Jun 07, 2016 as a backofthebook indexer, im totally biased when i say that a nonfiction book without an index is like a town without addresses. We have an expansive inventory of nonfiction novels for kids. You may also want to organize your book further into sections or parts. How to write a book glossary nonfiction authors sometimes ask me, their editor, how to write a book glossary for their nonfiction manuscript. If this looks overwhelming at the beginning, remember, you dont have to write the whole book in one sitting, nor should you. So i explain that an index is an indispensable tool for almost every nonfiction book. A good index will ultimately make your book more useful, easier to navigate, and will ensure that your readers refer back to your book time and time again. Using an index non fiction convnetions marge kobewka. The sublime joy of making a book index without bullshit. For example, in a literature textbook there may be an index for authors that is separate from the index for titles of poems and short.
Apr 05, 2018 having made an index for several different nonfiction print books over the years, i have a set of suggestions for how to create an index. Popular nonfiction books showing 150 of 100,000 the diary of a young girl mass market paperback by. It seems to be a growing trend in selfpublished books to skip creating an index, but its an essential part of a nonfiction book. In digital publishing, an index may be found on a website or at the beginning or end of an ebook. Use the slide show slides in a whole group setting by displaying them using a smartboard. For this, youll need to master book indexing software and industry standards or find a freelancer to index your book. Each poster shows an example of the text feature and explains how each text feature helps readers to understand. A nonfiction book is one that tells you facts and information about the world around you. Find out more about the publishing process at penguin random house duration. There are no chapters or sections within the personal mba that discuss building an audience, but for me, that is a critical component to my business and there were ideas in the book that i was able to adapt into my own usecases. Nonfiction or nonfiction is any document, or content that purports in good faith to represent truth and accuracy regarding information, events, or people.
Ive created indexes for all of my paperbacks, and am working with a couple of indie authors reach out to me to index their. Sep 02, 2018 els will gain valuable practice learning about text features as they practice close reading and communication skills during a nonfiction picture walk. Examples are an index in the back matter of a book and an index that serves as a library catalog. The promise of what the book will offer is woven clearly. The glossary is a list of term definitions used throughout the book that might be unfamiliar to the reader. How to write a nonfiction book synopsis pen and the pad.
Example of a good nonfiction query letter nathan bransford. Nonfiction content may be presented either objectively or subjectively, and may sometimes take the form of a story. Sep, 2017 in traditional print publishing, an index is found in the back of a nonfiction book. The teaching slides include an example of a table of content.
Oct 18, 20 professional indexer and successful selfpublished novelist joanne phillips provides an easytofollow guide to compiling an index for a selfpublished nonfiction book. Explain that when we read nonfiction, we use something special called text features to help us learn. Nonfiction is one of the fundamental divisions of narrative specifically, prose writing in contrast to fiction, which. If you are publishing a nonfiction book such as a biography, history book. Nonfiction texts have distinguishing features, too. How to build your own index of notes and ideas when. You need an index for your nonfiction book all freelance writing. Childrens nonfiction books for sale the scholastic. How to choose the words and terms to index in your nonfiction book. How i blog a summary of a nonfiction book to notice and to. How to diy a nonfiction index part one alliance of independent.
An index is located in the back of the book and has a alpabetized list of names and items that can be found in the book with page number to find it. Professional indexer and successful selfpublished novelist joanne phillips provides an easytofollow guide to compiling an index for a selfpublished nonfiction book. But, you can use specific words within these terms to index. What is an index and where is it located in a book answers. The description of the nonfiction book project is clear. For example, in one of my books of math games, i made index entries for olaf the. Nonfiction is a rich database of abstracts and searchable full text for thousands of popular nonfiction books. For example, in addition to the usual subject index, perhaps a separate name or place index is called for. A nonfiction book without an index is like a town without addresses. If its about something that really happened or something that really exists, it is nonfiction. If youre planning to write a nonfiction book to support your business, youre about to embark on one of the most rewarding journeys for entrepreneurs, consultants and professionals wellwritten and designed nonfiction books have proven countless times to be a boon for businesses and careers, often providing a high return on a relatively low investment. Nov 04, 20 for example, in a book about 20thcentury artists, a section about violet oakley might have index entries for women artists, muralists, and stained glass artists, among others. When i use the search tool that comes with an online article or an ebook, im often disappointed. Providing an index gives your nonfiction book a professional edge, and compiling one is as easy as abc once youve mastered the basic rules.
