In this guide, I’ll walk you through the different parts of a book and explain what each one is for.
Most people know a book has a beginning, middle, and end. But when it comes to the actual parts of a book, things get confusing fast.
There’s front matter (everything before the main content), the body (your story or core material), and back matter (everything that follows). Inside those sections are title pages, copyright pages, forewords, prologues, appendices, and more (enough to overwhelm even experienced authors).
This guide breaks down every major part of a book, explains where it belongs, and clarifies when it’s optional or required.
Along the way, I’ll explain the purpose of each section, where it should appear, and how it’s typically used in both fiction and nonfiction.
In short, this guide is designed to help you think clearly about book structure when outlining a manuscript, revising a draft, or preparing a book for formatting and publication.
Important: Most publishing sources do not consider the front cover or back cover to be part of the front matter or back matter. Those terms usually apply only to the interior pages of a book.
Key Takeaways: Parts of a Book
- Every book is organized into three main sections: front matter, body, and back matter.
- Front matter introduces the book, credits contributors, and protects legal rights before the main content begins.
- The body of the book contains the core story or primary information, usually divided into chapters.
- Back matter appears after the main content and supports, explains, or promotes the book and its author.
- Not every part of a book is required (which elements you include depends on genre, format, and publishing goals).
- Understanding where each part belongs helps improve readability, professionalism, and reader trust.
How Books Are Structured: Front Matter, Body, and Back Matter
Most books are built in three layers: front matter, body, and back matter. Think of it as what happens before the main text, the main text itself, and what comes after.
Front matter includes the pages that prepare the reader and handle publishing details (like the title page, copyright page, and sometimes a foreword or preface).
The body is the core content (your story or your main nonfiction material), usually organized into chapters.
Back matter includes supporting or marketing pages after the main content ends (like an author bio, appendix, endnotes, or an “Also By” page).
Front Matter: What Comes Before the Main Text of a Book
The front matter comes first in a book, appearing after the front cover and before the main text.
This area focuses on the author and publisher side of your writing. It gives you a dedicated space to credit your publishing team, anyone who inspired you, and yourself.
This part also helps you protect the intellectual property contained inside your book.
The front matter pages are often numbered with lowercase roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc.) instead of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.
Below is a closer look at what makes up the front matter:
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Table of Contents
- Dedication and Acknowledgement Pages
- Foreword
- Preface vs Introduction
- Epigraph
1. Title Page: What It Is and What Goes on It
No book would be complete without a book title page. The title page should contain the author name (or pen name) and title of the book (including subtitles) just as it appears on your book cover. The publisher’s name may also appear on a full title page. Your title and subtitle should match what appears on the cover, so it's important to get these parts right. The title page will also appear on the right hand page.
A half title page (also known as a bastard title page) contains only the title of the book, not the author or publisher. It may also omit the book's subtitle. The half title typeface often differs from the typography of the title on the cover.
A second half title page may be useful if your front matter is particularly lengthy. To indicate the separation between the front matter and body of your book, an author or their designer may place a second half-title page, as if to officially announce, “Here’s where the story starts!”
A frontispiece is an illustration on the verso (left-hand page) facing the title page on the recto (right-hand page). This is optional but can be a nice touch, especially for children’s books, sci-fi, fantasy, or memoirs/biographies.
Learn More About Title Pages
If you want step-by-step guidance on creating a professional title page, this guide walks through formatting, layout, and common mistakes to avoid:
2. Copyright Page: Purpose, Required Elements, and ISBNs
Every book (ebook, paperback, or hardcover) should have a copyright page.
It helps protect your writing from plagiarism and provides key publishing info for readers, platforms, and retailers. If you're publishing a print book, you'll also need an ISBN (Amazon provides a free one, but it’s not reusable outside their ecosystem).
And if you're applying for a Library of Congress number, you’ll need to go through their PCN program as a U.S. author.
Sometimes confused with a colophon (which usually refers to the publisher’s logo), the copyright page may also include what’s called an edition notice (information about which version or printing this book represents).
The copyright page may contain:
- Copyright notices
- Legal notices
- Book edition, with dates and versions
- Publisher information
- Library of Congress catalog number
- Disclaimers
- Typefaces
- Printer’s key
- Printing history
- ISBN
Learn More About Copyright Pages
This guide explains what to include on a copyright page, how ISBNs work, and how to format it correctly for print and ebooks:
3. Table of Contents: When You Need One (and When You Don’t)
A table of contents (TOC) is a helpful tool for your readers. They are the standard for most books.
