what is an index in a nonfiction book
With more than 15 years in publishing and a background spanning the sciences and technology Sue writes indexes that enhance the text make reviewers happy and sell more copies. An index is a list of all the little details that make your book worth reading.
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Ive created indexes for all of my paperbacks and am working with a couple of indie authors reach out to me to index their.
. In a traditional back-of-the-book index the headings will include names of people places events and concepts. The index may be the deciding factor when readers are choosing between two similar books. The words listed can be technical terms places persons or multiple words.
A manual index has the potential to be much more helpful than an automatically created one. For nonfiction books packed with valuable information a well-made index can help quickly direct the reader to the information theyre. An index turns a nonfiction book into a reference book.
A professional can take your book and distill it to its essentials. For more articles on indexes and indexing see Sues website. 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.
If its about something that really happened or something that really exists it is nonfiction. Write the letter A at the top of the first leaf B at the top of the second leaf etc. It can cover almost any topic from wild animals to Vikings.
It serves as a key or map for finding specific topics in lengthier books. An index is essentially a roadmap to the book listing names places and things in alphabetical order and giving the page numbers associated with each topic. That being said many researchers and readers still rely on book indexes to assist them in navigating large books and aid them in research.
How to Outline a Nonfiction Book Step-by-Step With the above benefits in mind there are four steps to creating a really effective outline for your book that you will thank yourself for later. Each leaf has two pages one on the front and one on the back of each leaf. In print books the table of contents sits at the front as a map of the readers journey ahead.
You believe that an index will add value to your book and maybe you have even sat down to write an index only to get lost in the details. 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. 19 of 20 If your book has one or more indexes say an index for topics one for images one for exercises etc theyll be typically located at the end of your back matter.
One of the elements of a book that doesnt get spoken of much is the index. Most indexes are several pages long. There are three main reasons for this.
Sue Klefstad is also known as Sue the indexer. Perhaps you have faced this dilemma as the author of a nonfiction book. How to Write a Book Index.
It seems to be a growing trend in self-published books to skip creating an index but its an essential part of a nonfiction book. But for most nonfiction books I think the answer is yes an index will add value. A book consists of leafs.
Some nonfiction books have illustrations pictures as well as words. Book indexing is a vital job that professional book indexers. 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.
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 index hides in the back of the book waiting patiently until its. An index is a critical yet often undervalued piece of many nonfiction books especially information-dense books like reference books self-help and advice books textbooks and cookbooks.
Indexes areubiquitous in nonfiction books yet people rarely stop to consider how or who makes this document. I get out a blank spiralbound notebook with at least 26 leafs. The index is a microcosm of the book.
A nonfiction book is one that tells you facts and information about the world around you. An index can include terms names events and even your books primary themes. Examples are an index in the back matter of a book and an index that serves as a library catalog.
An index adds a level of authority and professionalism to a book that readers often look for. Here are the steps to creating an outline for your nonfiction book in a way that gives you the structure you need to create the map to your manuscript. Readers Expect an Index.
20 of 20 OE. Most indexers welcome an authors suggestions and you should have a chance to edit the index after its done so you are not surrendering control by hiring someone else to. 7 Steps for Creating an Index.
In the age of smartphones and ebooks a book index might seem like a relic of the past. An index is a list of words or phrases and associated pointers to where useful material relating to that heading can be found in a document or collection of documents. This section contains a list of external publications that youve referenced throughout your book.
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