by Bobbie Christmas
Q: What’s the difference between a foreword, an introduction, a preface, a prologue, and an epilogue?
A: With the exception of the epilogue, all those items will appear in the front matter of a book. Each item has a separate function, though.
A foreword (often misspelled as “forward” in manuscripts I’ve edited) is an introduction to a nonfiction book and is written by someone other than the author of the book. The purpose of a foreword is to lend credibility to the book and praise the writer and the work.
A preface may also appear in nonfiction books. The author writes the preface. It should be a short statement that explains why the author wrote the book.
An introduction introduces readers to the material in a nonfiction book. It prepares readers for what to expect. The author of the book usually writes the introduction.
Let me note here that some publishers prefer to have only a preface or an introduction, but not both.
A prologue prepares readers for a story they are about to read in a work of fiction. It can be a scene that takes place prior to the opening of chapter one in a novel.
An epilogue may appear at the end of a novel. An epilogue is a scene that takes place after the main climax of the story. It gives an indication of where the characters’ lives will go from that point. In a book series, the epilogue can give a hint that more action, conflict, and tension is going to take place in the next novel in the series.
All these items—a foreword, an introduction, a preface, a prologue, or an epilogue—are optional.
Q: How does a writer decide if a book should begin with a prologue?
A: A prologue fills readers in with back story, something that happened before the story in the novel takes place. The prologue has to be powerful and hook readers as strongly as the first chapter does, from the first sentence.
On the downside, some readers skip the prologue, so if the prologue contains vital information, the reader may miss out on the basis for the plot. Another disadvantage is that the prologue makes the writer have to hook the reader twice, once for the prologue and then again for the opening of chapter one.
Instead of a prologue, back story can easily be put into the body of the book as a flashback or in some other way, provided the information is vital to the plot.
When I polled fellow writers, the consensus was that the better choice is to avoid having a prologue. Most writers recommended starting novels with chapter one, especially considering that some readers skip all the front matter and start reading with chapter one anyway.
Q: How can I get someone to write a foreword to my nonfiction book?
A: The foreword should be written by an expert in the field covered in your book, so finding that expert and asking for a favor can feel intimidating. Some people may be flattered by your request; however, so don’t hesitate to ask. I have several recommendations for finding such a person.
If a teacher or mentor helped you in in any way related to the subject in the book, he or she becomes an excellent choice. If you didn’t have such a person, find books in your field and contact the author of one of those books. Explain what you need and encourage the person to mention his or her own book in the foreword. If you belong to a professional organization related to the subject of your book, you may contact one of the leaders or advisors of that organization and ask that person to write a foreword.
Be prepared to provide a copy of your well-written and edited manuscript or sample chapters before anyone will agree to write a foreword. Some may even want you to write the foreword as if they wrote it and have them merely approve what you wrote.
Remember, however, that a foreword is not essential. Many readers skip front matter and go straight to the content anyway. No one would notice if your book has no foreword.
Bobbie Christmas, book editor, author of Write In Style: Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing, and owner of Zebra Communications, will answer your questions, too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com. Read more Ask the Book Doctor questions and answers at www.zebraeditor.com.
