Parts of a book, in order

The whole order at a glance

This is the conventional order most publishers follow. Some books move a part or two, and that is fine.

Front matter

Everything before the main text. By convention these pages are numbered in Roman numerals (i, ii, iii), and page 1 is the first page of the main text.

Praise page

Short endorsements from people the reader respects, often the first page inside the cover. Common in nonfiction. Only use real endorsements, quoted exactly and with permission.

Half title and "also by"

The half title is a page with just the book's title. An "also by" page lists the author's other books. Both are optional and many self-published books skip them.

Title page

The full title, subtitle, author name and publisher. Match the cover exactly, down to middle initials.

Copyright page

On the back of the title page: the copyright notice, ISBN, edition, publisher details, credits (cover designer, editor) and any disclaimers. Module 5 covers ISBNs and what goes here.

Dedication

A line or two naming the person or people the book is for. The Scribe Method chapter on writing your dedication says it is not required, should be brief, and is read by every reader, so write it knowing that. If you would rather thank people at length, that belongs in the acknowledgments.

Epigraph

A short quotation that sets the tone. Optional. If you use one, quote it exactly and credit it, and check whether it needs permission.

Table of contents

Lists the parts and chapters with page numbers. Most nonfiction readers use it to decide whether to buy and where to start, so chapter titles that say what the reader gets are worth the effort.

Foreword

An introduction written by someone other than the author. The Scribe Method chapter on forewords gives it two jobs: lending credibility, and giving context the author cannot give without sounding self-promotional. If it does neither, skip it. The chapter suggests it should rarely run past 500 words, and offers a test: if you would not put "Foreword by [name]" on the cover, ask that person for a short endorsement instead.

Preface

Written by the author, about the book rather than its subject: why you wrote it, how it came about, or how to use it. Optional, and many nonfiction books fold this into the introduction instead.

Introduction

The start of the content itself. In nonfiction it often counts as part of the main text. The Scribe Method chapter on the introduction says a good one hooks the reader, names the problem they have, shows what changes if they solve it, says briefly what they will learn, establishes why the author is credible, and leads into chapter one. It should not summarise the whole book or turn into an autobiography.

Preface, foreword or introduction?

• Foreword: someone else, about why you and the book matter.
• Preface: you, about how and why the book exists.
• Introduction: you, about what the reader will get. The first part of the content.

Most nonfiction books need only the introduction.

The body

The chapters, optionally grouped into parts. Each chapter usually makes one point. See how many words in a chapter for length, and module 3 for putting chapters in order.

Conclusion, epilogue or afterword

A nonfiction book usually ends with a conclusion. The Scribe Method chapter on the conclusion says it should restate the book's core message, sum up the key takeaways, give the reader one clear next step, and be one of the shortest chapters. No new ideas and no sales pitch. An epilogue (what happened afterwards) and an afterword (a later note from the author or someone else) are more common in memoir and later editions.

Back matter

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the people who helped. Optional, but most books have them. The Scribe Method chapter on acknowledgments suggests starting with a list grouped by role so no one is missed, and being specific about what each person did rather than just naming them.

Appendix

Material that supports the book but would interrupt it: templates, worksheets, detailed data, longer examples.

Notes, glossary and bibliography

Notes give sources for specific claims. A glossary defines terms the reader may not know. A bibliography or reference list gathers the sources. Any book that cites research or quotes other people needs notes or references.

Index

An alphabetical list of topics with page numbers. Most useful for books readers return to and look things up in. It is made after layout, since it depends on final page numbers.

About the author

A short third-person bio, often with a photo and where to find you. The author bio guide has templates and a builder. Some nonfiction books add a page here pointing to a next step, such as a workbook or a way to get in touch.

Outside the pages

The cover, spine and back cover are not usually counted as parts of the book, but they do as much work as any page. The back cover carries the description, the author bio and any endorsements; a hardcover jacket adds flaps with room for more. Module 5 covers what goes on each.

Questions