Anachronisms and dysfunctions of ebook front and back matter. A quick and easy guide to writing the best front and back matter for your self published book, both print and ebook editions, by jessica bell. In the words of renowned typographer jan tschichold 19021974, book design, though largely forgotten today, relies upon methods and rules upon which it is impossible to improve, and which have been developed over centuries. Whats it matter the front and back matter of a book. Last week here, i presented the parts of a book which appear in the front of the book. Nov 06, 2017 then, when im setting up a new book, once i get the edited manuscript back, i add the front and back matter from the back matter file to the book. There are, of course, variations to this conventional lineup order. For those who have worked on and helped write and publish the book, can be in the front matter or the back matter. Table of contents list of illustrations list of tables foreword by someone other than the author preface by the author acknowledgments or in back matter introduction abbreviations or in back matter back matter acknowledgments or in front matter appendix or several appendices numbered a, b, c, etc.
Jun 12, 2014 part of the best practice guides for authors from bb ebooks that discusses adding proper front matter, back matter, and metadata. If back matter has to be added to volume 1 late in production, use lowercase roman numerals, continuing the page numbering from where the front matter in that volume left off. How to organize your books front matter includes a checklist of front matter items. Here i am going to reveal the mysteries of front and back matter, which is what we used to call it when i started in publishing. Back matter definition is matter following the main text of a book. Jun 04, 2014 front matter, back matter, and metadata. Front matter and back matter are terms used to describe the first and last pages of a book but not the actual story or body content of the book. Were novices, so working with front matter and back matter is a new experience. Authors use their back matter to offer readers further context or information about the story, though back matter can also be extremely simple. Just as front matter is what you find at the beginning of a book, back matter, simply put, is what you find at the end of a bookthe sections that appear after the central story has been completed. Back matter is the stuff at the end of your book, after the main sections of the book are finished.
Back matter pages are numbered continuously with the main text. For the last few weeks, diggypods blog has been discussing the various elements of a book s front matter that is, all the different pieces that fit together and introduce the author, the story, the themes, and its importance. This includes all frontmatter items listed below, together with chapters in the body matter and back matter. Jun 25, 2015 how to format a book in ms word part iii. These are competitive editorial strategies for making your book stand out. Front matter is everything that comes before your content. Jan 03, 2018 the back matter includes the following. The back matter types menu lets you indicate an items type. Jan 18, 2018 front matter, the body and back matter. Either way, the material that appears at the front of a book before the actual content is called front matter, and it actually contains some very important information. Nov 28, 2017 the front matter, and all its components, is a seriously important part of the book. Sep 15, 2014 books are divided into three partsfront matter, body text with or without illustrations, and back matter. May 27, 2015 book promotion expert ben cameron always says writing the blurb is the hardest 100 words youll ever write, and many authors are also stumped when it comes to writing the front and back matter another task that usually falls just when youre feeling least like writing another word, after completing your books final edit.
Back matter is the final pages of a book, where endnotes, the appendix, the bibliography, the index, and. Pressbooks lets you easily format these and other items as front matter in your book, which will appear prior to the main body. Books consist of many components, all of them important when creating a full, complete, and professional work. Smashwords front matter, back matter, and metadata a book. Its a smooth way of opening a story without immediately dropping the reader into it. Your body content is the book itself its your introduction.
Back matter definition, the parts of a book that appear after the main text, as bibliography, index, and appendixes. Jan 10, 2014 last week here, i presented the parts of a book which appear in the front of the book. The front matter includes any material that precedes the text. Well never look at a childrens picture book in the same way again. I have formatted and put together all of the additional front and back matter for several books now including all of my own and a number for other authors as well. Because the back matter file has all the books, i do have to go in and delete the current book. Using back matter in your ebooks correctly by adam on 10302012 in blog, selfpublishing today id like to talk about something that i dont see talked about in too much detail on the web. How to create, edit, delete and change front matter items. But that made me realize i was probably missing a major opportunity to connect with those readers, so i checked my back copy the material at the end of my book and found it seriously wanting. Material, such as an index or appendix, that follows the main body of a book. Most nonfiction books include some back matter, perhaps a glossary, bibliography, or index. Just read laurie halse andersons thank you, sarah today with first graders and they wanted me to read every word of the back matter. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read front matter, back matter, and metadata. The back matter also known as the end matter is you guessed it material found at the back of a book.
