What are prelims for your book and why are they important?

The prelims (aka the ‘front matter’) are the pages that come before the main content of the book. For example, a list of other books by the same author, the copyright page and the contents page.

Why are prelims important?

You want to give your readers a good reading experience and, if you’ve set the stage properly, they will engage with your book, which hopefully leads to positive reviews.

Setting the stage

The prelims will set the stage for your book.

They prepare the reader to receive the book – like the curtain at the theatre before the show starts.

They guide the reader. 

For instance, the contents page is a map for the reader to follow through the book.

Prelims give the reader key publication information. The title page and copyright page provide details about the book’s title, author, publisher, and edition.

The prelims support legal and scholarly needs – the ISBN number, copyright notice, disclaimers. This is about proper attribution and protecting your rights as the book’s author.

Who organises the prelims?

If you’re working with a traditional publisher, they’ll generally organise them for you. They may include layout in their style guide, so there’ll be guidelines for consistency across all their titles.

If you’re self-publishing, you’ll need to pay attention to your own prelims.

When prelims become ‘postlims’

It’s important to note that some publishers may prefer to include conventional prelims as ‘postlims’. For instance, acknowledgements may appear at the back of the book.

It’s a choice for self-publishing authors, though you may prefer to stick with convention.

My top tip if you’re self-publishing is to check how prelims are laid out in any books you’re reading, especially books published in the same genre as the book you’re writing. This will give you guidance on what your readers will expect to see.

Essential prelims for fiction and non-fiction

Title page

Title and subtitles of the books, author(s) full name(s) or editor’s) full names, and edition of the books. 

Copyright page

Contains copyright information, the ISBN,* edition details, publisher’s info, and legal disclaimers. This protects the author’s rights and helps with cataloguing.

*More information on ISBNs at the end of this blog ⬇️

If your book is a novel, it will need a different copyright statement from a non-fiction publication. 

After this point, you’ll see a difference between fiction and non-fiction prelims.

Not all prelims are relevant for every book, whether fiction or non-fiction. This is an ‘it depends’ choice for an author.

Prelims in fiction books (usually simpler)

A list of other books by the same author

Dedication 

A short, personal note from the author dedicating the book to someone.

Acknowledgements

A section thanking those who helped in the book’s creation (sometimes placed at the back as a postlim).

Prologue

A brief scene or background information before the main story begins.

Maps

If location is critical to the plot (like a murder mystery set in a rural location), or if the story is set in a fictional location (think about Narnia), maps may be helpful.

Glossary

This may be a list of characters and their relation to each other, or a list of definitions for concepts specific to the fictional universe.

Prelims in non-fiction books (may be more extensive)

A list of other books by the same author

Table of contents (TOC or contents page)

A TOC provides a structured outline of your book. It’s a map to help readers navigate chapters and sections. It’s essential in non-fiction and academic books, though a novel may be fine without a contents page.

Foreword

This is written by someone else (often someone likely to be familiar to the readers), explaining the book’s significance or the author’s credibility.

Preface

The author’s explanation of why the book was written and what the reader can expect.

Acknowledgments

A section thanking those who helped in the book’s creation (sometimes placed at the back as a postlim). For a research-heavy book this is likely to be used.

List of illustrations/tables

This helps readers find important visual elements.

Introduction

Provides background information and context for the main content (sometimes replacing the preface).

Maps

Where a geographical reference is needed to help readers understand the context and follow the narrative.

Glossary

A list of important words and their definitions mentioned in the book.

Key differences between fiction and non-fiction prelims

Fiction: You’ll find fewer prelims and they’ll be focused on storytelling. Prologues may be included, but contents lists are rare.

Non-fiction: You’ll find more structured prelims, often with a foreword, preface, introduction, and it’s very likely that there’ll be a table of contents to aid readability and credibility.

Prelims – what next?

Consider how you want to set the stage for your book with your readers.

I’ve talked at a high level about the conventional prelims that you’ll see most often. Not all prelims will be appropriate for every book. It depends!

For more information I use Butcher’s Copy-editing (Fourth Edition). I heartily recommend it. There’s a section about preliminary pages.

My top tip for self-publishing authors is worth repeating: I recommend looking at the prelims for the book you’re currently reading, and any published books that fall into the same genre as your book. You’ll get a feel for what your readers will expect.