It’s FEBRUARY…
This week, we’re continuing to write the book with me! And today we’re talking about the components of the book. On my IG, this past Monday and next Monday, I shared graphics that showed you how much STUFF can go into the front and back of your book respectively. This is simply called Front Matter and “Back Matter”.
Disclaimer: I made in the video, reference to a site called DiggyPOD, which is a company and type of publisher that helps indie authors print their books. They are a third party PRINT ON DEMAND company. We’ll dig into this subject more later, but I showed them to you as they listed ALL the components of front and back matter in a concise and easy to understand matter. And of note, after digging into their site more, I actually liked their pricing as I thought about a workbook I want to have redone, but I wanted to caution you that listing/mention of any kind was not in any way my endorsement of them, whatsoever. I thought their descriptions of the components in front and back matter, as I said, were very good and they were one of the first sites populated during my initial search. So in essence, I did some free promotion for them. But ALWAYS conduct your own research prior to using. If I use them for my workbook, I’ll be sure to return to let you know how things went.
As I consider both of these elements, even as I’ve been writing forever now, when I look at the list of things and author can include, especially for the BACK matter, wow, I’m sure you’re saying, it seems and still feels like A LOT. I completely agree.
One of the beauties of being an indie publisher is the sheer fact that you don’t have to be beholden to including ALL of these items in your book. For one, some seem redundant and for two, some items mean very similar things. I talk about the acknowledgements and the dedication, not terribly different but still quite similar in their meaning and why you would use them; but be sure to check the video for an awesome example.
Here below, I’m going to go very quickly over the front (and next week -back matter) components of most books. It’s totally up to you and you will have to make a decision on what you will include in your own books.
Let’s get to it. Oh, BTW, I don’t promise to put everything in order, but for the most part, it is in the order in which it should appear in your book, if you start with the pages after the cover and open it from the front and work your way all the way to the back. I’ve also broken things up into Front Matter first, then Back Matter.
Front Matter
The title page – for me the title page is simply the page with the title all pretty’d up. It has your title, and your name. This is often the page I will sign, now in the absence of a title page, and if my acknowledgements aren’t terribly long (which they aren’t, ever), I will sign the lower half of the acknowledgements page to the person who is buying the book.
With everyone going green and doing their best to keep pages/ink down and save trees, it’s of note that many have often decided to do away with the title page entirely. It’s really not needed and is more an aesthetic than it is a functional piece of the book. The same as far as appearance for the half title page vs. the full title page, there is no real difference in that one takes up space but they have the same function = none.
In only one of my books have I had a special, added page. In Pack Light: Thoughts for the Journey, there is a photo of a black and white pier. It gives the illusion of walking off on it. This book was about shedding light on situations and the thinking one might do and honestly the graphic was something my formatter did on her own. I certainly don’t recall asking for it but it’s a nice touch that whoever formats your book’s interior might take liberty with and add their own touch.
The COPYRIGHT PAGE – includes important details for ordering your book and cataloging it in various book seller systems. Copyright information, the ISBN number, etc., authors full name and publisher and a series from number from the copyright to the Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) and even the standard language that talks about the work being one of fiction OR the important deterrences of not copyrighting as a result of the licensing and rights the author has.
The copyright page, might also include who
Designed your book’s cover,
Designed your books interior
Edited your books text
As I mentioned in the video, the DEDICATION PAGE may be listed if you want to recognize or shout out a special group. It’s only different in the acknowledgements to me in that you may have a more special affinity for the people, groups etc. on the dedication page and they be people that just have more weight in your lives and honestly most dedications I’ve read include members of a particular organization or someone deceased, honestly.
The EPIGRAPH is a short quote that you’ll put in the beginning of the novel and honestly I feel as if this could go at the beginning of each chapter. It’s a way so offer some ton setting
I’ve already picked my epigraph for the beginning of Before the Jump and it comes from bible verse Luke 14:28-30.
It can also be a poem, a part of a novel or your own work, something you say often, and with permission something from other books. There really isn’t any limit to what it can be, what’s most important in my mind is that it be relevant to the book’s subject matter or the story and the characters for fiction titles.
The TABLE OF CONTENTS – not sure there is much that needs to be explained here other than I encourage you to look at and explore a number books and their TOC, I think some folks are doing cool and innovative things to add to and enhance whatever their content is about. There really is no limit. I don’t personally think that Fiction needs a TOC, unless you plan to have or add something that’s not standard for fiction stories/books. If you have something additionally to share, it’s important to let the reader know and you can do that through the TOC.
The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS truly can go on for days. This is YOUR BOOK and honestly, this is probably the page where most agree you can and should have, free range. I have’t seen any that are more than two pages but I’m sure they exist. The only issue I personally have with Acknowledgement pages is that they don’t have any real line spacing to break up the thank you’s. I almost wish they were written in bullets so you could zoom in on what parts you want to read and I can skip the part about your favorite feline furbaby, as you thank him/her for the warm lap sits and other antics our pets are known for. That’s no nice.
I know she/he was instrumental to your many hours at the keys but this is for that so I don’t discourage, you right ahead. The focus is to thank those, EVERYONE and special attention to those impactful and instrumental folks that assisted you with reaching your goals.
The FOREWORD – a section in a book that is reserved for me, what usually, and what should be, a writer/author/thought-leader, other than the author of the book. This discusses the author and your book, and how they see it. Honestly, I read somewhere that its for the author of the foreword to show how they are connected to the book, but truly do you really care or are you most concerned about someone that could write an awesome foreword, be connected to your industry and topic in some fashion but really and truly be involved in an effort to use their name recognition and current following to help elevate and “legitimize” YOU and what you’re speaking of. I’m not saying have the wrong motives, but many a people everyday write forewords just because they are ahead and want to help in the elevation of the person writing the book, not to mention it is a promotional opportunity for them too. Many publishers will make the request, hey this is coming out, write a little something to help it along. Whatever is written should act as a connection that makes sense but should also act as an endorsement of the writer’s writing.
The PREFACE, written by the author, answers all the questions that asks:
What and HOW the book came to be – e.g. where were you and what propelled you to explore this subject.
What kind of pain or hurt were you experiencing at this time? You’ll talk about your own situation.
What inspired you to talk about this? What problems are you solving? What dis ease are you easing and making better?
The INTRODUCTION is completely “What is this book about?” You tell the reader, here’s what you’ll learn. What kind of change can I get or expect to get as a result of reading this book? How can I be changed. How will I apply and appreciate this when all is said and done?
Finally, the last part of the FRONT MATTER is the PROLOGUE – It’s more for fiction titles in that it will help the reader understand any ideas and parts of the story, they will need before it really starts in chapter one. I have one reason for a prologue and IF this occurs, that is the ONLY time I will write a prologue. Otherwise you need to prove to me, why you just can’t start the story in Chapter One?
There should be some reason and some time lapse that needs to be had between the prologue and chapter one. I give you an example in the video but if you have to give the reader something that you can’t do through foreshadowing or flashback, then yes, write a prologue. If the reader can’t understand and enjoy Chapter One without it, then yes, include a prologue. The prologue must be a relevant and integral part of the plot and it is a great way to introduce details that will enhance delivery and understanding of the story for the readers.
Next time I’ll be talking about the BACK MATTER and if you think all this was long, just wait.
