Frontlist, backlist mean little in self-publishing

After you’ve self-published several books, you’ll likely encounter a couple of terms that categorize your writing: frontlist and backlist.

In corporate publishing, frontlist refers to your new titles that have just been released. The backlist are older books that are steady sellers. Often, corporate publishers would look at an author’s backlist and no longer print those that didn’t sell well. The only way for readers to get copies of books removed from the backlist would be to borrow from a library and scour used book stores.

In self-publishing, your book never goes out of print unless you personally decide to remove it from sale. That’s because the book actually isn’t printed until someone orders it, hence there’s no need to store unsold copies in a warehouse, the cost of which was a primary reason corporate publishers decided to remove books from authors’ backlists.

Still, the terms are somewhat useful in differentiating your newly released material from your older books. For example, your marketing and promotional efforts will focus on your new releases, or your frontlist.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Denver, Colorado, or a small town like Dewey Beach, Delaware, I can provide that second eye.