Some common items in back matter include an index, bibliography or appendix. Making your books front mattermatter the writing cooperative. The front matter is a section in the beginning of a book. We tend to spend all of our time writing the main content of the book and fail to factor in the extra time required to write and organize the front and back matter. Depending on the book and style it may be named differently. Mar 02, 2016 carrie charley brown is hosting reforemo read for research month, a time when writers challenge themselves to read picture books as mentor texts to improve their writing. If the front matter introduces the book, the back matter then wraps everything up. Your books front and back matter your literary prose. Mar 20, 2017 other books by if this is not your first book, you definitely want to list your other books.
When you format your book for hard copy printing, you should follow the structure as shown in the diagram below. Front matter is the first section of a book and is generally the shortest. Its the 30,000 to 50,000 words you just pumped out. These days, acknowledgements seem to be showing up as back matter for fiction as well as nonfiction titles. Front and back matter in books selfpublishing advice. After the last page of the manuscripts text, pagination continues in numerical sequence into the back matter. Your body content is the book itself its your introduction, conclusion and everything in between. The errata are sometimes found in the back of the book called the back matter. November 28, 2017 5 comments what is the front matter of a book. Jul 12, 2012 table of contents list of illustrations list of tables foreword by someone other than the author preface by the author acknowledgments or in back matter introduction abbreviations or in back matter back matter acknowledgments or in front matter appendix or several appendices numbered a, b, c, etc. Today, we look at the elements which make up the back matter. Book promotion expert ben cameron always says writing the blurb is the hardest 100 words youll ever write, and many authors are also stumped when it comes to writing the front and back matter another task that usually falls just when youre feeling least like writing another word, after completing your books final edit.
The title page must go on a recto page, and the page must go on the verso page immediately following the title page in other words, the page is printed on. Back matter in picture books marcie flinchum atkins. One of these components that often causes selfpublished authors pause is the front matter and back matter. Apr 26, 2019 what exactly is front matter and back matter. Kindle create displays your book in three sections. Front matter of a book what is included in the front matter. This is a work file in kcb format you can use to update your book later. Back matter definition of back matter by the free dictionary. Part of the best practice guides for authors from bb ebooks that discusses adding proper front matter, back matter, and metadata. Front matter includes the title pages, the writers name, the edition, the publication date. Since this is something that i really enjoyand have acquired quite a bit of knowledge onive decided to offer formatting services.
Books are divided into three partsfront matter, body text with or without illustrations, and back matter. Book promotion expert ben cameron always says writing the blurb is the hardest 100 words youll ever write, and many authors are also stumped when it comes to writing the front and back matter another task that usually falls just when youre feeling least like writing another word, after completing your book s final edit. All of these pieces front matter, body text, and back matter fit together perfectly to create a complete book. Your ultimate guide to front matter and back matter. Back matter in your book celebrating independent authors.
More in the modern world of publishing where authors are expected to publish several books a year, standards and literary traditions that have existed for centuries can understandably be overlooked. These sections of back matter are often supplementary in nature, and inform the reader about some aspect of the book. Watch for the next installment in the book construction blueprint, elements of the page. It comes after the body text and includes concluding sections that. After this comes the body of the book and after that, what is called the back matter. How to use your books back matter to massively boost your.
