a guide on the format of a book.
title page & copyright:
nearly the first page in most books, is the title page! it often looks similar to the cover, although with a blank page, and just the title written. often it also has the author, and occasionally any subtext included on the front cover. the font for the title is also usually the same as the font for the front cover - unless it's illegible (which it shouldn't be)!
then, the copyrights. you'll often have to pay to properly copyright a book - and trust me, this is something you'll want to do. you'll also need an isbn number! this page often usually credits the publishers, and the illustrators - as well as any other people who may have worked on your book (including yourself)!
table of contents:
the table of contents lists out all the sections of your book, in order! although not every book does use a table of contents, it's extremely useful for finding a page you need to refer back to. it's recommended for an e-book, so readers can click to go to a page - instead of click the arrow 143 times to find a specific scene!
table of contents often list the chapters vertically on the left side, with the page numbers on the right. there are numerous formats that can be used, but the most common are:
chapter 1 pg 20
or
chapter 1 - chapter title pg 20
foreword/book introduction:
next comes either the book introduction or foreword! neither of these are compulsory in books, although most do have one of these. i find that in my experience with books, forewords tend to be more common for nonfiction genres, while book introductions are more common for fiction! of course, it's your book, so it's completely up to you.
a book introduction tends to be 2 to 3 (single) pages of information, as an introduction to the book! it's written by the author, and just provides some context or extra information about the book/author.
a foreword is usually written by someone other than the author! think of it as an endorsement - it's an introduction written by someone to show the credibility of the author!
a dedication (such as: to my mum, for always helping me) is also included around here! it can be either before or after the foreword, depending on personal preference.
prologue:
prologues are a short chapter that occurs before the rest of the main book! they're often only used in fiction, and they're written as part of your book - not an author's note, as such. they usually provide information or insight into an event that occurs before the book begins, especially one that may be necessary for the plot later on in the book.
however! do not spoil any information for your readers here. the prologue should be clear enough that it makes sense, but mysterious enough that it does not give away too much information to your readers! some authors choose to remove place names, or write from an unknown pov that is revealed later for added mystery.
of course, a prologue is also optional! in fact, some readers often choose to skip the prologue all together, while others love them.
epilogue or series preview:
after the main story, there are numerous options! you can choose to just end it there, and finish your book - or include an epilogue or series preview!
an epilogue is a small chapter, like a prologue, that provides information on after your characters story. for example, in contemporary romance the epilogue often contains a scene of the couple getting married, or having children!
if your book is part of a series, you may choose to do a series preview. this is where you reveal the first chapter or scene of your book, in the form of a 'sneak peak' epilogue. while it shouldn't give away major information, it leaves your readers on a cliff-hanger - they've read the first chapter of your next book, and they want to read the rest, now!
acknowledgements:
although you actually wrote the book, chances are that there is someone else out there who you want to thank or show your appreciation to, whether they directly helped you on your book - or just supported you during the time!
unlike the dedication at the front of the book - which is similar - the acknowledgements occur at the end of the book, and instead of taking a simple sentence or two, they are often at least numerous paragraphs!
in this section you can thank your friends and relatives, people who inspired you, or people who worked with you on the book! whoever you want to thank, this is the place to do it.
author's note:
often on the inside sleeve or last page of a book, there is information about the author - including their socials and a picture! while this is completely optional, it's a nice touch to let your readers get to know you better, as well as providing a small promotion for your contacts.
often, the author's note provides information on their background, including where they were raised, where they live, and their family + pets! then a section on their writing achievements, and another small bit about their book, and what it means to them. as well as this, there's often a picture and social medias listed.
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