The Publishing Language No One Explains

Welcome to You Should Totally Write That, the unfiltered truth about DIY publishing.In this episode, we tackle one of the most confusing parts of an author’s beginning journey: publishing terms. We break down the major publishing paths — traditional publishing, independent presses, hybrid publishing, and self-publishing/DIY — and explain what each scenario involves. Control, royalties, rights, timelines, distribution, validation, and risk all come into play, and no option is inherently “better” than another. The right path depends on the book, the genre, the author’s goals, and where they are in their career.We also dig into the gray areas that trip writers up: why “hybrid” can mean two very different things, how small presses differ wildly from one another, and why terms like “indie” are often used inconsistently. Along the way, we talk honestly about advances, earning out, bookstore distribution, and the math behind traditional publishing —numbers that are rarely discussed but deeply affect author outcomes.On the self-publishing side, we discuss what it really means to be the publisher: owning the timeline, the costs, the decisions, and the responsibility. Throughout the episode, we return to one core truth: there is no single right answer. Many authors move between paths over the course of their careers, or mix them strategically. Our goal isn’t to tell you what to choose, but to make sure you understand the language well enough to choose intentionally.If publishing terms have ever made you feel behind, confused, or quietly panicked—this episode is for you.Buy our books!Find Tara’s books on AmazonLL’s website has links to all the platforms for her Queenpin Chronicles trilogy and memoirs This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youshouldtotallywritethat.substack.com