Sums up the book, sometimes within the story itself or sometimes with the author speaking as well. Front matter, body, and back matter even if youve already polished your chapters to perfection, you still need to prepare various other parts of a book before publishing namely, the front matter and back matter. The back matter is the concluding section of a book, and it can contain a whole host of information, and many of these sections are entirely optional. The front matter, and all its components, is a seriously important part of the book. Books can be divided into three areas front matter, body content and back matter. I will usually list my books in the front matter, but in the back, i include a paragraph about each of the books to entice readers to go deeper. Then, when im setting up a new book, once i get the edited manuscript back, i add the front and back matter from the back matter file to the book. Im the guest authoreducator there today talking about back matter in picture books. Book front matter what to include in the front of your book. And not every book includes every type of front matter. The process to create, edit, delete, rename or reorder back matter items is the same way as that for chapters, with one additional option. The front matter of a book consists of its very first pages. If the reader has enjoyed the story, the first thing they will want to do is check out your other titles. Also, brian flocas locomotive has back matter and endpaper matter.
What youve been working on, the manuscript youve sweated. Anachronisms and dysfunctions of ebook front and back matter the process of digitizing a printed book involves much more than the conversion of ink on paper to bits in a file. Other books by if this is not your first book, you definitely want to list your other books. Functional aspects of the book must be mapped to digital equivalents. There are only two pages you must include in your front matter. Back matter definition of back matter by merriamwebster. The back matter is where youll find components such as an index, a glossary, an.
Front matter of a book what is included in the front. How to write the front and back matter of your kindle ebook. Front matter includes the dedication, epigram, table of contents, foreword, preface, and acknowledgements. A quick and easy guide to writing the best front and back matter for your selfpublished book, both print and ebook editions, by jessica bell.
Also, brian flocas locomotive has back matter and endpapermatter. How to setup the allimportant front and back matter of your. Front matter is information about a book which precedes the main text. Carrie charley brown is hosting reforemo read for research month, a time when writers challenge themselves to read picture books as mentor texts to improve their writing. Book design is the art of incorporating the content, style, format, design, and sequence of the various components and elements of a book into a coherent unit.
One thing you shouldnt put at the front of your ebook huffpost. Its just a simple matter of cut and paste and im done. Back matter items are essentially chapters within a part, with one additional option to customize. The thing to consider is when exactly potential readers are going to be looking through the front matter of an ebook. Lately ive come to the conclusion that while front matter in print books has a set protocol and exists for a reason, in ebooks its essentially wasted space when its, you know, in the front. How do all of the pieces of the front matter fit together, though. Feb 03, 20 anachronisms and dysfunctions of ebook front and back matter the process of digitizing a printed book involves much more than the conversion of ink on paper to bits in a file.
Ive moved shearwater to permafree and got over 5,000 downloads this month. The purpose of front matter is mostly to make sure your book looks as professional. Best practice guides for authors ebook written by paul salvette. The order of pages shown above is customary but not mandatory.
Whats it matter the front and back matter of a book the. Book back matter what to include in the back of your book. Front matter is the material at the front of a book that usually offers information about the book. May, 2019 i have formatted and put together all of the additional front and back matter for several books now including all of my own and a number for other authors as well. Front matter of a book what is included in the front matter of a book. As i said previously, there are no hard and fast rules that dictate how a book must be structured, but the structure discussed here is one thats been around for a few hundred years. There arent any definitive rules for how the different sections of front matter in an ebook should be organized, and it is very unlikely that your book will be rejected for publishing based on how you have structured it except for smashwords, the nitpicky ones. If the front matter ended on page xiv, the back matter would start with page xv. Front matter is the stuff in your book from the page after the cover till the page before chapter one. Using back matter in your ebooks correctly adam geen. Learn more about creating projects and tables of contents. Gain comprehension of how more complicated back matter like an index and notes section can function in an ebook utilize vendorspecific buy links to boost your sales and author brand pick up a copy of front matter, back matter, and metadata and improve your publishing level of knowledge to give you a professional edge. A successful book is more than just a manuscript thrown between a cover. You can split, merge, or rearrange chapters as needed.