How To Produce a Polished Front, Body and Back of a Book
Written by Kate Gough
To publish a polished piece of literature, one must consider the front matter and the back matter. That is: the first and last sections of a book, that which cohesively connects the sections together into a polished final product, rather than a random assortment of pages.
To define the anatomy of a book, one must consider the front matter, body, back matter. We will use this blog article to take an in-depth look at all three of these.
The Anatomy of Front Matter
The front matter consists of the first pages: the title page, copyright page, table of contents, etc. There may also include a preface by the author, or a forward written by a contemporary or one familiar with the work. The front matter, though easily pushed aside, contains the most important information about the book’s author and publisher. It forms the first impression of the reader.
Title Page - The title page consists of the full title and author’s name as they appear on the cover.
Frontispiece - The frontispiece is usually a decorative illustration or image that follows the title page, typically on the left-hand side.
Accolades - Accolades are the quotes and awards from esteemed reviewers and publications in praise of the book or author. This typically appears on the back cover also.
Copyright page - The copyright page, also called a “colophon”, includes technical information about the copyright, edition dates, typefaces, ISBN, as well as the publisher and printer names.
This typically appears on the reverse of the title page.
Dedication page - The dedication page dedicates the book to those esteemed by the author. This typically appears after the copyright page.
Table of Contents - The table of contents (abbreviated TOC) lists the chapter headings and page numbers. The ToC should list all major sections that follow it, including both body and back matter.
Epigraph - The epigraph features a quote or excerpt that hints at the book's themes or subject matter. It typically appears immediately before the first poem.
Preface - The preface is an introduction written by the author, which relates how the work came to be, and provides context for the current edition.
Foreword - The foreword is an introduction written usually by a friend, family member, or scholar familiar with the author’s work.
The Anatomy of Body
Though self-explanatory, the body of the book is the main text that is sandwiched between the front matter and back matter. This is the heart of the work, which pulses the flow throughout the entire reading experience. The arranging of this flow is crucial to the message not being lost or muddled.
Introduction - The introduction ease the reader into the subject, introducing early events or information related to the main narrative, to give context to the reader before the book begins.
Chapters - The sections (or chapters) which divide the narrative into concrete ideas, may not be designated by a chapter heading, or appear in the TOC. Some writers begin new chapters using only page breaks. If you do not separate the narrative, the themes can become unclear, and the reader may tire quickly.
Conclusion - The conclusion sums up the core ideas and concepts of the work. Though explicitly labelled conclusions are less common as of late, an academic thesis may still require formatting with a firm conclusion.
Afterword - An afterword adds any final notes on the work, written by either the author or by someone known to the author.
Postscript - A brief final comment after the narrative comes to an end.
The Anatomy of Back Matter
The back matter (also known as end matter) is the bookend to the finished product. Authors use back matter to give further context or hidden material about the story. It can vary from complex dictionaries of terms found in the literature, to a quick mention of the author’s website.
Acknowledgements - Acknowledgements thank all those who helped create the book. This may include the author’s agent, editor(s), close friends and family, and other sources of inspiration. The acknowledgements typically appear right after the last chapter.
About the author - About the author is a brief summary of previous work, education, and personal life (e.g. “She lives in England in a cottage with her wife and two songbirds”. )
Copyright permissions - Copyright permissions attributes any reproduction of song lyrics, artwork, or extended excerpts from other literature. This may also appear in the front matter.
Discussion questions - Thought-provoking questions and prompts about the book, intended for academic learning and book clubs.
Appendix or addendum - The appendix details any information relevant to the book, especially if it is the latest edition.
Endnotes - Endnotes are the supplementary notes that relate together specific passages of the text, denoted within the body by superscripts. They are almost always used in non-fiction.
Glossary - The glossary, usually in alphabetical order, is a list of definitions of words or concepts that appear in the book. In works of fiction, this may contain entries about individual characters or settings.
Index - The index, typically in alphabetical order, is a list of speciality terms or phrases used in the book, along with the pages on which they appear.
Bibliography/reference list - The bibliography is a comprehensive list of sources cited in the work. Following a manual of style, it is a formal list of citations, not a bonus reading list on your subject.
Please enjoy, and use this guide to format your work properly, to get your message across as clearly as possible. This clarity will help your readers connect with the themes and narratives of your writing more deeply and with more context than ever before. It also helps potential publishers to take your work more seriously than a poorly compiled book.
KATE GOUGH is a Canadian based poet and a member of the online poetry community. Her work modernizes romantic literary sensibilities and explores recovery from chronic illness and trauma. Her philosophy is one close to the Danish “Hygge” which is, the celebration of cosiness. Warm socks, hot tea, and candlelight are her favourite writing tools.