Ever wonder what to include on all those extra pages in the beginning and end of your book? First-time authors and self publishers often miss the mark on these important pages. This 5-part series will show you how to use these pages to elevate your book to the level of a pro publisher.
Part 𝟯 of 5: 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
When you open a non-fiction book, the first thing you usually do is go to the Table of Contents to see if you’re interested in what it has to offer. As an author, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to entice readers.
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲.
Make your section and chapter titles count. Plain titles like Introduction, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc. tell the reader nothing. Give them names that both catch their attention and encapsulate the information in just a few words.
Chapter numbers are often used along with chapter titles, but repeating the word “Chapter” each time isn’t necessary in the Table of Contents.
Consider including subheadings. If your chapters are divided into topics as subheadings, it can be helpful to list them and their page numbers. However, if you have a lot of them, it may be too cumbersome to list them in the contents, especially if there is a new subheading on every page or two.
The Table of Contents is an important navigational tool for readers to find specific information in the book. Make it clear and readable.
Use a consistent style in terms of fonts, size, margins, etc. as the rest of the book. It can be both attractive and helpful, but don’t let style get in the way of functionality.
A well organized professional Table of Contents goes a long way in ensuring that your book creates a professional impression and helps readers find all that good stuff you took the time to write for them.
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