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Course Catalog / BMU 350 / Glossary

Glossary: BMU 350 Write and Publish Your First Book

A reference sheet of the key words in this course. Keep it open while you work, or print it.

advance reader copy
A free early copy given to readers before or at launch. (Lesson 7)
AI generated
Content an AI tool created, even if you edited it after. (Lesson 3)
author bio
A short, honest paragraph on why you can keep the promise. (Lesson 6)
beta reader
A test reader from your target audience who reads before you publish. (Lesson 4)
book plan
A one page summary of reader, promise, scope, length, and format. (Lesson 1)
category
A shelf in the online store where your book is listed. (Lesson 6)
chapter purpose
One to three sentences on what the chapter does for the reader. (Lesson 2)
cover brief
A one page description of what your cover needs to say and show. (Lesson 5)
if then plan
A plan that says: if this happens, then I will do that. (Lesson 3)
ISBN
A 13 digit number that identifies one format and edition of a book. (Lesson 5)
launch plan
A dated list of actions for the first 30 days after publishing. (Lesson 7)
line editing
Making sentences clear, short, and in your voice. (Lesson 4)
material connection
A tie, like a free product or a family bond, that could affect a review. (Lesson 7)
metadata
Facts about your book: title, author, description, keywords, categories. (Lesson 6)
outline
A list of chapters, each with a short purpose. (Lesson 2)
promise
What your reader can do, know, or feel after reading. (Lesson 1)
promise test
Asking: does this chapter help keep the book's promise? (Lesson 2)
proofreading
The last check for typos, spelling, and formatting. (Lesson 4)
reader
The specific person your book is written for. (Lesson 1)
scope
The edges of the book: what it covers and what it leaves out. (Lesson 1)
self publishing
You publish yourself through a platform such as KDP and keep control. (Lesson 5)
structural revision
Big changes: order, missing parts, chapters to cut. (Lesson 4)
subtitle
The line under the title that states the promise. (Lesson 6)
traditional publishing
A publisher buys rights to your book, pays you, and handles production. (Lesson 5)
ugly first draft
A complete draft that is allowed to be rough. (Lesson 3)
word goal
A set number of words for each session or week. (Lesson 3)

Back to Getting started or the syllabus.