In his book homo deus yuval noah harari contends that overcoming the inevitability of death is our next and possibly our last frontier. Jun 17, 20 to create a toc for nonfiction, which usually has about 1015 chapters, for example, you can. But what should you do if you have a nonfiction project. Imagine trying to find folks in a town without addresses. The words listed can be technical terms, places, persons, or multiple words.
Sample of a wellcompiled index all images by amron gravett. In traditional print publishing, an index is found in the back of a nonfiction book. Does your book need an introduction, preface, or foreword. Explain that when we read nonfiction, we use something special called text features to help us learn point out the different kinds of text features in the book paying special attention to the glossary, index, captions, illustrations, text boxes, etc. It includes pointers to where those keywords or concepts are mentioned in the booktypically page n. Popular nonfiction books meet your next favorite book. Fiction authors are lucky that they only have to create a table of contents, but nonfiction authors also have to create a robust index to help readers navigate their book. Point out the different kinds of text features in the book paying special attention to the glossary, index, captions, illustrations, text boxes, etc. Aug 21, 20 as an example of selectively focusing on content, in my summary of daniel kahnemans thinking, fast and slow, i emphasized the beginning of the book, which covers the overarching metaphor of system 1 and system 2 because i thought it was the most robust, relevant, and memorable theme developed in the book, that actually spanned a.
Index evaluation checklist american society for indexing. Heres why at his website, which happens to be an example of a very nicely done professional website. As a backofthebook indexer, im totally biased when i say that a nonfiction book without an index is like a town without addresses. For example, in a book about 20thcentury artists, a section about violet oakley might have index entries for women artists, muralists, and stained. Most often seen in nonfiction like a biography or an academic text, a bibliography lists the references and sources used in researching or reporting the book. Nov 06, 2019 new guide to publishing a book coming soon. To make an index you must ask, for every passage in a book, if i were looking for this, what words would describe what i was looking for.
For example, one reader might search for left alignment in the index, while another might search for ragged right, where both readers are actually looking for the same topic. Nonfiction book chapter outlines a way with words writing. The truth is, a synopsis for a nonfiction book is as important as one for fiction. You may wonder, though, thats fine for other nonfiction books, but does my book really need. There usually are several indexes in any one nonfiction book. If you write for an academic or technical audience, then a preface is more appropriate than an introduction, or you could include both. Oct 06, 2017 open the nonfiction text and slowly take a picture walk through the book. Apr 30, 2012 for a nonfiction book, create a list of chapters, where you give each chapter a catchy title possibly also a subtitle and the page on which the sample chapter can be found later in your proposal. How to make an index having made an index for several different nonfiction print books over the years, i have a set of suggestions for how to create an index.
If you write for an academic or technical audience, then a preface is more appropriate than. Once youre ready to get started on the actual writing, i recommend you read my article how to write a compelling book in 12 steps a mustread guide for nonfiction authors. Anne frank shelved 822 times as nonfiction avg rating 4. Tables, for example, may contain a wealth of entries, or may be one. This resource focuses on the three basic forms of creative nonfiction. Between the covers of your nonfiction book bookbaby blog. Jan 12, 2009 you may read every nonfiction book needs an index. It can cover almost any topic, from wild animals to vikings.
An index works well when customers can find what theyre looking for easily. Definitive biography of the controversial american novelist. Nonfiction books without an index are my pet peeve. How to choose the words and terms to index in your. How to make a really good book index in word tck publishing. How to build your own index of notes and ideas when reading. Some nonfiction books have illustrations pictures as well as words. Nov 12, 20 logically, you should write those first. I love to index books, because it requires intense thinking thats like writing in reverse. In nonfiction, your job is to prove yourself to your reader in the pages of the introduction. Much of the advice out there about how to write a query letter is oriented toward novels.
