As a self-publishing author, it’s up to you to create certain pages for your book for your audience. Of course, I’m talking about more than just the pages that have your story written on them. I’m talking about the pages that accentuate the book as a whole.
You know…the table of contents, prologues, epilogues, dedications, and much more.
As a beginner, you might not know what a lot of these pages are or why you should include them. In reality, you don’t need to add all of these pages to your book. A good rule of thumb is to only use the ones that are relevant.
Today, I’ll go over these pages and give you some examples of how to use them properly.
Why Some Pages In a Book Are Important
Now, obviously, there are some pages that are best left in a book. For example, a Table of Contents is a virtual requirement for your readers.
Then, you’ll usually have a page for copyright information.
Both of these types of pages are perhaps the most frequent in any novel regardless of its size or story. But what about the others?
Certain pages can add a bit more umph to the story, provide information about you as the author, or show some love to those who have helped you get published. However, none of these are absolutely necessary.
At the end of the day, it really depends on how much meat you want to give and what information you truly want your reader to have.
Not everyone cares to put a bio page or links to their social media profiles in a paperback or hardcover book.
What Pages Are Common When Writing a Book?
Basically, a book is broken down into three main parts: the front matter, the body, and the back matter.
Each of these sections contains the traditional pages of a book, which are recognized by virtually everyone. And to put them out of order would probably cause chaos for your fan base.
The body contains the actual story itself. But what about the pages for the front and back matter?
Common Front Matter Pages
The front matter are the pages that appear before the story starts with Chapter One. These are usually the more important elements, such as the copyright information and the table of contents.
However, front matter can have a long list of materials depending on the book you’re writing and the way it’s formatted.
Half-title Page
The half-title page shows only the title of the book. It’s a default page in many formatting platforms when writing your book.
In most instances, the half-title page is the first in a printed book. However, some will be tucked behind praises or reviews, such as what you’d see in the printed copy of Stephen King’s Fairy Tale.
Some authors use the half-title page for autographs while others claim that it protects the rest of the book during the printing process.
Title Page
A title page often displays the book’s title, the author, the publisher, the book’s edition, and possible subtitles. However, it doesn’t always have to consist of all of these elements.
For instance, my book, Kingmaker, only shows the author, title, and subtitle. Then again, I don’t have a publisher to show off. And the edition of the book is displayed on the copyright page.
It’s not often that you’ll see a book that has a half-title and title page together. But as I said, it really depends on the person publishing the book and how it’s formatted.
Essentially, it comes down to personal preference.
Copyright Information
Perhaps one of the more important pages in a book is that of the copyright page. In most instances, this page is printed on the back of the title page but can be on its own. It essentially helps protect the book from plagiarism.
Essentially, the copyright page breaks down the rights of the author and often has a disclaimer when asserting fictitious people, places, or things.
The copyright page can also display the edition version, as it does with Kingmaker.
Dedication
Dedication pages in a book are usually a quick reference for the author to dedicate the publication to individuals or groups. They’re usually not very long, often containing a single line or message.
For example, I dedicated Kingmaker to my brother, whom I lost at the beginning of 2022.
Epigraph
The Epigraph page is usually a short poem, quotation, or segment that helps highlight the story and the tone. Some authors will use a single epigraph in the front matter while others may use them to accentuate individual chapters.
It can be an impactful method of engaging the reader and setting the pace for the story.
Table of Contents
The Table of Contents is among the few pages of a book that are virtually necessary. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a book that doesn’t have a table of contents or list of chapters.
A Table of Contents page tells the reader what he or she can expect and where to find specific information or sections.
For instance, by viewing the ToC, a reader can see whether you included a glossary or index and what page to find them. Or, perhaps someone wants to re-read a specific chapter because of the content.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve flipped back to specific chapters, especially when it comes to nonfictional or educational materials.
Foreword
The Foreword is a part of the book written by someone other than the other telling the reader why he or she should read the book. These can be up to 1200 words long and usually include the relationship the writer has with the author.
For example, let’s say that you have a book influencer, celebrity, or another author write the foreword. This can be an incredible marketing element as it lends the writer’s credibility and status to the book.
The bottom line is that you’ll never see a negative foreword.
