I confess: I started to do a bit of research on the history of the Foreword and had to force myself to stop almost immediately when I began deeper investigation of philology and the Dutch, or possibly German, roots of the word itself. (It happens like that for me sometimes. Research is addicting.)
A previous post, Front Matters, explained the traditional intentions of some of the bits of, yes, front matter, the introductory sections that precede the beginning of your story proper. This being Academia month, we thought we’d focus on an element of FM (that’s industry lingo for front matter; when you use it, it makes you sound smart) that—apologies in advance—has no place in fiction. However, if you’re composing a nonfiction, scholarly work, a Foreword can serve several critical purposes, and we strongly recommend that you include one in an educational-focused project.
As a reminder, the foreword is written as an endorsement of your credibility, and can make an enormous difference in a book’s reception. It serves as a stamp of approval, a certification of your heretofore unrecognized authority. Many times, the foreword concerns itself with the author instead of the work, and that’s completely acceptable. When a reader is engaged by the person who wrote the book, he or she is immediately more open to accepting the message of that person. Note that the foreword should be at least as well written as your book; this, after all, will be the first thing a browsing reader sees when he or she opens your new tome, and spelling errors, poor grammar, and, God forbid, emoticons and texting shorthand will immediately undermine your hard work by labeling it as lamentably unprofessional.
Your foreword should be written, ideally, by an acknowledged and recognized expert on your chosen topic; someone who has read your book and is eager to associate his or her good name with you and your content. You, the author, do not write this. You, the author, do not write this. (Yes, that was intentional.) If this person can also vouch for you personally, so much the better. The choice of one or the other—that is, content endorsement vs. author endorsement—is dependent on your chosen audience. A book concerning the biblical principles of engineering is better served by a foreword written by, if you will, a Scriptural Engineer; while the foreword of a book about maintaining faith in bereavement might benefit from a mini biography concerning the author’s sorrowful, personal experience. (You, the author, do not write this.)
For us writers lacking national exposure and strings of professional credentials, a well constructed and appropriately targeted foreword can quite literally make or break a book’s success. However, don’t concern yourself with endorsements of any kind until you’ve written and rewritten your book, polished it until it’s as perfect as you can make it. At that point, you’ll probably have folks falling all over themselves offering to endorse your work. At worst, you’ll have a solid idea of the type of endorsement you want. When in doubt, drop us a line here at Xulon Press. We’re always happy to help.
I have so much to learn, however I am willing to learn. These comments we receive through the Xulon staff are amazing and so helpful. I’m making a special point of saying thank you for your over-the top teaching and reaching out to help us succeed in our dreams and goals. My next book will take a lot longer as my desire is to apply what I’m learning, and what I have already learned. Thank you. I must add I am absolutely excited with how well my book is selling around Killarney and surrounding districts. I am also thrilled about the legacy I will be leaving for our family, day-care kids, and so many others. It’s raw, tender, testimony, experiences, full of LOVE. That’s why I titled it A Book Of LOVE. Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with you. God Bless!
Thank you for your comment. Sometimes we sort of feel that we’re just throwing these tidbits out into the ether, so it’s gratifying to know that there are actually interested parties that grab onto them! Delighted to hear that A Book of LOVE is selling so well, and we look forward (to type “foreword” here was tempting, yes) to your next book. Take your time, hone your craft and fear nothing.
Dears,
This was very informative for me. There is so much to learn, and I am most appreciative. I believe for me, I did not understand the definition of foreword, so I refrained from using it, I chose to say dear Reader.
Thank you so very much for this.
Carol Wilson Mack Fan Loyalty (Aug.27,2013)
This is one of those things that no one just understands instinctively—like changing the oil in your car, if you’ve never had occasion to wonder about it, you’ve probably never come across an explanation. So we’re glad to help. However, neglect not the Dear Reader; in the right book, it adds an immediate level of intimacy that’s hard to replace.
Eddie, thank you for sharing insider expertise with those of us on the outside. Keep writing, keep sharing, keep teaching.
Well, you’re welcome, Jeff. I do intend to try to make time for the first two, at least; if the third happens, it’ll be sort of ancillary, which is not a dishonorable thing. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.