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Know the Lingo!

The English language is funny.  Just when we think we have it mastered, new words are introduced and we have to expand our vocabulary.  This happened in the cooking world when Rachael Ray coined the term EVOO for Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  Suddenly, EVOO made the dictionary and people had to start adding that to their cookbooks in order to reach and relate to a new generation of cooks.  How cool is that?  I mean, seriously, being able to influence the dictionary writers through frequently-used changes in language is mind-blowing!  Kudos to Rachael Ray!

Knowing the lingo of the writing world is equally as important as knowing the lingo when you're cooking. If you don't know the lingo, your recipes won't turn out like they should. If you don't know the writing lingo, your targeted market will not be hit.  Here are a few commonly-used terms to get you started. This is not a comprehensive list by any means; it is only a jump-start for you to search deeper:


  1. Genre = type; sort. Generally used in reference to non-literary works.
  2. Multiple Submissions = Sending more than one piece of writing to a single publisher at the same time.
  3. Print on Demand = Digital print technology which allows one or two copies of a book to be printed at a time.
  4. SASE = Self-addressed, Stamped Envelope - still used and required by some agents and publishers, even in our digital age.  Know what it means even if it seems out-dated.
  5. Simultaneous Submission = The submission of one piece of writing to more than one publisher at a time. Not to be confused with Multiple Submissions.
  6. Vanity Press = A paid self-publishing house which offers limited editing and illustrative services. A vanity press is not taken seriously in the writing world, for the most part.
  7. Self-publishing = Publishing your work independently of a publishing house & retaining first rights.
  8. First Rights = The right to first publish a work. Once it's out of print with that publisher, the author can publish elsewhere, if they've only sold first rights.
  9. E-publishing = Any form of electronic publishing:  blogging, video-blogging (vlogging), audio broadcasting, etc.
  10. Content Marketing = Marketing your content as a way to promote your brand - you - on the internet.
Ok, so there are a few terms to get you started.  The key to good success in any publishing endeavor is to un-complicate it by taking it one step at a time.

Happy writing!
Happy publishing!
~Tricia
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Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 27, 2012 at 1:51 PM

    Ironically, the subject of one of my posts on my new blog (deewolfeden.blogspot.com) is on coining new words. My suggestion for a dictionary addition is: "emaul...sending or receiving a less than pleasant email." Perhaps it should be added to a "Techtionary", since there are plenty of new technical words coined in the technology world that become common long before they make it into a traditional dictionary :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Curt RudeMarch 29, 2012 at 8:58 AM

    The Urban Dictionary has words I never had any idea were happening. Change continues to be a force. Thanks Trish for the information. I was confused about the Multi vs Simultaneous Submission Issue without knowing it. I am already signed up for May 15th.

    ReplyDelete

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