Preface
Unlike the foreword, the preface page is written by the author for the purpose of sharing his or her background, motivations for writing the story, inspirational factors, the author’s overall experience with writing, and even the ultimate goals of the author.
The preface is essentially a short introduction about the author and the story without seeming like a job application or resume. It doesn’t have to be exceptionally long, but you do want it to draw the readers in by providing a bit of information about yourself.
This is another page that isn’t necessary to deliver a good book. In fact, I’ve read many books where a preface wasn’t included. It’s just another element to market yourself as an author.
Acknowledgments
The acknowledgments page is the part of the book where the author thanks those who helped with the writing, editing, and publication of the novel. This can include everyone from sources of information to the beta readers who helped shape the story.
This is different than the dedication page. Instead of a short dedication, you can add more context to highlight how the individual or group helped you publish the story.
Think of the Oscars, when the winner will thank as many people as they can before the music starts playing them off the stage.
Introduction
The introduction page provides all the basic information about the book and introduces the readers to the primary characters or talking points. These are a bit different depending on the type of book you’re writing, but they all have a similar purpose.
Introductions are more commonly used in nonfiction works as a way to summarize a main argument or to properly define terms and details within the book’s text. However, they can be used as a way to introduce fictional elements.
For example, you could add a brief description of a kingdom for a fantasy novel. Or, perhaps describe the politics of a space-faring civilization.
However, most fictional authors will skip an introduction page and go right for the prologue for this purpose.
Prologue
The prologue is similar to an introduction but is often more centric to the story. It can lay the groundwork of the plot and/or characters and why the story exists in the first place.
Think of the scroll at the beginning of a Star Wars movie. In essence, that is the movie’s prologue as it tells of the events leading up to the episode.
The opening to X-Men is another example. In that instance, Patrick Stewart’s speech as Professor X about the evolution of humans introduces the viewers to mutants and why they exist.
In my book, Shadows of Atlantic City, I use the prologue to describe the primary organization that is referenced throughout the story.
A lot of authors won’t use a prologue and prefer to simply start the book at Chapter One.
In practice, the primary story of the book should still be understandable without reading the prologue. The prologue just provides further clarity into the inner workings of characters, plot devices, or even fictional places.
Main Body
Obviously, the main body of the book is where the story takes place. If you’re writing a nonfiction book, it’s where you’re providing information.
These pages are going to be separated by chapters, but can also contain parts, depending on the length and the overall story.
Again, when adding chapters or parts, it all comes down to personal preference and what makes the most sense for the story you’re trying to tell.
You have a lot of creative freedom to tell a story. Experiment a bit and see what works best to engage your ideal reader.
I’ve seen authors jump back and forth through time in alternating chapters, create cyclical moments where the beginning is actually the end, or simply lay out the plot in a linear arc.
As long as the story is well-written, engaging, and can keep the reader flipping the pages, that’s all that matters in the end.
Common Back Matter Pages
Back matter pages are those that are found at the end of the book and after the conclusion of the final chapter. In the case of nonfiction books, these often provide more details about the topic including sources and contributors.
From a fictional perspective, the back matter is mostly marketing or perhaps expanding the story further. This is especially true if you’re planning on writing a series of books.
Epilogue
The epilogue pages of a book are reserved for essential parts of the story but are considered separate. It’s a way to provide a greater sense of closure depending on the plot and/or characters.
Epilogues deliver a sense of resolution of how the characters adapted to the ending of the book. Some will have time jumps and others will simply show the reader the effects of the story after the fact.
A good example of an epilogue comes in the form of most of the Marvel movies. I know, I use a lot of movie references, but that’s because I think cinematically when writing my books.
Anyway, the end credits scenes are epilogues in that they open the door for future content while having separate elements from the main movie.
For example, take the ending of Iron Man. Nick Fury introduced Tony Stark to the Avengers Initiative, which was separate from the origin story of the movie but still important and relevant for future content.
Yes, I include epilogues in my books, but I can’t really go into detail without spoiling the plot. So, you’ll have to buy and read them.
Conclusion
The conclusion page of a book is similar to the epilogue, only that your primary focus is to summarize the material. These are usually best used in nonfiction works and will sometimes include a call-to-action of some kind.
