Pre Work 3

So I just scratch the surface of formatting, there’s more which is the layout of the overall book in general/eBook.

Make sure that you have the following in your book (some are optional while some are compulsory) as stated below:

Page templates : –UsageRequire?Title PageContains the book title, subtitle, author name and a publisher logo.YesCopyrightIncludes information such as copyrights, editions, and publisher.YesDedicationWhere you write a short paragraph dedicating your book to a person or people with explanation why.Yes (Of course)EpigraphA quote that complements your book’s subject matter along with the quote attribution.OptionalTOC pageA Table of Contents that lists of the major sections of the book along with the corresponding page number.OptionalForewordPiece of writing at the beginning of a book, typically an introduction written by someone else.OptionalIntroductionA section to add introductory text for readers. Typically used for nonfiction books.OptionalPrefaceIntroduction to the book written by the author that provides context for the book or current edition.
(Comes after foreword, and before introduction)OptionalPrologueShow a preceding event to your story that sets the scene. Typically used for fiction.OptionalStandard pageA blank page that can be used to generate any custom type of front matter content.Optional

Here are some samples, that I saw in some books. I took pictures for references. Click Link.

While researching this topic, I’ve come to noticed that every single book has a combination of the above but not all. Therefore, there’s no strict requirement to include everything. You, as the author, should have the best understanding of your book and what is essential to offer your readers for a deeper comprehension of your narrative. Elements like maps and character lists can be beneficial but aren’t mandatory, and their necessity may also vary depending on the genre, whether it’s non-fiction or fiction etc.

Interestingly, I’ve noticed that fantasy books often exclude table of contents, except in cases of short story compilations (I think it’s because including the table of content, may facilitate easier reference, allowing readers to swiftly locate and read the specific story/chapter that they want to read).

As I compiling this list, I thought that foreword, introduction and preface feel and was similar things but after researching a bit, foreword is written by the someone other than the author, while preface is written by the author. Foreword are usually written by an expert – think of it as an ultimate book recommendation by another. Whereas preface, is like a page to sell yourself as dear authors for dear readers – a little introduction, using your charm to tell your dear readers why they should read your book, your rep page. While an introduction might be used by the subject of the story (e.g. like a letter or a speech by the subject).

References:

DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN A FOREWORD, A PREFACE, AND AN INTRODUCTION

Preface vs Foreword vs Introduction: What’s The Difference?