Book promotion expert ben cameron always says writing the blurb is the hardest 100 words youll ever write, and many authors are also stumped when it comes to writing the front and back matter another task that usually falls just when youre feeling least like writing another word, after completing your book s final edit. Just as front matter is what you find at the beginning of a book, back matter, simply put, is what you find at the end of a bookthe sections that appear after the. It is however something that ive seen certain authors inquire about on the kindleboards so i thought why not bring it up for some discussion as you create your ebooks whether its meant for kindle or kobo or nook or whoever, you have the option of inserting front matter or back. The main body of printed or written matter on a page, or the principal part of a book exclusive of front and back matter. About this book the bc open textbook project managed by bccampus has added this openstax open textbook to pressbooks so that editable pressbooks and wordpress xml files could be provided as part of this books record in the bc open textbook collection. A glossary is an alphabetized list of specialized terms with their definitions.
Back matter definition of back matter by the free dictionary. Dark matter, to be blunt, is miles and miles away from the line that marks my comfort zone. The lois lowry adaptation really makes the animation matter to the storytelling. Move beyond the competition, create more value, and become the obvious choice. Front matter is the first section of a book and is generally the shortest. Ensure you have front matter and back matter that is organized properly to give your book a professional look understand what metadata can be embedded within an ebook and how it relates to discoverability gain comprehension of how more complicated back matter like an index and notes section can function in an ebook. The reason is that the mainmatter numbering is continued from a previous works and will continue in the next works, and the appendicies have to be omitted from this numbering. This means if your chapter ends on an oddnumbered page, you.
Matter definition of matter by the free dictionary. Index definition, in a nonfiction book, monograph, etc. The epilogue is a section that comes after the story, but is still, technically. Its a love story, its a thriller, its a science fiction book. Book promotion expert ben cameron always says writing the blurb is the hardest 100 words youll ever write, and many authors are also stumped when it comes to writing the front and back matter another task that usually falls just when youre feeling least like writing another word, after completing your books final edit.
The mass of an object is the amount of material that makes up the object. The end matter is the information at the end of the document that provides source information and additional material that helps further explain information in. Whats it matter the front and back matter of a book. Last week here, i presented the parts of a book which appear in the front of the book. Back matter is the final pages of a book, where endnotes, the appendix, the bibliography, the index, and related elements reside. Utilizing one in your book is a great way to define, list, and expand upon unfamiliar, made up, or intricate terms used in the book. Air, water, rocks, and even people are examples of matter. Carrie charley brown is hosting reforemo read for research month, a time when writers challenge themselves to read picture books as mentor texts to improve their writing. Anyone who has read that far is clearly interested in what you have to say.
After the last page of the manuscripts text, pagination continues in numerical sequence into the back matter. The parts of a book and the elements of content the balance. Table of contents list of illustrations list of tables foreword by someone other than the author preface by the author acknowledgments or in back matter introduction abbreviations or in back matter back matter acknowledgments or in front matter appendix or several appendices numbered a, b, c, etc. The front matter is a section in the beginning of a book. There arent any definitive rules for how the different sections of front matter in an ebook should be organized, and it is very unlikely that your book will be rejected for publishing based on how you have structured it except for smashwords, the nitpicky ones. The back matter also known as the end matter is you guessed it material found at the back of a book. A good glossary, says william horton, in elearning by design, can define terms, spell out. The guide to what you type after you type the end epilogue. An epilogue is a type of back matter that comes immediately after the main text. Adding instructions for building a kite simply because a kite appears in your story may seem fun, but its probably unnecessary. Though the front matter may not be as sexy as the main text or as information packed as the back matter, its an opportunity for authors to set the tone for their readers experience.
Body matter the core content of the book parts sections chapters in that order. Acknowledgements if author wants them in the back matter. An unabridged list of the parts of a book by joel friedlander on september 29, 2009 57 comments the history of book printing goes back to the first bibles pulled sheet by sheet off johannes gutenbergs presses in mainz, germany in the late fifteenth century. Front matter of a book what is included in the front.
We did a similar one on the front matter youll remember that the front matter is all of the material that comes before the central story or body text in a book. Subject matter definition of subject matter by merriam. Just remember that back matter should expand the books usefulness or interest. 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.
The glossary is found in the back matter of the book. Top synonyms for back matter other words for back matter are addendum, epilogue and index. See the full definition for subject matter in the english language learners dictionary. Book back matter what to include in the back of your book. The inside of your book, which we call the book block, is divided into three main sections. A glossary is also known as a clavis, which is from the latin word for key. How to organize your books front matter by joel friedlander on february 8, 2012 50 comments many writers who think about selfpublishing are taken aback when they start to put their book together for publication.
Material, such as an index or appendix, that follows the main body of a book. Netflixs visually stunning movie the willoughbys is like a living picture book. What is a glossary in a book how to write a glossary for. Back matter items are essentially chapters within a part, with one additional option to customize. For the last couple of weeks, weve been doing a blog series on the back matter of a book. The afterword generally explores how the book came to be written. The back matter of your books is a powerful marketing tool. Today, we look at the elements which make up the back matter.
How you should be using back matter in your ebooks adam geen. The front matter contains the nuts and bolts of the books publicationinformation such as title, author, publisher, isbn, and library of congress data. If the editor thinks the back matter isnt necessary, shell focus on the text. Afterword this is a short, reflective piece written by the author that takes the form of a concluding section, final commentary, or closing statement.
It can be as simple as a single title page, or it can include multiple title pages, foreword, a preface, and much more. It is a given fact that i cannot number the appendicies i. End matter optional materials at the back of the book glossary if included bibliography if included index if included notes on book elements. Back matter in picture books marcie flinchum atkins. Make it shine by arranging it in the proper order and designing it for great readability. This excerpt from book design made simple offers insights into the best way to present this material. Different types of matter can be described by their mass. Information and translations of back matter in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Understanding the order in which they should appear may help you remember the difference between a preface, a foreword, and an introduction. The parts of a book that appear after the main portion of the body text, including the afterword, index and bibliography. The good thing is that front matter and back matter are fairly formulaic there are a standard set of elements to include and a typical running order for them, and all of them are included in this article. Back matter is the stuff at the end of your book, after the main sections of the book are finished. When youve never written a book before, its hard to know whats essential, what can be cut, and where everything fits. Back matter definition, the parts of a book that appear after the main text, as bibliography, index, and appendixes.
Subject matter definition is matter presented for consideration in discussion, thought, or study. In a report, proposal, or book, the glossary is generally located after the conclusion. Back matter definition of back matter by merriamwebster. Back matter definition and meaning collins english. Authors use their back matter to offer readers further context or information about the story, though back matter can also be extremely simple. In the body of the book manuscript, every new chapter begins on a recto page. Today id like to talk about something that i dont see talked about in too much detail on the web. Move beyond the competition, create more value, and become the obvious choice sheahan, peter, williamson, julie on. Im the guest authoreducator there today talking about back matter in picture books. What is included in front matter really depends on the type of publication, so lets go. Your book back matter might be the most valuable section of the book. The back matter is where youll find components such as an index, a glossary, an appendix or two, endnotes unless you prefer.
Let me give you some information on the topic so that you can move more confidently forward. Front matter is the information that appears in the very beginning of a book. Appendix, bibliography, index, notes, and other pages included at the end of a book, after the front matter and the main text. Pat mcnees the difference between a preface, foreword. 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. Back matter definition is matter following the main text of a book. I never, or very, very seldom, read books such as this one.
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