How to Write the Front Matter, Body, and Back Matter
Hello fellow writers,
We’re usually so focused on writing our story (the body), we may not have given any thought to the other, equally important parts of our book; the front matter and the back matter.
If you pick a few novels off the shelf and look in the front and back of them, you’ll notice they all have virtually the same components.
Before you get to chapter one, the contents you see are called the front matter.
The Parts of the Front Matter:
- Endorsements
- Title Page
- Credits Page
- Dedication
- Table of Contents
- The endorsements are optional. If you don’t have any prestigious reviews to include to promote your book, you probably won’t have this. If you do, it’s the first or second page of the book, always on the right-hand side.
- The title page is always on the right-hand page. It can be the first page or it can follow the endorsements page. The title page announces the title, sub-title, author, and publisher of the book. If you’d like, you can include an illustration on the title page.
- The credits page is where you have the legal information, which can include the title, publisher’s name, ISBN #, copyright, permissions, disclaimer.
- The credits page is always on a left-hand page. You can put it opposite the title page.
- The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is how your reader can find your book. See my post https://thetimeiswrite.com/do-i-need-an-isbn/ for more information on ISBN numbers.
- Copyright includes: the text copyright (author), the cover copyright (the cover design), The image copyright (the photographer or stock image site).
- Permissions- You cannot quote the work of other authors without their permission.
- Disclaimer- You may want to include a statement that the characters and events in your novel are fictional (if they are), and that any resemblance to actual people or events is coincidental. If you’re writing a historical novel with real and imaginary characters, you can include a statement saying that.
4. The dedication page is an opportunity to praise who may have had a hand in your book’s creation, whether that be emotional support and encouragement or content help. It’s short and personal rather than professional. It can go on the page after the credits page.
5. Table of Contents- Non-fiction books will have a table of contents, but most fiction novels do not. If you’re publishing an eBook on Amazon, they require one. All you need to do though, is say, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc.
The Parts of the Back Matter (End Matter):
The elements of the back matter vary, but here is what can be included:
Epilogue- Comes immediately after the conclusion of the book. It provides closure, is sometimes used as a final chapter, may reveal the fate of characters, and can be used to tie up loose ends.
Afterward- Tells how the book ideas were developed and came to be.
Appendix- Gives information about the novel providing, updates, and corrections to earlier material.
Glossary- Especially helpful if there are words or phrases that are unfamiliar to your reader, such as in a fantasy world.
Bibliography- If you used other books or sources for your novel, you cite them here.
Feel free to eliminate those sections that do not pertain to you.
For more information on ISBN numbers and why you need them, head over to my post, https://thetimeiswrite.com/do-i-need-an-isbn/
Happy Writing!
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