It may also be used to identify book designers, software used, type of printer used, and the kind of ink. Front matter is everything that comes before your content. The front matter is a section in the beginning of a book. The front matter is paginated using lower roman numerals, however, the back matter is not. Front matter is the information that appears in the very beginning of a book. After the last chapter, the back matter can contain an appendix, a glossary, andor an index, all of which are optional. The title page is especially easy because you dont need to give it a different style. Its the 30,000 to 50,000 words you just pumped out. Historically, colophons were always located in the back matter, but, nowadays, theyre can also be featured in the front matter, after the title page. This page gives the title, subtitle, author and publisher of the book. This is very traditional, and it is an illustration designed to be on the lefthand page facing the title page for the print edition. It can be as simple as a single title page, or it can include multiple title pages.
Calculate book page count using word count for book design. Keep in mind that there is no book that has all of these parts. I like making things simple, so i just think of the kindle book format in eight sections. It can be as simple as a single title page, or it can include multiple title pages, foreword, a. The electronic scanning lines printed on the back cover or book jacket are encoded with information about the book product, such as the title, publisher, and price. Then add in all the extra pages for your front matter, back matter, images, chapter titles, and partsection openers see method 1, above. I put that information on the back of the halftitle page which just shows the book title not the subtitle, author or publisher name. Walk through formatting the text in your paperback book s front matter, and inserting blank pages to ensure that the pages are in the correct position.
All of the pages in a book that appear before the body copy. Whats it matter the front and back matter of a book. How to format your book for amazon kindle using microsoft. It should include a description of the main features of the book. The half title page always on the right side of the page spread. Isolate blank pages in their own sections remove same as previous. Title page the full title and authors name as they appear on the cover. Discover what a books front matter is, what it includes, and how it fits into. Title page, preface, and table of contents precede the actual content of a book. There may also be a preface by the author, or a foreword by someone familiar with their work. Front matter of a book what is included in the front matter of a book.
The particular parts and their order is more fluid in the back matter compared to front. The back matter is where youll find components such as an index. Front matter includes the title pages, the writers name, the edition, the publication date. Suggestions for packages, macros, fonts, and other design elements which could benefit users wishing to create title pages and front matter for their works. Add a section break between the front matter and book body to distinguish these parts of the book. Even though all of the pages in the front matter count, no page number is placed on either display pages such. An introduction to a book, usually written by someone other than the author of the book. Front matter occurring prior to the core content of the book front matter is the first part of a book and is the part of a book that outlines the technical details. Every book has standard parts, from the front matter and table of contents to the core matter and the back matter. Its crucial that every part of the book appear in the right order with the right content.
How long does the average consumer spend viewing a book cover before they decide to buy or not buy the book. The errata are sometimes found in the back of the book called the back matter. Here you will find the title, subtitle, author, and publisher of the book. Front matter of a book what is included in the front. The inside of your book, which we call the book block, is divided into three main sections. Your body content is the book itself its your introduction, conclusion and everything in between. Front matter is the material at the front of a book that usually offers information about the book. The front matter of all books is pretty well prescribed. The front matter might include, in the following order. In fact, nonfiction books will use a lot more front and back matter in the design. Front and back matter in books alliance of independent. The front and back matter in a book are one of the key factors to presenting a professional and quality product.
These days, acknowledgements seem to be showing up as back matter for fiction as well as nonfiction titles. 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. The parts of a book for self published authors bookstand. Also, use section breaks so each chapter title page starts on its own page. Book front matter what to include in the front of your book. But if you started your page numbering at the title page with page 1, all the page numbers in the book. Front matter should include your title and half title page, the page, a table of contents, and any introduction or preface to the work. Books can be divided into three areas front matter, body content and back matter. How to format front matter how to make an ebook series. Books can be divided into three areas front matter, body content and. Self published author 8 mistakes that will absolutely. So please do take these things as seriously as your story.
