BACK                                     Editorial Guidelines

Part I: Parts of Your Book

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 inside of your book, which we call the book block, is divided into three main sections: the front matter, book block text, and back matter. Please make sure that the final manuscript you submit  includes all three sections combined into a single document and in the correct format. See a detailed explanation and breakdown of each section below, followed by a checklist to help you ensure your book includes all the necessary parts.

Front Matter

Front matter introduces your book to your readers. The front-matter section, which appears before the main text, comprises a few pages that include the book's title, the author's name, the copyright information, and perhaps even a preface or a foreword. Use the list of common front-matter pages below to identify those pages that are suitable for your book.

Half Title Page (Required: Author Must Provide)

The half title page is the first page of your book and contains your title only. This page does not include a byline or subtitle.

Card or Series Title Page

Use the second page of your book to list any of your previously published books by title. It is customary to list the books chronologically from first to most recently published. Listing the title only is standard, but in nonfiction works, you may also list the subtitle if you feel it is essential. A common way to begin this page is, "Also by [author's name] . . ."

Title Page (Required: Author Must Provide)

The title page shows your full book title and subtitle, your name, and any cowriter or translator. The Key will add its logo at the bottom of the page.

Copyright Page

The copyright page contains the copyright notice, which consists of the year of publication and the name of the copyright owner. The copyright owner is usually the author but may be an organization or corporation. This page may also list the book's publishing history, permissions and acknowledgments, and disclaimers. Please note: The Key provides you with a standard copyright page that incorporates your individual information and the ISBN (International Standard Book Number). The Key will add its logo and brief mission statement at the bottom of the page.

Dedication

If you want to dedicate your book to someone special, be sure to include your tribute in the manuscript you submit. Dedications are usually short and directed at one person or family member. Keep it simple. You do not need to write, "Dedicated to" or use headlines. Dedications such as "For Mother" or "In Memory of My Father" are perfect.

Epigraph

If you have a simple quote or phrase that is significant to your book, you may want to consider adding it to the front matter of your manuscript as an epigraph. The source of the epigraph should be printed on the line under the quote or phrase. Please make sure you have permission to use your epigraph if it is beyond fair-use guidelines. (You can review fair-use guidelines at Canadian Intellectual Property Office. If an extended credit line is required, put the credit line on the copyright page or in the acknowledgments section of your book, rather than under the epigraph.

(Table of) Contents

A table of contents is usually used only in nonfiction works that have parts and chapters. A contents page is less common in fiction works but may be used if your work includes unique chapter titles. A table of contents is never used if your chapters are numbered only (e.g., Chapter One, Chapter Two). If your book requires a contents page, please make sure it lists all the chapters or other divisions (such as poems or short stories) in your manuscript. Chapter listings must be worded exactly as they are in the book itself.

Please do not include page numbers in your contents page; we will add page numbers during the formatting stage.

List of Illustrations or Tables

If your book includes several key illustrations or tables that provide information or enhance the text in some way, consider creating a page that lists them. If this material is included simply for comic relief or as a visual aid, a page listing may not be necessary. Just as with the table of contents, you won't need to list the page numbers.

Foreword

The foreword contains a statement about the book and is usually written by someone other than the author who is an expert or is widely known in the field of the book's topic. A foreword lends authority to your book and may increase its potential for sales. If you plan to include a foreword, please arrange to have it written and included in your submitted manuscript. A foreword is most commonly found in nonfiction works.

Preface

The preface usually describes why you wrote the book, your research methods, and perhaps some acknowledgments if they have not been included in a separate section. It may also establish your qualifications and expertise as an authority in the field in which you're writing. Again, a preface is far more common in nonfiction titles and should be used only if necessary in fiction works.

Acknowledgments

An acknowledgments page includes your notes of appreciation to people who provided you with support or help during the writing process or in your writing career in general. This section may also include any credits for illustrations or excerpts if not included on the copyright page. If the information is lengthy, you may choose to put the section in the back matter before or after the bibliography.