Conclusions are meant to wrap up the material in a way that helps the reader understand the book and what key points should be taken from its text.
The conclusion doesn’t have to be long. In fact, there’s a reason why it’s not part of the main body of the text. It’s a summary – not another chapter.
Appendix
An appendix page is a section of text that provides additional information regarding the topic. Usually, you’ll see an appendix in educational materials or books that are more scientific in nature.
However, you can include an appendix for any reason if you feel that your audience could benefit from additional information, such as references, citations, recommended reading lists, photographs, charts, polls and responses, and much more.
Think of an appendix as a way to dive deeper into specific information that you feel the reader will need to fully understand what you’re trying to convey.
Notes
Notes are kind of the catch-all for information you want to share with the reader. Some authors will use the “Notes” section in place of an appendix, source list, glossary, or other collection of information.
Others will use the notes to provide critiques, Q&As, or responses to others.
In many cases, notes pages are not as rigidly organized as their counterparts. Yet, they can offer a bit more insight into you as the author while clarifying a few things about your story or comments you have received.
Glossary
The glossary pages of a book consist of words, terms, or phrases that readers may be unfamiliar with in the story. A glossary is often alphabetized and usually thought of as the specific book’s dictionary.
It’s not often that you’ll find glossary pages in fiction. However, I have seen a few that were created as more of a fun addition for the reader, especially in the fantasy and sci-fi genres.
What terms should you include in a glossary? Those that aren’t viewed as common knowledge. You don’t need to list every word in the book – just those that are unique or uncommon to the average person.
Bibliography
A bibliography is a list of material sources by another author who played a role in writing the book. They are usually found in books that are more scientific in nature.
Essentially, a bibliography lists the title of the book, the author, the year of publication, where to find the book, and the publisher.
You’ll also see a citation number within the text connecting with the corresponding portion of the bibliography, such as an asterisk, number, subscript, superscript, or any other marking regarding the information.
If you’re writing a fictional tale, it’s unlikely you’ll need a bibliography.
Material Sources
The source page is virtually the same thing as the bibliography. It’s where you cite your sources and list where people can corroborate the data.
The only real difference between a source and a bibliography depends on what the author wants to call it. But for all intents and purposes, they’re the same thing.
Afterword
An afterword is the part of the book that tells readers how and why the book was written. It’s often from a viewpoint of the author while giving the reader insight into the writer’s world.
Another component of the afterword is how it can also be written by someone other than the other. This often includes enriching commentary about the story or praise of the work.
Authors in certain fields may have another expert write the afterword for them. This lends the expert’s credibility to the book, improving how it may be perceived by readers.
In other words, it’s a great marketing device to highlight your book, especially if written by a celebrity or someone with a larger audience than yourself.
Errata
The errata pages are where you’ll find a list of errors that were found in the printed version of a book and their fixes. This helps alleviate confusion while fixing major mistakes within the book.
The errata usually won’t include basic spelling or grammatical errors unless it is referring to specific people, places, or things.
For example, what if you misspelled an expert’s name while using him or her as a direct quote in the book? That’s when the errata would come into play.
Nowadays, you won’t see too many errata pages in a book simply because it’s ultimately easy to fix and re-upload manuscripts on various publishing platforms. However, a lot of authors will use these pages when breaking down content revisions and changes to various editions.
In this case, I plan on using an errata to highlight the difference between my original publishing of Kingmaker and its “remastered” version.
Contributor List
A contributor list is very similar to the acknowledgments page as it usually consists of those who helped publish the book. In this case, it centers more on the actual “contributors” of the publishing itself.
For example, here, you would list editors, graphic designers, illustrators, research assistants, publishers, or anyone else who deserves credit for the publishing of your book.
Think of the contributor list as those people or services without which you’re book wouldn’t be published.
Index
An index page is an alphabetical list of specific topics, places, people, or events in the book with a corresponding page number of where to find them. The terms are usually between one and three words of specific interest to the reader.
For example, let’s say that I am putting together a cookbook. I could add an index to the back with the term “chicken breast” and then show all of the pages where chicken breast is used in a recipe.
It would look something like this:
chicken breast…..2, 12, 35, 37, 66, 108
Suggested Reading
The suggested reading pages are similar to the bibliography and source pages only that they are more focused on written materials that are relevant to the topic of your book. These are often more utilized in non-fiction works.
