author mill

Meaning

A derogatory term for a publishing operation that produces a large quantity of books quickly, often using ghostwriters or a team of writers, with an emphasis on commercial output rather than literary quality or individual authorship.

Examples

• Critics dismissed the new series as the product of an author mill, noting the generic plots and inconsistent writing styles.
• The publishing company was accused of being an author mill after releasing over fifty titles in a single year, many under pseudonyms.