Planning a successful book requires that you first conceptualise your study (more about that another time). But, once you have done that, then it’s time to plan in detail. Essentially, you need to build a structure for your book, one that not only considers how best to present your argument but also ensures that it is of a suitable length, that it includes what needs to be included (and excludes the rest), and that it has the narrative pace and coherence that will draw the reader through your text – in short, that it is a satisfying (even uplifting) experience for the reader.
One of the first steps in this process is to map out your manuscript. Here, it is a good idea to be quite clear what is (and need not be) required – in short, to understand the various elements that should eventually constitute your book.
Generally, these elements come in a specific order:
- (Half title page – something the publisher makes)
- (Half title verso page – also something the publisher makes)
- Title page (your publisher will change this, of course)
- (Copyright page – something the publisher makes)
- Table of contents
- Lists of figures and tables
- Acknowledgements (if not part of preface)
- Author’s notes, lists of abbreviations, chronology, etc.
- Body chapters
- Glossary (if not in front matter, a placement common with many European publishers)
Not all books contain all elements, but before you start it is useful to have thought through if, say, your book should include a list of abbreviations or a glossary, as these are much easier to write as you go along rather than after the main text is finished.
Note also that those elements constituting your manuscript are fewer than the final elements making up your published book. Here the difference is that your publisher will insert extra material in the prelims, most importantly a copyright page. These are bracketed in the list above.
These are elements which you need not worry about. Focus instead on shaping (and getting started with writing) your manuscript.