As Vladimir Nabokov once said, “style and structure are the essence of a book.” Taking into consideration the topic, audience and position of the book, its structure is arguably an author’s main tool to achieve its aims. Significant and ongoing changes to the market driven by digital disruption — notably in reader behaviour — are important to keep in mind when formulating a draft structure:
1. Chapter titles should, where possible, position themselves clearly to enhance the overall discoverability of the book.
2. Supplementing the table of contents with chapter synopses will ensure you are keeping topic, audience and position in mind and will provide reviewers with sufficient material to supply useful feedback.
3. Consistency is key – chapter features such as introductions and summaries should be included across the board, or not at all.
4. Pedagogical features are a tool to engage and retain readers faced with information overload – boxes, case studies, and illustrations should be considered.
5. Contributor details (even if tentative) should be supplied at proposal stage as this helps illustrate international and disciplinary coverage.
6. A sample chapter, though not always necessary, can help assess writing style and ensure that feedback can be provided to tie the book proposal to its execution.
For authors who would like English language support, our Book Editing Service offers you the opportunity to have your work reviewed by editing experts.
FIND OUT MORE >