The Parts of the Book: An Author’s Guide

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When you hand off your manuscript to an editor or designer, you want to provide as polished a draft as possible. Understanding the anatomy of a book—what publishers call front matter, main text, and back matter—makes the whole process smoother and ensures nothing gets forgotten. It also helps you think about what your readers actually need.

Many first-time authors skip sections they think are optional, or put things in the wrong order. In my experience, nine times out of ten, an author forgets to include an About the Author page! A missing table of contents can frustrate readers. Acknowledgements at the front instead of the back can feel odd and be a slog to wade through when all a reader wants is to get to the main text. A copyright page with incomplete information creates problems later. Beyond that, the order matters because readers expect it, and the last thing you want to do when it comes to structuring your book is to put things in an order readers won’t recognize.

Below is a breakdown of every common section of a book, what it does, and where it belongs. You won't use all of these—a memoir might skip the glossary and index, and a short nonfiction book might not need appendices. Prologues are for fiction, not non-fiction. What you do need depends on your book and your readers. But understanding the options means you can make that choice deliberately and ensure everything is in place when you go to publish.

Front Matter: Getting Your Reader Oriented

Front matter is everything before your book's actual content starts. It's where readers get oriented, make a decision about whether to keep reading, and find what they came for.

Half-title page – This is the blank first page with just the title of your book on it (no subtitle, no author name). The back of it is blank. It's a traditional element that signals "here comes a book." Some indie books skip it; some keep it. Your choice.

Title page – This is the official announcement: your book title, subtitle (if you have one), author name, and publisher. The back of the title page (called the verso) is where all the legal and logistical information goes: copyright year, ISBN, publisher name and location, sometimes a note about where the book was printed.

Copyright page – Also called the verso of the title page. This is where you put copyright notice, ISBN, publisher information, any legal disclaimers, and sometimes printing history or Library of Congress data. It looks administrative, but it's the part that protects you and tells the publishing world this book is officially yours.

Praise page – If you have endorsements, testimonials, or forewords from recognizable people, this is where they go. Readers do look at this. A couple of strong quotes here matter more than a long list of weak ones.

Dedication – A sentence or short paragraph dedicating the book to someone. Optional, but meaningful if you have someone to honor.

Table of Contents – The roadmap. For nonfiction, this is essential. It shows chapter titles (and sometimes section breaks within chapters) and their page numbers. Readers use this to find what they came for.

Foreword – Written by someone other than you—usually someone with credibility in your field. It's a third-party endorsement of your book and author. If you have one, it goes here. (Not the same as a preface, which you write.)

Preface – Written by you. This is where you explain why you wrote the book, who it's for, or what's changed since an earlier edition. It's personal but not the same as the introduction. Some books have both; some have one or the other.

Introduction – Also written by you. This is where you set up the problem, the question, or the framework your book addresses. It draws readers in and tells them what they're about to learn. Often the first "numbered" page of the book.

Prologue – A short scene or passage that comes before Chapter 1. More common in narrative nonfiction and fiction than in traditional nonfiction. A prologue hooks the reader with a moment, a question, or a scene that feels urgent. It's distinct from an introduction—it shows rather than tells. Use it if your book benefits from starting with a story instead of an explanation.

Back Matter: Supporting Your Reader After the Main Text

Back matter is everything after your main text. It supports the reader and provides additional information they might need or want to explore.

Appendices – Extra material that's too detailed or tangential to go in the main text but useful for readers who want it. Could be worksheets, sample documents, detailed data, case studies, templates. Label them Appendix A, B, C, etc., and reference them in your text so readers know they're there.

Notes/Endnotes – If you're using citations or explanatory notes (rather than footnotes, which appear at the bottom of the page), they go here at the end of the book. Numbered and organized by chapter. Readers can follow them or skip them depending on how deep they want to go.

Glossary – A list of terms specific to your field or topic, with brief definitions. Essential if you've used specialized language throughout the book. Readers appreciate being able to look something up without hunting through the text.

Bibliography/References/Works Cited – The sources you consulted or quoted. Format depends on your field (APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.). Even if you're not academic, showing your sources builds credibility. At minimum, list the books and studies you reference directly.

Acknowledgements – Your chance to thank the people who helped: editors, sensitivity readers, researchers, family members who supported you through the writing. Keep it genuine. Readers actually read this.

About the Author – A short bio—usually 100–200 words—that tells readers who you are and why you're qualified to write this book. Third person is traditional, but first person works too. Include relevant credentials, experience, or context. This is not your resume; it's an invitation for readers to know you.

Index – An alphabetical list of topics, names, and concepts in the book with page numbers. Necessary for nonfiction readers who want to find specific information fast. Not always needed for narrative-heavy books, but invaluable for reference or how-to books.

Colophon – A brief note about the book's production: the typefaces used, the paper stock, the printer, sometimes the author's process. It's a small detail that feels personal and professional. Many indie books skip it; some authors love it as a final signature.

Why Does the Order Matter?

A professionally structured book is easier to read, easier to navigate, and easier to produce. It also signals to readers that you took the work seriously. When your manuscript arrives at the designer's desk with all these elements clearly labeled and in order, the design process is faster and cleaner. When you hand a printed copy to a reader, they know immediately what kind of book they're holding.

When you work with Starling, we'll create your table of contents and leave placeholders for the more common sections—copyright page, about the author, acknowledgments—so you know exactly what to fill in and where. But your process will move faster, and you'll feel more confident about the final product, if you think through these elements early. Which sections does your book actually need? What endorsements do you want? Who do you need to thank? What does your reader need to find quickly? These decisions shape the whole book, not just the final pages.

If you're unsure which sections belong in your book or how to set them up, that's worth discussing with your editor before the real work begins. Small clarifications now save time and stress later.