What Goes in the Back Matter of a Book?

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

We’ve talked about the front matter of a book, which includes everything after the front cover up until page one – such as the title and copyright page, dedication, prologue, and more. A book’s front matter helps to introduce the author and the story before it begins.

So, now it’s time to dive into the book’s back matter and discover why this part of your book also … matters (sorry, I had to), the different sections typically included, and how it can enhance your readers’ experience as a whole.

What is back matter?

A book’s back matter begins at the end of the story. Once you finish that last page, the back matter includes all the components that come after that: an epilogue, appendix, glossary, index, author’s note, and more. While it’s not totally necessary to include all these components in your book, back matter can serve as a vital part in completing the story.

These sections can give readers insight into your writing process and can serve as a space to market another current or upcoming work. If you’re writing a fiction book, the epilogue can tie the story together or provide insight into a different character’s point of view. If you’re writing a nonfiction book, the references or bibliography can let readers know where they can find more information on the topic. Let’s dive a little deeper into each potential piece of your book’s back matter.

Epilogue

While the epilogue could be considered the final chapter of the book in some cases, it’s still a part of the back matter. An epilogue serves as a conclusion of the story in various ways. It can wrap up loose ends, or hint at a sequel if the book is part of a series. It can also explore the impact of the story on a different character or tell the ending through another character’s point of view. Ultimately, the epilogue is intended to leave an impression on the reader and can highly impact your story as a whole.

Author’s note

This is a space where you can share insights or reflections on your creative process in writing the story. It gives readers additional background on the work, potentially answering questions they may have had while reading.

For example, if you’re writing a work of historical fiction, you might clarify in the author’s note who the characters were based on, or what inspired you to write about that specific time period. Author’s notes add transparency for the reader and can help them to appreciate the work even more.

Acknowledgments

After the epilogue and author’s note, you might find acknowledgements from the author. The acknowledgments section is where the author expresses gratitude toward individuals who helped support them or contributed to the work. If you choose to include acknowledgments, you might thank your family members, friends, editors, publishers, mentors, or even your pet for their moral support.

The tone of acknowledgments is typically casual, which allows readers to see a more personal side of you. It gives them a glimpse into what helped you bring your book to life: collaboration, encouragement, and support.

Appendix

An appendix is another section found in the back matter of a book. It serves as a space that holds additional information relevant to the main story or content of the book and allows you as the author to dive deeper into specific topics, data, or other resources that might help the reader better understand the subject matter.

While appendices are more common in nonfiction and academic books, they can be included in fiction works. It can provide background history, elaborate on certain terms that are unique to the fictional universe, or offer additional details about the characters.

Glossary

A glossary in the back matter of a book is a list of terms used throughout the text, along with their definitions. This section serves as a quick reference tool for readers so that they can better understand key concepts or specific terminology they may not have otherwise known.

Including a glossary allows you to maintain the flow of the story without having to stop and explain certain terms, knowing readers can simply flip to the back and have the information they need at hand.

Index

An index is a detailed list of names, subjects, concepts, and keywords mentioned throughout the book, and the page numbers where each can be found. The index is organized in alphabetical order and helps the reader navigate quickly to the term or terms they’re searching for.

The index is particularly helpful in nonfiction books, textbooks, and academic books, where readers will need to reference specific terms or topics often.

About the author

This about the author section is typically included in the back matter, either on a separate page or on the inside sleeve of a hardcover jacket. This biographical section is all about you, the author, and what you want your readers to know about your personal life, how long you’ve been writing, how many books you’ve published, your accomplishments, etc. It can also help you to make a personal connection to readers, as many authors will include their social media handles or websites.

Marketing via back matter

You can also use your back matter as a marketing tool. For example, if you’re writing a series, you can use the back matter to include a sneak peek into the first few pages of the next book. Or, if you have other works published, you can also give a preview into the first chapter or show the covers of your other books.

Ultimately, back matter can help readers connect to your work and to you on a deeper level, keeping them ready and waiting for your next published work. Explore the back matter that is included in some of your favorite novels and how it affected your reading experience, then take your favorite parts from there and apply it to your own writing!