent, takes place when multiple publishing houses are interested in acquiring a manuscript and bid against one another to secure the domestic or territorial rights.
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.