Book Index: A How-To Guide for New Writers
Posted by
Ann Yager on Thu, Sep 22, 2011 @ 05:25 AM
So, you have finished your first work of written art? Great. Now what?
Before sending your masterpiece off to the publishers, consider adding an index.
The addition of an index to your book can result in more interest from your audience.
An index will explore and explain the subject matter of your book in detail for your readers. As a book author, it is your responsibility to make your book into everything it can be; including making the journey through it more easily accessible. Unlike a concordance which provides a brief generalization of key topics in your book, an index provides specific details about the subject matter; as well as, providing a guided tour through the concepts of your book.
Including an index in your book is not only valuable to you as the book author, but also to your targeted audience, book critics, researchers, librarians and anyone else who happens upon your book during their research efforts. The Table of Contents at the front of your book guides your readers through the book, chapter by chapter. The index at the back of your book allows your readers to find similar concepts in one set of groupings; which in turn, makes for an easier read.
When your book is easily understandable and the information is easily obtained, more readers will choose your book over other books on a similar topic.
An index will also allow for a relationship to form between the concepts of your book in a more fluid fashion. Important topics and subtopics of your content will be grouped together in the index, allowing for a more direct path to that specific content. For those readers who want a more thorough understanding of what they are reading, cross references used in the index will allow them to locate and compare similar topics throughout your book.
You, the book author, have done all the hard work in writing and rewriting your book. You may feel confident enough to attempt the indexing of your book on your own, but understand that the more precise your index is, the better your book will fare in the market. Indexes can be simple to complex, depending on the specific book.
Takeaway
Your book isn't finished until you have a great index. Don't waste your hard work writing the book by neglecting the index.
Book authors are often surprised to learn that their editors and publishers expect more than just a great book. Publishers often ask authors to create an index or find a book indexer. If you've never created an index before, it can be an unexpected chore.
Image Credit: Casey David