If you’re not sure what goes before chapter one in your book—you’re not alone. The front matter is often an afterthought for indie authors, but it’s actually one of the most important parts of your book. It sets the tone for your reader and protects your rights as the author.
What Is Front Matter?
The front matter includes everything in your book that comes before the first chapter. For example:
✅ Copyright Page
This legally protects your book and establishes you as the copyright holder.
Include:
- Your publishing date
- Business name (if applicable)
- ISBN (if you’ve purchased one)
- Editor or designer credits (optional)
- A clause about AI usage (optional but becoming more common)
Pro Tip: You can Google “indie author copyright page template” to find examples you can customize.
✅ Title Page
This is typically only included in paperback versions but can appear in eBooks too.
It may feature:
- Just your title and author name
- Your publisher logo (if applicable)
- A grayscale version of your book cover
✅ Dedication Page (Optional)
If you’re dedicating your book to someone special—this is the place.
Some authors dedicate to family, friends, or in memory of loved ones.
✅ Table of Contents
Most formatting software will auto-generate this for you.
- In eBooks: It’s clickable for easy navigation
- In print books: It’s a visual table to guide the reader
For nonfiction books, consider whether to include subheadings to improve structure.
✅ Introduction, Epigraph, or Foreword
This is especially useful in nonfiction. These elements offer background, context, or inspiration.
✅ Optional: Newsletter Sign-Up Page
Some authors include a newsletter call-to-action here to take advantage of the “Look Inside” preview on bookstore sites.
You can also save this for the back matter (my personal preference) so that only readers who finish the book are prompted to sign up.
Front matter might seem small, but it plays a big role in how readers (and retailers) view your book. The more polished and professional it looks, the more confident your audience will be when they hit “Buy Now.”
Need help organizing all of this?
🎁 Grab my FREE Self-Publishing Formatting Checklist — it walks you through every element you need to prepare for formatting, including the front and back matter.
👉 Click here to download it now!
What Do You Include in Your Front Matter? Drop a comment and share your favorite front matter elements. Do you put your author bio up front? Ask for newsletter sign-ups right away? I’d love to hear what works for you.