Now, the books or articles listed in the suggested reading area don’t need to be used as citations within your work. They could simply be books by other authors that you feel your reader could benefit from that are relevant to your topic.
Let’s stick with my cookbook example. Perhaps there is another cookbook out there that I really love written by another other that is similar to my own. I would include that book in the list of suggested reading.
About the Author
The About the Author page is a short, personal bio about you…the author. It’s usually among the last pages of your book and should denote information you want the public to know.
It often includes a picture, your name (or pen name), and a brief synopsis of you as an author.
Think of your bio on social media but dialed to 11 and more professionally written.
For example, my about pages include my experiences as an author or writer, where I’m from, what inspires me to write, and anything else I would like to publically share with the audience.
The about page doesn’t have to be exceptionally long or overly descriptive. But it does help build a connection between yourself and the reader.
Also By…
Lastly, the “Also By” page lists books you’ve written you’d like to show your readers that may pique their interest. You don’t have to list every title in your library, but perhaps a few may inspire someone to buy a copy.
For instance, I’ll show Kingmaker in the Also By section when publishing Fury, as Kingmaker is book one in the same series.
If you’re not writing a series, you can also show other books you’ve written that are similar in genre. But in reality, you can show any book you’ve written.
In most cases, the Also By section will include an image of the book’s cover, the title, and the book’s blurb. Depending on what app you’re using to write the book, you may also be able to include a link to where the reader can purchase it.
For example, the Reedsy book editor has the option for links in the Also By section but doesn’t show those URLs in the printed version – for obvious reasons.
Technically, You Can Add Your Own Pages
The above are just the common pages that you can find in a variety of books. They are the “industry standard,” and are universally accepted across most publishers.
However, it doesn’t mean you can’t add anything extra to your book. This is especially true if you’re self-publishing and don’t have to worry about pleasing an agent or publishing house.
Just keep in mind that when you add pages to your book, keep them relevant to either you as the author or the story. You don’t want to create a disconnect from the reader by providing information that has nothing to do with your manuscript.
Also, don’t use the pages as a personal journal. There is such a thing as sharing way too much information. You see people oversharing a lot on social media, you don’t want to do so in your book.
In a nutshell, you want the pages of your book to revolve around the actual manuscript. You wouldn’t suggest people to read a book about airplanes if you’re putting together a cookbook for the air fryer.
Adding a unique page that fits your book could create an additional component to pique the reader’s interest. For instance, what if you’re writing a mystery series focusing on a specific detective? You could add “newspaper clippings” to each book that accentuate the mystery or the character.
Of course, you can also do that in the prologue or in between chapters.
As a self-published author, you have a plethora of things you can do with your book. And as long as your audience enjoys it, who’s to say you’re doing it wrong? Success is about writing a good story people want to read.
You’re writing for them, not an audience of one.
Not Every Book Needs All the Pages
You don’t need to include every page in this list. In fact, I don’t think you’ll ever find a book that has utilized every page in some fashion. But now that I realize that, I’m half-tempted to write one.
In any case, only include the pages that are relevant to your specific book.
For instance, I don’t know if I’ve ever read a Stephen King book that included a glossary or an index.
In reality, the only pages that are necessary in most instances are the title, table of contents, copyright, and about pages. And even then, the about page isn’t a necessity either. It’s more of a marketing device than anything.
Although including some pages might give your book a bit more extra meat for your readers, there is such a thing as doing too much.
It’s All About You and Your Reader
At the end of the day, what to include in your book depends on you as the author and your target reader. Some things are simply not going to make much sense for certain audiences.
In the worst-case scenario, open a book by your favorite author. What pages did he or she include in the book? Of course, some things might change depending on genre and topic. Still, seeing what other published authors include is a good reference if you’re unsure.
But if you’re like me, you’re already thinking of creative ways to use certain pages in your book. I’m kind of leaning toward an epigraph to start each chapter.
- An Evening with Drea Talley on After Hours - September 16, 2024
- An Evening with Maddi Bluhme on After Hours - September 9, 2024
- An Evening with Ian Thomas Healy on After Hours - August 22, 2024