Last Updated on May 25, 2026 by NEK Editing

As a self-publishing author, you need to understand how a book is built, from the title page to the index. Each part plays a specific role in shaping a professional, reader-ready product. In this guide, you’ll learn what goes where and why, with simple explanations that make the structure easy to follow.

There are three main book parts: the front matter, the body, and the back or end matter. Continue reading to learn what each section includes and how it fits into your book’s structure.

Front Matter

The front matter is the first section that your reader sees when they open your book. Here’s the order that it should appear:

1. Half Title Page (optional): Usually just the title (no subtitle or author name). Although optional, hardcover books often include one. It’s not essential, unlike the full title page, and whether you include it depends on your preference or design goals.
2. Frontispiece (optional): An illustration or photo facing the title page.
3. Title Page: This is where you include the full title, subtitle, author, and publisher imprint.
4. Copyright Page: This page includes the ISBN, copyright notice, publication info, and disclaimers.
5. Dedication (optional): This is where you can give a shout-out to the special someone, or persons, in your life who made this book possible.
6. Epigraph (optional): It’s a quote from the author or someone else that segues from the front matter to the body of the book. This could be a quick excerpt from your book, another book, a famous quote from a celebrity, a poem, or some random thing you once heard a stranger say. Whatever feels right for your book. These are all epigraphs. Often, they’re the best way to tell your reader to buckle up — they’re in for one heck of a ride.
7. Table of Contents (TOC): This is where you list each section or chapter of the book.
8. Foreword (optional): This is written by somebody other than the author. If you’re writing non-fiction, particularly self-help or uplifting content, a foreword can offer a unique perspective your reader might not get otherwise. It may also be used if the author passed away before publication.
9. Preface (optional): Often found in non-fiction, this is written by the author, explaining the book’s purpose or background.
10. Acknowledgment (optional): You can acknowledge or give special thanks to those who helped along the way.
11. Introduction (optional): Although it can be optional, it is a core part of most academic and professional writing. This is your chance to speak directly to your reader outside of the plot to describe the writing process or the source of inspiration for the book, provide background context, or present the main points or thesis statement of a work.

Note: When both a foreword and a preface are used in the front matter, the foreword normally goes first.

Body of Work

Once your front matter is in place, it’s time to focus on the heart of your book, the body, where your main content lives. Here is the order the book’s body elements should appear:

1. Prologue (optional): Often found in fiction, it is a narrative piece that comes before the main story to set the scene or provide necessary background for the plot. You might use a prologue to reveal the maniacal ways of your antagonist or the impending threat that most people in the world don’t know is headed their way. Many authors use the prologue to tell a tale from a unique perspective or during a different time period than the main story. You can also use the prologue to allow your reader to be catapulted into the drama without wasting any time.
2. Chapters: Sections of a book that divide the text into smaller parts, making the book easier for readers to navigate and understand. They may vary in length to adjust pacing, be numbered or titled, or set in parts. Make sure each chapter builds on the last, with details that support your book’s overall goals.
3. Epilogue (optional): The final chapter in a book or series. Epilogues are for fiction. They provide a little story after the main story. Like prologues, they may be told from a unique point of view or a different time. Epilogues are useful for plugging up a plot hole or answering a question you know your readers will have. If you want to set up a sequel or series, the epilogue is a perfect place to pique their interest.

Note: Prologues and epilogues should only be included if they add value, such as foreshadowing, provide essential background information, or tie up lingering plot threads.

Back Matter

With your story complete, use the back matter to tie up loose ends, share bonus content, and invite your reader to connect with you. Here’s how the back matter of the book should appear:

1. Afterword (optional): Where you, or someone else, reach out to the reader to explain more of the process of creating the book. It is not part of your central or post-narrative, but another chance to break down the author-reader wall.
2. Appendix/Addendum (optional): This section includes complementary materials, such as charts, lists, or other information that don’t fit into the main chapters.
3. Glossary (optional): Include a glossary if your book uses terms your reader might not know.
4. Endnotes (optional): Use endnotes to cite or add extra context — especially for academic or research-based writing. They are numbered notations within the main text, marked by a corresponding superscript number, and can be found at the end of a chapter or book.
5. Bibliography/References (optional): An alphabetical list of all sources, or recommended readings, you cited during research and writing, so your readers can easily find and explore them.
6. Index (optional): An index is an alphabetical list that helps readers find names, places, and topics with their corresponding page numbers.
7. Author Bio/About the Author: This is where you tell the readers about yourself. You can also include a list of contributors if your book was written with others.
8. Coming Soon/Read More (optional): If you have a large series, persuade readers to take action after they have read your book. In most cases, you will either want them to buy your next book or sign up for your newsletter. One common strategy is to provide an image or sample chapter from the next book in the series at the end of your previous book. With eBooks, you can also provide links to your next book or social media page.
9. Also By (optional): Lists all of the books that you have written, or at least all of the books that are interesting to readers of that genre. This is also a good place to include links to your social media, website, Patreon, and anything else that you want to mention to your readers.

Note: NEK Editing does not provide services for an Appendix or Addendum, Glossary, Endnotes, Bibliography, or Index. 

How NEK Editing Helps Self-Publishing Authors

Writing a book is no small feat, and formatting it shouldn’t be either. Now that you understand the key parts of a book, you’re one step closer to self-publishing with confidence and clarity.

If you’d like expert support along the way, NEK Editing is here to help. We specialize in:

• Developmental editing to strengthen your structure, pacing, and clarity
• Proofreading to catch those last-minute errors before publication
• Formatting guidance to ensure your book looks clean, consistent, and industry-ready

Whether you’re just starting your draft or putting the final touches on your manuscript, NEK Editing can help you bring your vision to life, one well-crafted page at a time.

Ready to take the next step? Contact NEK Editing to learn more.