A TOC is essential for nonfiction, optional for most fiction.
Nonfiction books almost always need one. But for fast-paced fiction, especially thrillers or mysteries, a TOC can accidentally reveal spoilers or disrupt flow. That’s why many fiction authors skip it entirely.
But for some mysteries, thrillers, sequels, and other fiction genres, a TOC may give away unintended hints about upcoming twists, pacing, and character revelations.
If you're aiming for a fast-paced read (one your reader just can't put down), maybe you should skip the TOC. Engage your readers' minds with full throttle suspense and keep them turning pages. Then they won’t need a TOC… just a bookmark.
Learn More About Tables of Contents
If you’re creating a table of contents for print or ebook formats, these walkthroughs show how to build and format one properly:
4. Dedication and Acknowledgements: Purpose and Placement
Who do you dedicate your book to?
The dedication page is where you give a shout-out to the special someone in your life who made this book possible. This can be creative and lend to the author's quirks.
Example: “To the simple coffee bean, for none of this could have been accomplished without you.”
An author can dedicate the book to a friend, family member, and literally anyone they want.
The acknowledgment page goes hand-in-hand with the dedication page. This is where you would acknowledge any special thanks for those who helped along the way.
This is an optional page in the front matter. You may also put it in the back matter.
Learn More About Dedication and Acknowledgement Pages
The guides explain how to write dedication and acknowledgement pages, with examples and tips on tone and placement:
5. Foreword: What It Is and Who Writes It
The foreword is written by somebody other than the author. This can provide a unique perspective into the book, which may have otherwise gone unseen.
Books that frequently contain forewords are non-fiction, particularly self-help or other kinds of uplifting books. A foreword may also be used if the book’s author passed away before publication.
Just remember: a foreword is optional.
When both a foreword and preface are used in the front matter, the foreword normally comes first.
Learn More About Forewords
If you’re considering including a foreword, this article explains when it makes sense and how it should be written:
How to Write a Foreword for a Book (with Examples & Formatting Tips)
6. Preface vs Introduction: How They’re Different
The preface is an introduction that the author writes. It can orient the reader to view the forthcoming book in a way that the author intends. It can describe the writing process or the source of inspiration. In contrast, an introduction is usually treated as part of the main text, especially in nonfiction.
Don't get this confused with the prologue, which I will discuss later. The prologue is supposed to be part of your story. The preface, on the other hand, is part of the non-story front matter.
This is your chance to speak to your reader outside of the plot.
Learn More About Prefaces and Introductions
This guide breaks down the differences between a preface and an introduction and explains how each is typically used:
How to Write a Preface for Your Book (& Whether You Even Need One)
7. Epigraph: Purpose and Examples
You see epigraphs at the beginning of some books, movies, and even video games. It’s a quote from the author or someone else that segues from the front matter to the body of the book.
Sometimes, you don't want a lot of verbiage right before getting into your book. The best approach may be to throw your readers headfirst into your story.
The best way to do this could be a quick excerpt from your book or any book, really. Or a famous quote from a celebrity. Or 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 audience to buckle up because they're in for one heck of a ride.
Learn More About Epigraphs
If you want to include an epigraph, this article explains what it is, how it’s used, and provides real examples:
What Is an Epigraph? (+ How to Write & Format One for Your Book)
The Body of a Book: Where the Main Story or Content Lives
Between the front matter and the back matter is the body. The body is the main part of the book, and contains the plot of fiction or the valuable information for nonfiction.
Although your book’s body makes up most of the whole, it contains fewer components than the front or back matter.
Here's what makes up the Body of your work:
1. Prologue: When It Helps (and When It Hurts)
A prologue is the first taste of storytelling your reader gets. It is optional but may be useful for your plot. (This is for fiction. The nonfiction version of a prologue is the introduction, discussed below.)
A prologue may introduce you to the maniacal ways of the antagonist or the impending threat that most people in the world don’t know is headed their way. Many authors use their prologue to tell a tale from a unique perspective or during a different time period than the main story.
The prologue allows your reader to be catapulted into the drama without wasting any time.
Learn More About Prologues
This guide explains what a prologue is, when it works, and how to write one without confusing readers:
2. Chapters: Structure, Length, and Formatting
Every book has chapters — though they can be called something else, like parts or sections of a book. Chapters divide the body text block into more consumable bits.
You can even subdivide your story. Some books contain 2-4 parts and several chapters in each part. Think of acts and scenes in a play.