See more ideas about teaching reading, reading workshop and nonfiction. This set is designed to help you introduce your young readers to three parts of a nonfiction book. To create a toc for nonfiction, which usually has about 1015 chapters, for example, you can. Nonfiction writers have the added challenge of presenting historical context, source material, and research methods to help publishers gauge the value of their manuscripts. It is true that most nonfiction readers, librarians, and researchers will browse the index before. A computer might be able to create an entry under oakleys name, and perhaps identify her as a woman, but would have to be very sophisticated to come up with the other. Nonfiction text features chart text feature purpose example title identifies the topic of the texttells what the text will be about title page tells a books title, author, illustrator, and publisher table of contents tells the names of chapters and what page the chapters can be found index tells what pages the reader can find certain topics. As a reader, when you are able to identify and analyze the key features of a text, you will be able to gain a better understanding of what the. Readers come to a nonfiction book looking for information. Dec, 2017 an index is an alphabetized list of subjects and terms used and discussed in the book with their corresponding page numbers and is great to use in nonfiction books. How to make an index for a nonfiction print book chrismcmullen.
Indexes and indexers in fiction american society for. An index can include terms, names, events, and even your books primary themes. The index is the first thing i read when i pick up a book. The first couple of books i indexed using pdf indexing software were a real learning curve, but theres nothing like having to repeat the same steps over and over again to help get you comfortable with using new software. The first step is to make a list of all the technical or trade terms that come to mind off the top of your head that you want your reader to.
For example, if my chapter title was how to selfpublish your paperback i wouldnt. An index enhances the ultimate value of a book the ultimate value of your book is greatly enhanced by the ability of a good index to locate all the places throughout the work that address specific interests and concerns. What are some examples of fiction and nonfiction books. Dont publish a nonfiction book without an index write nonfiction. Open the nonfiction text and slowly take a picture walk through the book. This one doesnt really index the bookrather, it is part of the text, expanding the characters and the humour. Create a list of 1015 topics you know you want to cover in the order you want to cover them. Designed for schools and public libraries, it includes titles on careers, health, sports, adventure, technology, life skills and more. An index is an alphabetical list of keywords contained in the text of a book or other lengthy writing project. If you write nonfictionespecially the selfhelp varietyyour book should include an introduction, not a preface. Dont publish a nonfiction book without an index write. Use on its own or as a support for the classifying nonfiction text features lesson plan.
But since were a long way off from every ereader being able to read this new ebook format and every publisher from creating books using epub3. Backofthebook indexes can have an air of mystery that i would like to. Nonfiction text features chart teaching made practical. An index is an optional but highly desirable element for nonfiction works. For example, if i want to find information in a book relating to the moon, when i type the word moon in the search, it wont show me pages where. Now you have a great plan to create a nonfiction book following the best practices that pros use. Now imagine trying to find information in a book without an index. Three ways an index adds value to your nonfiction book. How to write a nonfiction picture book laura purdie salas. After two years of careful consideration, robert mccrum has concluded his selection of the 100 greatest nonfiction books of all time. Creative nonfiction is a broad term and encompasses many different forms of writing. Sure, you could work your way through the town in an orderly manner and, at the end, have a reasonably good chance of finding the person you want. For example, i would never take on an index for an engineering book.
Heres an example of a good nonfiction query letter. Professional book indexer joanne phillips shows its done. Browse our extensive childrens nonfiction books on sale for 30% off. Examples are an index in the back matter of a book and an index that serves as a library catalog in a traditional backofthebook index. A sample of nonfiction books represented by russell galen. This product includes 11 posters about nonfiction text features. For example, my index for the personal mba includes a topic on audience building. A short section on the lyric essay is also discussed. Author michael schreiber and literary agent mitchell waters were kind enough to agree to share michaels query letter, which landed him representation with mitchell. Index definition, in a nonfiction book, monograph, etc. You cant write the index until you have finished the book. If you are publishing a nonfiction book such as a biography, history book, or guidebook without an index, then your book. An index should be 35% of the pages in the typical nonfiction book, perhaps 58% for a history or biography, and more 1520% for reference books.
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