 Mystery: December 25, 2024 Issue [#12906] |
This week: Self Publishing: Are You Up to It? Edited by: A Christmas Carol St.Ann  
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Opening a book that is set up properly informs me I have a good read ahead. The author took the time to research and learn how to set it up. The Internet has dumbed-down so much of our education and skill, it’s my hope that it won’t be taking away the creation of good books as well. And therein rests my motivation for this month’s newsletter. Whether you write mysteries or not.
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Preface, Prologue, Foreword, or Introduction.
While I realize that most of the writers, on writing.com write, short stories and poetry, I know there is a select group who write novels. This leads me to the ever increasing trend of self publishing. Now, while publishing one’s, own book affords immediate gratification, which is a way of life these days, it’s more and more obvious that most people have no idea about the parts, the mechanics, if you will, of a novel.
Recently, I’ve had occasion to read two very nicely written self published novels, but it was brazenly, clear that the author had no idea of the parts of a proper book.
Personally, I kind of like when things are done well.
I’m going to start with the opening mechanics of a book. “Foreword”, for example, is one word that is notoriously misspelled (and misused) on self published novels and books. “Preface”, “Introduction” and “Prologue” are not interchangeable. They all have their own separate meaning, purpose, and voice.
While there are many more parts to the opening of a book or novel, I’m going to define these few, for those of you who might be interested.
Most commonly mixed up: Preface and Introduction
According to Words into Type, "the introduction usually forms a part of the text and the text numbering system; the preface does not.”
Here are a few reasons to choose the preface or introduction:
• To talk about how you came to write the book, especially if that will help draw the reader into the book. Perhaps best in the preface.
• To sell the book to the potential reader/buyer (lure them, hook them, make them want to read more).
• To answer the question(s): why this book? why now? why this person? why by this author?
• To talk about how you obtained the information — what your main sources were (and how they differ from other books on the subject, if this is the millionth book about the Kennedys, for example).
• To provide a framework for what's to follow — the hooks on which to hang the pegs of story details.
• To provide, in brief, your main argument or point of view about the subject. You suggest your conclusions or viewpoint up front and then express them more fully and strongly in the concluding chapter.
Foreword: *Many people misspell foreword, as foreward or even forward! It is a "word" be"fore" the book itself. The foreword is usually written by someone other than the author.
The Chicago Manual of Style states “the Foreword is usually written by someone other than the author or editor, usually someone eminent (it's purpose being to lend credibility to the book). Typically, it is one or two pages in length.”
The Introduction deals with the subject of the book, supplementing and introducing the text and indicating a point of view to be adopted by the reader. According to Words into Type, "the introduction usually forms a part of the text and the text numbering system."
The Preface is an introduction to the novel which is not part of the novel. It is written in the author's own voice, and it usually contains some kind of explanation or contextual notes (such as how the author came up with the idea for the book, who s/he spoke to while doing research, acknowledgment of people who assisted in the writing of the book, etc.). The author writes directly to the reader about things said reader needs to know before starting the book. While the Preface is most commonly used in non-fiction book, you will occasionally see one in a prestigious work of fiction that has been reprinted after several years, and the author wants to discuss what's happened since the first edition came out. According to Words into Type, “the preface is not part of the text and, therefore, does not become a part of the text numbering system.”
The Prologue (or dramaturgy) is written in the voice of the story and is a part of the story itself. Its purpose is to describe (a) significant or pivotal event(s) that occurred before the actual start of story. It generally provides some sort of dramatic foreshadowing of the plot or tone of the novel to come. Before you decide to write a prologue, consider whether you are starting the story in the right place as well as whether or not a flashback might serve the story better.
*NOTE: If your book/story has a prologue, it must also have an epilogue.
*Alternate acceptable spelling: Prolog
b}Bibliography:
Chicago Manual of Style
Words into Type
Happy writing until we meet again!
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One Last Thing!
Remember to nominate great mysteries!
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