Glossary of Publishing Terms
Here’s a sampling of terms you’re likely to come across:
Pub Date: Reminds me of an MIT classmate who went on a date with a Harvard man from Belmont, Massachusetts. She thought that “B-ah-ppin” meant they were going dancing. To her surprise, they went from the Hong Kong to 33 Dunster Street to the Boathouse. He’d meant “bar hopping.” Pub date is the date your book will be available in stores, nothing to do with pubs or dancing.
Blurb: A quotation from a review or an expert, author or celebrity, which is printed on the cover in order to add credibility and help sell more books—get one; get many!
Front matter: All the pages that come before the actual text of the book. This can include the half-title, title page, copyright page, dedication, preface, table of contents, introduction and acknowledgments.
Galleys: Pre-publication copies of the book sent to reviewers for pre-publication reviews.
Media Kit or Press Kit: Usually a folder that contains a press release, author bio, author photo and other information used to interest the media in reviewing the book or interviewing the author.
Proofs: Typeset drafts of the book that are used for final editing.
Lisa Tener is a writing coach who teaches students five steps for creative flow and success which she terms, “Magic for Your Muse.” She is co-author of Good and Mad: Transform Anger Using Mind, Body, Soul and Humor (along with Jane Middelton-Moz and Peaco Todd) and founder of the South County Writer’s Seminar.
Lisa has appeared on ABC World News with Peter Jennings, PBS-TV Rhode Island and WCVB-Boston’s Chronicle and HealthBeat. She has been quoted in Glamour, Family Circle, the Boston Globe and more. She is currently working on a series of books for artists and writers to help them complete creative projects successfully. Visit her website at www.lisatener.com.
Copyright 2004 by Lisa Tener; This article may be reprinted without permission only if you retain it in its entirety with the author bio and this copyright notice. If you would like to reprint a portion of this article, please e-mail me for permission at