There are a lot of creative ways to name and divide your chapters. But readers will not be happy if your book does not split up your story into smaller sections.
How long should a chapter be? A chapter can be really long or super short. It should be long enough to fully address the scene you’re writing, yet short enough that you don't lose the reader’s interest.
Should chapters be uniform in length? No, chapters do not have to be uniform in length. Trying to extend or limit word count can actually impede your storytelling potential.
Should chapters be uniform in format? Keep your chapter format consistent. Use the same layout for titles, spacing, and scene breaks throughout. Readers notice when the structure shifts unexpectedly, and even subtle layout choices (like *** vs. blank space for a scene break) impact readability.
Learn More About Writing Chapters
If you want deeper guidance on structuring and formatting chapters, this article covers length, pacing, and layout:
3. Epilogue: What Comes After the Story Ends
An epilogue is the final chapter in a book or series. Whereas the prologue comes before the main body text, the epilogue comes directly after.
Some may argue whether an epilogue is a chapter, but I have never understood why.
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.
One of the most famous epilogues of modern fiction is the final part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Set 17 years after the close of the last chapter, the epilogue both offers a resolution to the original series and sets the stage for author J.K. Rowling’s stageplay, “The Cursed Child.”
If you're looking to set up a sequel or series, the epilogue is a perfect place to pique their interest.
Learn More About Epilogues
This guide explains what an epilogue is, how it differs from a final chapter, and when it’s most effective:
Back Matter: What Comes After the Main Content of a Book
Also called end matter, the back matter is placed at the end of the book, containing non-story elements, such as a glossary, an author bio, or a coming soon page. (Marketing tip: it’s often smart to include a coming soon page or something similar to tease your audience for your next work.)
We've made it to the end of the story, but that doesn't mean the book is over.
The back matter includes:
- Afterword
- Appendix vs Addendum
- Endnotes vs Footnotes
- Bibliography
- Author Bio
- Coming Soon and Read More
- Also By
1. Afterword: Purpose and Common Uses
Like the foreword or preface, an afterword is where the author (or another entity) reaches out to the reader (often explaining 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.
Even though it's not a part of the story, some sources include the afterword in the body of the text. It doesn’t really matter how you classify it, though.
Learn More About Afterwords
This article explains what an afterword is and how authors typically use it to speak directly to readers.
2. Appendix vs Addendum: Extra Information Explained
The appendix provides extra details and information about the story or information that was covered in the body. The addendum adds new material after the first printing or first edition, such as the author correcting something from the original.
Sometimes, appendix and addendum are used interchangeably.
Appendices are more common in nonfiction books (think: extra research, data, charts), while fiction authors sometimes use them to share maps, timelines, or glossaries. Addenda are rarer in modern publishing and usually appear in later editions of a book to provide updates or corrections.
Appendices and addenda (the fancy-sounding plurals) often contain figures, tables, and even photos or illustrations. They can be an elegant addition to your book — one that may even entice potential readers to buy a copy.
Appendices can also include several other parts of a book, including but not limited to:
- Glossary: an in-book dictionary. It defines words that have been used in the main text as an alphabetical list.
- Index: a list of terms and keywords (in alphabetical order) used in the book and page numbers telling readers where to find them in the body text.
- Chronology: a timeline of events that have happened throughout your book or series or in the real world pertinent to your nonfiction.
Learn More About Appendices and Addenda
These resources explain the difference between an appendix and an addendum, with examples of how each is used:
- What's the difference between an appendix and an addendum?
- How to Write the Appendix in a Book: A Complete Guide
3. Endnotes vs Footnotes: What’s the Difference?
Unlike footnotes, which appear at the bottom of pages where they are important, endnotes appear after the body. Endnotes are essentially footnotes that appear in the back matter.
These are typically supplementary notes about specific excerpts from the body. Endnotes are more common in nonfiction.
Learn More About Endnotes and Footnotes
These articles explain the difference between endnotes and footnotes and when each format is appropriate:
- How to Use Endnotes in Books: The Ultimate Guide
- How to Use Footnotes in Books: The Ultimate Guide
- Footnotes vs Endnotes: Which is Which, and How to Use Them
4. Bibliography and Copyright Permissions
Also called a reference list, the bibliography is one of the most (legally) important parts of the back matter.
If you use external sources to create your book, you must include a bibliography. Cite your sources properly and give credit where credit is due. Otherwise, you may face accusations of plagiarism
Next to your Bibliography, you may also find copyright permissions. If you used any copyrighted material in your book, the copyright permissions page is where you show that you obtained permission to use them.
