Life Lines: What are the parts of a book, and where do they go?
Q:
I need some help clarifying how to name the parts of my book. I've Googled definitions, but when I read current and older memoirs, I'm still confused.
Namely:
What’s the difference between Introduction, Forward, Prologue, and Author’s Note?
Do Acknowledgements and About the Author go in the front of the book or in the back?
—G. B.
A:
What a timely question, G. B.! I recently released a book for authors, Your Publishing Path: A Practical Guide with Insider Tips for Bringing Your Book to Life, in which I included a section that breaks down the parts of a book. I’ll share that entire section Your Publishing Path below this answer, but first, let me get a little more granular about your specific questions.
Regarding front matter, no book police will issue you a citation for writing a preface and calling it a foreword, or slapping “Introduction” at the top of a page that contains what might be better named “Author’s Note.” But there are accepted conventions, and they go something like this:
A foreword is typically written by someone other than the author, such as an expert in the field, or a close friend or family member of the author (particularly when the author of the book is deceased).
A preface is a place for the author to address why they wrote the book, and what methods (such as research) they used in writing it.
An introduction provides an overview of the work and any details not covered in the main text that might increase the reader’s understanding. I find most introductions to be filler and/or repetitive, and I often skip them. No need to summarize a book you want your reader to . . . read.
In an author’s note, the author may speak briefly to ethical decisions made during the writing process. Memoirists often use an author’s note to account for the subjectivity and fallibility of memory. There’s a fine line between a preface and an author’s note. If it’s scholarly and wonky, it’s probably a preface; If it’s brief and personal, it’s probably an author’s note.
You may include all four in your book—foreword, preface, introduction, and author’s note—but take care not to wear your reader out before they get to the meat of your book.
As for the placement of acknowledgments and author bios, I’ve seen them both ways, in the front matter and in the back matter. I don’t understand the former placement. It’s in reading a book that I develop a desire to know more about the author and the people they leaned on as they researched and wrote. I enjoy savoring acknowledgments and author bios as a dessert course after finishing a good read. I personally tend to skip them when they’re placed in the front matter. But doing so isn’t objectively wrong.
Keep reading for an excerpt from Your Publishing Path. If you’d like more author resources, like templates for book proposals and agent query letters, you can find that book on Amazon and Draft2Digital!
Parts of a Book
Books typically consist of three main parts: the front matter, the main text, and the back matter. While not every book includes every element, understanding their purpose and placement helps create a professional final product. The following list reflects standard practices based on The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition, along with a few of my preferences.
FRONT MATTER (Preliminary Pages)
The front matter introduces the book to readers and may include the following elements, typically in this order:
Half-Title page
Appears on the first right-hand page and displays the main title (without subtitle or author’s name).
Title Page
Contains the full title, subtitle, author’s name, and publisher information. For new editions, the edition number is also noted here.
Copyright Page
Includes the copyright notice, printing location, ISBN, publication year, Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data, and possibly more. See the “Copyright Page Template for Nonfiction and Memoir” for more instructions on compiling this page.
Dedication
A brief, personal message from the author, often simply a line such as “For my family.”
Epigraph
A quotation pertinent to the book’s themes, along with its attribution.
Table of Contents
Lists chapter titles and their page numbers, along with any additional front or back matter that follows the table of contents.
Lists of Illustrations/Lists of Tables
If applicable, these lists provide titles and page numbers for illustrations and tables in the book.
Foreword
Written by someone other than the author, the foreword offers context or endorsement. The foreword writer’s name appears at the end of the foreword.
Preface
Introduces the book, often explaining why it was written and/or detailing research methods.
Author's Note
A space for the author to speak briefly and directly to the reader about decisions made while creating the work. This can serve in place of a preface but focuses more on content-related decisions.
Acknowledgments
The author thanks people and entities who were important to the production of the work. This may appear in the back matter instead (which is my preference).
Introduction
The information in an introduction provides an overview of the work and any other details that will help guide the reader through the material.
BACK MATTER (End Pages)
The back matter offers supplementary material and supporting resources. Elements usually appear in this order:
Acknowledgments
If not placed in the front matter, acknowledgments can appear here.
Appendix/Appendices
Provides additional material such as detailed data, documents, or resources referenced in the text. Appendices are typically labeled Appendix A, B, and so on.
Notes
Includes endnotes if used, often organized by chapter for clarity.
Glossary
Defines specialized or unfamiliar terms used throughout the book. Entries should be alphabetized.
Bibliography/Reference List
Catalogs works consulted in the creation of the book or cited in the text of the book.
List of Contributors
For collaborative works, this section lists contributors alphabetically, often including their credentials or brief biographies.
Index
Helps readers locate topics or key terms within the text.
About the Author
A brief biography, often including notable works and relevant background.
Other Works/Future Projects
An optional section promoting the author’s other books or upcoming releases.
If you have a question for me about memoir or life story writing, about writing in general, or about publishing, use the contact form HERE or email me: hello@sararoahen.com. Let me know whether you’d like me to use your name, a pseudonym, initials, or a pithy handle.
Yours in putting memories on the page,
Sara