Lore & LilacSelf-publishing: what you're actually taking on
When you self-publish you become the publisher, so it helps to see every job, and every cost, before you start.
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Related glossary terms
- Self-publishingPublishing a book yourself, keeping control and rights while doing or hiring out the editing, design, production, distribution and marketing.
- Hybrid publishingA model in which the author pays some or all production costs, usually in exchange for higher royalties plus a publisher's services and distribution.
- ISBNThe International Standard Book Number, a unique 13-digit identifier assigned to one specific edition and format of a book.
- EPUBAn open, widely supported ebook file format in which text usually reflows to fit the reader's screen, device and chosen font size.
- Print on demandA printing method in which each copy of a book is printed only after it is ordered, so no stock has to be printed or stored in advance.
- Trim sizeThe final width and height of a printed book's pages, which affects page count, spine width, printing cost and how the book sits on a shelf.
- Back-cover copyThe short promotional description on a book's back cover or retail page, written to make browsers want to read it.
- Advance reader copyAn early, often uncorrected edition of a book sent to reviewers, booksellers and readers before publication to build interest.