Learn More About Bibliographies
If your book uses outside sources, this resources explain how to write and format a bibliography correctly.
- How to Write a Bibliography
- Writing a Bibliography
- How to Write Bibliography for Assignment: Tips on Working with Your Sources
- 12 Free Online Bibliography And Citation Tools
5. Author Bio: What to Include (and Why It Matters)
Also called the “About the Author,” an author bio is all about you!
This can appear in the back matter or on the dust jacket flap of the back cover.
Questions you can answer in the author bio:
- Who are you?
- Where are you from?
- What do you do for fun?
- How did you get started as a writer?
This is a great opportunity to include a coming soon page or excerpt from your book. A coming soon page tells readers what they can look forward to from the author. This is a simple marketing tool that lets happy readers know there is more they can buy from you.
This is your chance to connect with your reader on a personal level and build long-term trust. If you've won awards, hit bestseller lists, or been featured anywhere notable, include it. Social proof gives readers extra confidence. And don’t forget to include a simple CTA, like inviting readers to check out your next book or sign up for your newsletter.
If your book was co-written or had major contributions (like a ghostwriter or researcher), this is also the place to list them — usually on a separate “Contributors” or “Credits” page.
Learn More About Author Bios
This guide explains how to write an effective author bio that builds trust and connects with readers:
How to Write an Author Bio (w/ Examples, Templates, & Prompts)
6. Coming Soon and Read More Pages: Turning Readers into Fans
If you have a large series, or have something else that you want to promote (such as a reader magnet to get someone on your mailing list), then you will want a coming soon or read more section.
This section is optional, but is frequently used by those who write long series, and by self publishers in general.
The end of your book is prime real estate. It’s your moment to turn a happy reader into a repeat reader or even a lifelong fan. Whether you tease the next book, offer a bonus chapter, or link to a reader magnet, use this space strategically.
In most cases, you will either want them to buy your next book, or sign up for your newsletter. In both cases, you would do this in the Coming Soon/Read More section.
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 include links to your next book or your reader magnet… just make sure they comply with Amazon’s guidelines. Avoid misleading language or gated content that violates their content policy. The key is making the next step obvious and friction-free.
In fact, though this is optional, I would almost encourage every self-published author to include a call to action of some kind.
7. Also By Pages: Listing Your Other Books
While sometimes included with your author bio, many authors include a separate “Also By” page to list their other books. For series, be sure to list books in reading order. You can also include your website, social media, or Patreon — just make sure it aligns with your brand and doesn’t overwhelm the reader with links.
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.
Using a tool like Atticus, you can even create templates from your Also By page. What this does is it allows you create one master Also By page, then include it on every book at the touch of a button.
Additionally, if you change the Also By page for one book, you can set it to automatically update on all other books that use that same template.
Resources for Creating Parts of a Book
Many authors use tools like Atticus, Vellum, or Scrivener to write and format their books. Consider using these resources when creating the different parts of your book.
Writing Tools
Atticus is an all-in-one tool for writing and formatting books, combining the drafting power of Scrivener, the design polish of Vellum, and the accessibility of Google Docs. If you're looking for a single tool that handles both writing and formatting across devices, Atticus is a great choice.
If you need an alternative to Atticus, Scrivener includes tools that cover each of the parts of a book that I covered here.
Vellum is a formatting platform for Mac users that makes it easy to create professional-looking print and ebook files with minimal fuss.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Parts of a Book
Want to learn more?
Writing a professional-looking book is no easy task. And it's even harder if you're a beginner writing for the first time. I hope I’ve helped you along the process.
For more opportunities to learn more about writing a book, read these next:
- What’s the best proofreading software?
- How to make an audiobook
- 7 steps for writing faster
- How to write a back cover blurb
- Use YouTube to sell more books
- Advanced Google Search tactics for authors
- If you’re looking for an official guide on grammar, punctuation, or formatting standards, the Chicago Manual of Style is still the go-to reference for most U.S. book publishers
Pro tip: Since Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature shows readers a preview of your front matter and early chapters, make sure those sections are polished and engaging. First impressions matter — even before chapter one begins.
Bookmark this article as a resource, and it can guide you through the steps.
Now that you understand the parts of a book, you'll be much better off as an author.
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Editorial update: Edited in December 2025 to improve accuracy and clarity across key sections, including front matter, body content, and back matter, based on current publishing standards.
