Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
If you’re wrapping up the finishing touches of your book, it’s time to consider an acknowledgements page. You might wonder what’s included and why you should write one.
Table of Contents:
• What is an acknowledgement page?
• Why should I include an acknowledgements page in my book?
• Tips for writing a good acknowledgements section
1. Thank all relevant contributors
2. Focus on authenticity
3. Have a layout plan ready
• What should I do after finishing the page?
An acknowledgement page is a section of your book dedicated to a specific person or group of people you want to thank — or acknowledge — for their help in creating or inspiring your book.
Traditionally, acknowledgements are found in the front matter of the book, but that’s not always the case. You can think of the acknowledgement page like credits in a movie: they can be placed at the beginning or the end.
Why should I include an acknowledgements page in my book?An acknowledgements page is a great opportunity to show the people who have helped create your book that you care and it shows readers your book’s communal reach. Acknowledgements are a traditional way of:
Expressing gratitude. Writing a book is a laborious process that often involves numerous people who provided you with support and guidance along the way. The acknowledgements page lets you publicly express your heartfelt appreciation and special thanks. It allows you to recognize contributors who have offered valuable insights, encouragement, and assistance.
Recognizing collaborators. Did you work with other writers or professionals while creating your book? Many authors collaborate with essential people during the writing process, including co-authors, researchers, or experts in the field. Including an acknowledgement page allows you to credit those whose research or fields of experience were crucial to the work. This demonstrates professional courtesy and highlights the collaborative nature of the research and writing process.
Building relationships. Inclusion in an acknowledgements page can strengthen relationships with individuals who have provided support. By publicly acknowledging the people who have contributed, authors can foster a sense of goodwill and gratitude, leading to the potential for future collaborations or partnerships. This can be particularly beneficial in the publishing industry.
Demonstrating professionalism. An acknowledgements page serves as a mark of professionalism and respect for the publishing industry and its stakeholders. By including this section, authors recognize others who have contributed to the book’s success. It reflects positively on the author’s character and their appreciation for the efforts of others, enhancing their professional reputation.
Connecting with readers. Readers often find the acknowledgements page to be insightful. It provides a glimpse into the author’s personal and professional life, offering a sense of authenticity and human connection. Readers appreciate learning about the behind-the-scenes aspects of a book’s creation and the individuals who have impacted the author and the work. Readers can appreciate learning about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the book’s creation and the individuals who have impacted the author’s journey. This connection can create a deeper bond between the reader and the book.
Tips for writing a good acknowledgements sectionWhen considering an acknowledgements page for your book, it might help to pull some books off your shelf and see what other authors have included. That said, here are three tips to help guide you.
1. Thank all relevant contributorsYou can thank anyone you want to in your acknowledgements. It’s your book and your unique journey. However, you don’t need to thank every single person in your life, just those who have made relevant factual contributions, provided emotional support, given you expert advice, or supported your book-writing endeavor in some profound way.
For example, if you wrote a fiction book, you might only want to thank the people who have inspired your desire to write, your editor, and any family and friends.
If you’ve written a biography or other nonfiction title, you can call out to the professional research you’ve gathered from other texts and other experts who deserve credit as an influence or advisor on the text that you’ve written.
2. Focus on authenticityThe acknowledgements page should emanate sincerity. The people you thank should be people who were aware of and active in the making of the book. Thank them specifically for what they have helped you realize or discover about yourself, your abilities, and the subject matter.
3. Have a layout plan readyConsider the order in which you’ll thank the important people you’ll include on your acknowledgements page.
Perhaps start with personal ties, friends and family, and then include professionals, subjects of interviews, researchers, and people who provided information or put you in touch with contacts of theirs. Or, list contributors in order of the importance of their contribution.
What should I do after finishing the page?It’s a good practice to contact the people who will be included in your acknowledgements page beforehand to let them know they are in it. Make certain you have everyone’s names, titles, and positions correct and spelled correctly. Then, determine where you want the page to appear and include it in your finished manuscript. It’s a nice touch to send these contributors a signed copy of the book.
Then, get your manuscript prepared for publishing — BookBaby is ready to get your book to print whenever you are. Call 1-877-961-6878 or go to www.bookbaby.com to learn more about our self-publishing packages and suite of author services.
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What To Include On Your Book’s Copyright Page
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