Front & Back Matter of Your Book — Do They Actually Matter?

A book’s front and back matter seldom attract the attention of readers, but does that mean that mean authors should skip including them? What’s considered too little, and what constitutes too much?

Let’s break down what all constitutes “front” and “back” matter, for that matter (I swear, that word is going to lose all meaning by the end of this article). These are the pages you find before and after the body of your manuscript, and they often include:

Of course, very few books contain all of these. It’s up to you to decide which elements to include and which are unnecessary for your readership. Some authors consider a lot of this unnecessary fluff that delays a reader from getting into the story, while other authors ask, “If I want to make my novel indistinguishable from traditionally published books, how much front/back matter do I need?”

Most readers would be hard-pressed to name who the “Big 5” publishers are, but they will be quick to notice if a book’s interior doesn’t resemble what they’ve come to expect. Ultimately, a careful selection of front and back matter exude a sense of professionalism. Too little of it, and the book’s interior will feel amateurish; too much, and it may feel overly salesy or self-indulgent.

Now, let’s take a look at what the bare minimum, a healthy balance, and what going above-and-beyond would all include.

the absolute bare minimum

If you’re a minimalist who wants to get away with the leanest amount of front and back matter, what’s the bare minimum you should include? Arguably:

Front:

• Title page
• Copyright page
• Table of contents (for ebooks & non-fiction)

Back:

• About the author

With these 3-4 elements, your interior will feel light, but it will hit all the requisites readers have come to expect.

THE HEALTHY BALANCE

This balanced approach incorporates a sense of professionalism and a touch of gentle marketing. If a reader loves your work, you should take the opportunity to list out your other titles and to ask for a review.

Front:

• Half-title
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Also by the author… (if applicable; can also be placed in the back matter)
• Table of contents (for ebooks & non-fiction)
• Dedication and/or epigraph

Back:

• Call to action (CTA)*
• Acknowledgements
• About the author

*For indie authors, a CTA page is a fantastic way to get more reviews. It’s best to ask your reader to review immediately after they finish your book (as in the very next page!), because as time passes, your reader will become less likely to do so. Strike while the iron’s hot, they say! (I’m sorry, but we have a forge theme at Fablesmithy, and I’m obligated to lean into it.)

By using a CTA page, you also have an opportunity to make reviewing your book as frictionless as possible. Many indie authors include a QR code for print or a link for ebooks to Goodreads or other review websites in their CTA page. The good news is Fablesmithy will make this for you as part of our interior formatting service (all you have to do is ask us for a CTA page).

More and more, readers are looking to connect to tight-knit communities around their favorite authors and books. CTA pages are great for leading readers to these communities by asking them to connect to you via your newsletter and/or social media channels.

Going Above and Beyond

If your book is heavy in worldbuilding (here’s looking at you, SFF writers), front and back matter is a great way to immerse your readers — especially if you’re writing a series. Language guides, character lists, artwork, and maps all set the tone and texture of your world before a reader plunges into the story. They’ll help your reader remember the people and places critical to your sprawling world. Also, they’re just plain fun.

To inspire you, here are some various front and back matter elements to consider using. You may overwhelm your reader by doing them all, so focus on what your reader needs to know to understand your world:

• Maps / planetary systems
• History chronologies
• Character lists
• Family trees / royal houses
• Pantheons
• Terminology
• Slang / language / rune guides
• Artwork
• Lost or forbidden texts
• Ballads / poems

If you’re ever unsure of how much front/back matter to include, you can always reach out to us at Fablesmithy. We can also ensure that all of your beautiful maps and artwork display correctly no matter which form factor your book comes in.

Hope this guide helps! Let us know if you think there’s something indie authors should be including in their books that’s not listed here. We love to hear from you.

Today’s article is brought to you by Autumn, Forgemaster of Design.