Book Block Text

The main text, or what we call the book block text, is the core of your manuscript. In the following outline of book block sections, find and use only the sections that apply to your manuscript.

Introduction

The introduction describes something about the main text that your reader should know before proceeding to read the book. Unlike a preface, which usually addresses the qualifications of the author, an introduction refers to the main body of the work itself. For example, if there are questions at the conclusion of each chapter, here is where you might prepare the reader and give tips on how best to use them. The introduction may also describe, in more detail than a preface, the research, methods, and overall concept of the book.

Main Text

Parts, chapters, subtitles, text breaks, and tables and diagrams are good ways to organize and visually break up the monotony of your main text. The organization of your book should follow the logical progression of your ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. In nonfiction titles, the contents page should reflect the organization of your book and a brief outline of its content.

Here are a few ways to organize your main text: (1) Chapters and other divisions—Most works of prose are divided into chapters. Chapter titles should be similar in tone, length, capitalization, and punctuation and be equally placed throughout your manuscript. If you include chapter titles, not just chapter numbers, they should be listed in the table of contents exactly as they are in the text. Books may also have divisions such as poems, short stories, or letters. (2) Parts—When text can be logically divided into sections larger than chapters, the chapters may be grouped in parts. Each part is normally numbered and given a title, for example, Part One: The Basics. A part title should be added only if chapters can be appropriately grouped together under such a basic division.

Epilogue

An epilogue is a brief concluding section, often addressed directly to the reader in a work of fiction. Most epilogues continue the story years later or update the reader on a certain character's whereabouts. Please do not use a chapter number for this section.

Afterword

The afterword is also a brief concluding section, often used in nonfiction works. It does not need a chapter number. If your book instructs readers how to invest money wisely, for example, you may want to use the afterword to review the strategies outlined in your book and give some encouraging advice to help your readers move forward with the plan.

Conclusion

More extensive than an epilogue or afterword, a conclusion may or may not be numbered as the final chapter. The conclusion provides a summary of your ideas, concepts, and advice, leaving the reader with a clear understanding of the major concepts presented in the book and some guidelines on what to do with that information.

About the Author(s)

You may add a short biography at the end of your main text that summarizes (1) any expertise you have in the field in which you are writing, (2) any previous books that you have published, and (3) a brief summary of where you currently live, who you live with, and what type of work you do. If you'd like to include a photo of yourself, be sure to submit it with your final manuscript according to the required specifications.

Back Matter

Your book submission is not complete unless it includes the information that goes into the back of your book, or back matter. Does your book require notes? An index? A resource list? To help you decide, we've provided the following descriptions for each of the common back-matter sections.

Appendix

An appendix includes any data that might help clarify the text for the reader but that would have disrupted the flow of the main text had it been included earlier. Some items included here might be a list of references, tables, reports, background research, and sources, if not extensive enough to be included in a separate section.

Notes

If your main text requires notes to amplify or document certain passages throughout the text, please arrange the notes by chapter in a notes section. Footnotes would more likely be included in the references section, described below.

Glossary

A glossary comprises alphabetically arranged words and their definitions. Be sure to include one if you use terminology that is not generally known to the average reader or if you coin new words or phrases to explain your ideas.

Resources

Often, readers want to buy products or join organizations in the field in which you've written. A list of organizations and associations, manufacturers and distributors, Web sites, and other sources are invaluable to your readers.

Bibliography or References

Both the bibliography and reference sections list the sources for works used in your book. Be sure to arrange the sources alphabetically by the author's last name. For samples and guidelines on proper layout, consult the notes provided by the Queen's University Library.

Index

The index is an alphabetically ordered list of words and terms used for referencing your text. Please keep in mind that the computer-generated keyword index that lists a page number for a key term every time it occurs in your book tends to be overly long and has no logical organization other than alphabetization. On the other hand, a professional indexer analyzes your entire book, anticipates subject items your reader will most likely want to find, and lists them in an intuitive, accessible manner.

Part II: Layout and Formatting