…so you don’t F* it up

If you’re writing and self-publishing your book, you want to make sure that it doesn’t look like you just randomly slapped it together, while missing really important sections!

Some sections are optional; make the right decision for the style of your book.

Front Matter: The front matter is the first section of the book and appears before the main body.

• Book Cover: A high-quality book cover ensures your book will sell.
• Testimonials: Statements and praise from people who have read and loved your book. (optional)
• Half Title Page: Contains your title only.
• Title Page: Includes the book title, subtitle, author name(s), and publisher (if applicable).
• Copyright Page: Contains the copyright notice, the Library of Congress catalog ID, the ISBN, the edition, permissions, and credits for book design, illustration, photography, etc. It may also include contact information.
• Dedication: A page where you can honor your book to someone. (optional)
• Table of Contents: Outlines the book’s work by dividing it into chapters, sections, or parts.
• Foreword: A short section written by someone other than the author that summarizes the book’s theme. (optional)
• Note to the Reader: Any special instructions, encouragement, or thanks to your reader. (optional)
• Acknowledgments: Allows you to express public thanks to people who have inspired, contributed, or helped you in your writing journey. You can also place this in the back matter. (optional)
• Preface: Describes why you wrote your book, your purpose, your research methods, experiences, and qualifications. (optional)

Body Matter: The body matter is the core content of your book.

• Introduction: Describes what your reader should know before reading the rest of your book. It introduces the main body of the book.
• Chapters: All books have chapters/parts/sections. These divide the text into smaller bite-sized chunks.
• Conclusion: Wraps up the content of your book, with key takeaways and closing ideas or statements

Back Matter: The back matter is the last section of your book.

• Appendix: Any data that might clarify the work for the reader, but would have disrupted the flow inside the body matter. (optional)
• Glossary: An alphabetical list of terms and definitions your reader should know related to your book. (optional)
• Bibliography or Endnotes: A list of books or sources cited in the body matter.  (optional)
• Index: An alphabetical list of terms, people, and concepts, with the associated page number so they can be located within the book. (optional)
• Author Biography: A summary of the author’s professional background, including personal facts, website, and social media links.
• Thank You to the Reader: A short thank-you note to your readers and how they can find you online or work with you. (optional)
• Book Ads: Advertisements for other books you’ve written. (optional)
• Resources: A  list of organizations, associations, products, or websites helpful to your reader. (optional)

💻 If you’d like a clickable & printable version, grab it here.

✨For more tips on writing and self-publishing your book, be sure to follow me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pia.edberg