Back matter in your book celebrating independent authors. As i mentioned earlier, the table of contents includes everything that follows it and nothing that precedes it. Large or small ideas for how to achieve an excellentlooking title page and front matter with latex or in general. Books are divided into three parts front matter, body text with or without illustrations, and back matter. By having the text start with number 1, the publisher wont have to renumber all the pages when adding something to the front matter. Front matter and back matter grammar factory publishing. The front matter of a book consists of its very first pages.
Nonfiction book formatting for microsoft word lulu blog. Book front matter includes some or all of these pages half title includes just the book title title page mandatory includes the book title, subtitle, authors name, and optional publishers company, city, and logo. The back matter is where youll find components such as an index, a glossary, an. The specific elements included at the end of the book should appear in the table of contents in the front matter. If done haphazardly, its a sure sign in most peoples eyes that the book content will not be up to par. The back matter files keep everything in one place.
This is a part of a video series on formatting a book with ms word. The main reason that i bought this book, was to find out about the pros and cons of putting my table of contents at the back, so that i could treat the prospective buyers to more of my book. The front matter types menu lets you indicate an items. Half title page click on page 1 the page spreads panel, click on the text container to open the text editor. Although this sounds a bit like something you would brush off your tie or the seat of your pants, its actually a publishing term that means the stuff that goes at the beginningend of the book. A half title page contains only the title of the book, omitting the author and publisher as they appear on the full title page. Resources for title page and front matter design tex. The frontmatter, the body of the book, and the backmatter. You can create, edit, delete, rename or reorder front matter items the same way that you would with chapters, with one additional option. Authors often forget about their book front matter until the last minute. Why the back matter matters selfpublishing comes with an unlimited amount of freedom. Build your book format a paperback manuscript word for. 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. The thing to consider is when exactly potential readers are going to be looking through the front matter of an ebook.
Repeats the title and author as printed on the cover or spine, often using typographic elements carried over from either the cover design or from the rest of the books interior. You missed an abstract or executive summary, one or the other and sometimes both of which are often present in technical reports. Books are divided into three partsfront matter, body text with or without. For my print book, i intend to use footlight mt light on my books front cover, back cover, front matter as well as my chapter headings. The front matter contains the nuts and bolts of the books publicationinformation such as title, author, publisher, isbn, and library of. It may also be used to identify book designers, software used, type of printer used.
Back matter is the final pages of a book, where endnotes, the appendix, the bibliography, the index, and. Im trying to learn about which fonts are accepted and im certainly hoping footlight is. We hope one of these two methods works quickly and easily for you. The back matter types menu lets you indicate an items type. Without rehashing the topic, there are a few special considerations for nonfiction books to think about. Follow the instructions below to edit the 5 front matter pages specifically for your book. Use this list instead to make sure you have the right content in the right category, and that elements of your book. Front matter is the first section of a book and is generally the shortest.
This is an excellent book on the subject of what to put in your front and back matter of your new book. Use an odd page break at the end of the front matter, and before all elements that have to begin on a right hand page. Frontmatter pages are traditionally numbered in lowercase roman. Every book, your book included, should have front matter, and making front matter look great is easy if you know how. Often, front matter has to be added late in the publishing process. Times new roman, 16pt font, centered, bold, space after. There are, of course, variations to this conventional lineup order. Including all of the necessary parts of a book and putting them in the right order is the first step to making your book credible and professional. When you format each chapter title page, apply the heading 1 style to each chapter title. Front matter is information about a book which precedes the main text. Select the book title copy and type in the name of your book, and then select the author name and type in the name of the author. We typically recommend this go in the back matter of the book with the other promotional material, but many successful authors like carly phillips put this up front. If youve used roman numerals to paginate your front matter, you have no problem, since the page numbers in the body of the book wont change. The front matter pages are numbered in lowercase roman numerals.
But what the heck do you put at the back of the book. Bookstore browsers spend an average of 8 seconds looking at the front cover and 15 seconds studying the back cover before making a buying decision where your book goes straight to the cash register, not back on the shelf. Pick up some books and you will see that the order of these varies. The back side of the half title page, called the half title verso c page 3. Use arabic numerals for the main body text and back matter. If youve been involved in many online forums, youve probably seen quite a bit of discussion about this.
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