Foreword What is a Foreword, Do I Need One, How Do I Write One

Foreword What is a Foreword, Do I Need One, How Do I Write One Foreword: What is a Foreword, Do I Need One, and How Do I Write One? If youre confused about what a foreword is, youre not alone.A new writer, especially someone looking to self-publish a book, has a steep learning curve ahead of them.There are so many new skills to learn- building and managing a book launch team, finding a book cover design, making Amazon Marketing Services work for you, et cetera- and new vocabulary words to go along with them.Here are the questions about forewords we answer:What is a forewordHow to write a forewordDo I need a foreword for my book?Who should write a foreword?What should be included?Whats the difference between a foreword and introduction?Whats the difference between a foreword and a preface?Whats the difference between a foreword and a prologue?NOTE: Dont sweat the small stuff like this! We cover all of what you need (including forewords) in VIP Self-Publishing Program that helps you not only publish your book, but do so for long-term success. Learn more about it hereWhat is a Foreword? A foreword is a piece of writ ing that serves to introduce the reader to the author and the book, usually written by someone who is not the author or an editor of the book. Forewords can also serve as a sort of endorsement for the book.If the author does write the foreword, it might be to explain how the book came to be, or their connection between the work and themselves- like Stephen King often does for his novels.The foreword always goes at the very front of the book (with one exception, which I’ll get into below), and it’s rarely more than a couple of pages long. You may see a foreword with either lowercase Roman numerals or typical Arabic numerals, or without any page numbering whatsoever. That is between you and your book formatter.How to Write a ForewordYou’re pretty sure you’ve seen forewords in books before, or maybe your favorite classic piece of literature has a foreword in the front. You’ve got a book now, or you’re well on your way to finishing it.Do you nee d a foreword, too? Do you need front matter at all?Then again, maybe you’re not new, and you’ve been around the proverbial block enough times to know your way around. Maybe you’ve gained enough recognition to be asked to write a foreword for someone else’s work.And maybe youre someone looking to write a foreword for someone elses book and have no idea where to start.Heres how to write a foreword:Understand what the author is looking forKnow the tone and style of the bookStart with a list of what you want to cover in the forewordMake sure to mention your credibilityTie your own experience back into the worth of the bookGet feedback from others and the authorMake any necessary changes to comply with what the author is looking forBe honest about the book and its impactDo I Need a Foreword for My Book?Now that we know what a foreword is, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty of whether your book really needs one. This is what you’ve been waitin g for!The first thing to note is that a foreword is certainly not necessary. Plenty of books don’t have forewords, and never have them added on. Unless your book needs the elaboration and context a foreword provides, you won’t miss it.What you really need to consider is whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction.A nonfiction book is far more likely to need a foreword than a novel, especially if the topic is dense or interesting, or the author has passed on. Again, Stephen King does tend to produce forewords for his own fiction novels but this is seen far less in authors who arent as established.For example, the fourth edition of The Elements of Style has a foreword by Roger Angell arguing that the guide is just as relevant today as it was the day Strunk and White turned the manuscript into the publisher.But if you are writing fiction, are you covering a period of history, or some other topic, in depth?A foreword may be helpful if the reader needs a bit of back ground knowledge to sink their teeth into your book. Charles Todd wrote a foreword explaining just who was the titular character of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories.It’s also not uncommon for works of great literary renown to have a foreword added onto the original manuscript, or added as a way of explaining the difference between the current edition and past editions.Alice L. George’s foreword in the 150th-anniversary edition of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott was written to illustrate why the book is so beloved all these years later.Who Should Write a Foreword?A foreword could be written by several people, but not by just anyone.If you’re of the opinion that your work needs a foreword, approach an expert in the topic of the book or one of your peers in your field, especially if this person is well-known.This lends the book social proof.Unless you have something especially noteworthy to say, it’s probably best not to write your own book’s foreword. You may want to write a preface instead.That being said, if you’ve established yourself as an expert in your field, you may be asked to write a foreword for someone else.What Should Be Included in a Foreword?If you’ve been invited to write a foreword for a book, congratulations! What an honor, and what an impressive accomplishment to add to your resumà ©!Of course, every foreword will have needs as unique as the text that comes after, but here are some ideas for what you could include should you need to write one:Your relationship to the author (if you are or were contemporaries)How the author’s work affected you personallyYour opinion of the book, its protagonist, and/or themeThe book or author’s historical impactDifferences between the current and past editions of the book (if applicable)It’s also important when writing the foreword to strike the same tone as the rest of the book. Avoid writing a witty, hum orous foreword if the book is more serious, and vice-versa.You don’t want the writing styles to clash, or you risk jarring the reader when they turn the page.What’s the Difference Between a Foreword and an Introduction?The introduction is reserved for a book of non-fiction. It can be used to explain the content, but they can also be used to summarize the work.The introduction is sometimes comprised of everything that comes before the bulk of the text, meaning the foreword would be nestled within the introduction.Other times, the introduction is a separate section written by the author themselves.What’s the Difference Between a Foreword and a Preface?If you’re looking to write something like an introductory statement to your own book, you may want to write a preface.In a preface, you can include what your aim was in taking on the project and thank the people in your life who helped to make the book a reality.Unlike forewords, prefaces are always written by the author, and they’re not signed. If your work happens to include both, the foreword comes first.What’s the Difference Between a Foreword and a Prologue?A prologue is always written for fiction, and it takes place within your story’s world.Forewords never take place within your story’s world, unless you’re writing a fictional forward by one of your characters. You might do this if you’re writing as a fictitious person a l Daniel Handler.If your work happens to include both a prologue and a foreword, again, the foreword comes first.And again, a prologue isn’t signed. (You can probably guess why!)Forewords Can Be an Important Part of Your BookWhether or not to include a foreword in your book is- as is most of the art of writing- a matter of personal preference, but not preference alone. Consider what your particular work calls for.Only you can make that call.Trust yourself that you’ll make the right one.Ready to catapult your book to REALL success?Writing and publishing a book on your own isnt always enough.Yes, you have the full capability to make it happen but without extensive knowledge of the internal workings of Amazons search algorithm and a method to make sure your book lands on the top of lists, the long-term success of your book will suffer.We have exactly what for you.