Author's Notes & Acknowledgements

From book idea to publication and beyond.

Happy Saturday! In today’s newsletter you’ll learn:

📚 How I write author’s notes & acknowledgements

📝 Why you might write yours now

👉 Tips for writing author’s notes & acknowledgements

Visiting my book at the bookstore

I once received advice in a writing workshop about writing author’s notes and acknowledgements. You know, those pages at the end of the book that most readers don’t read, but most writers linger on. Who is mentioned in the acknowledgements? Do I know any of them? The writing community is small, so it’s not uncommon to recognize familiar authors and teachers names in the acknowledgements of fellow Canadian’s books. The advice I heard was to go ahead and write those pieces, even if you are not done the book.

Does that sound counterintuitive? You’re writing a draft and there is no end in sight. Why would you want to write your notes and acknowledgement now?

Well, there are a few reasons. First, as a historical fiction writer, the author’s note is essential. I rely on research and sometimes interviews, and when I use someone else’s work to inform my fiction, I want to let readers know that I’ve done that, and give credit where it is due. I might mention those sources in the notes or in the acknowledgements.

It’s also important to remind readers—some of whom are well versed in the history I’m writing about—that my primary concern is the trajectory of the story. If I change anything about the written history to to serve the story, I don’t want readers thinking I simply made a mistake, but that I made a choice. Historical fiction is fiction, after all, even if I want to stay true to the events and individuals I represent.

An author’s note can also acknowledge real individuals or events, provide more information that is important, but can’t be fully described in the story, or any other tidbit that the author wants to share with the reader.

Similarly, writing the acknowledgements is a nod to all the folks involved in the project. These may include librarians and others who assisted you with research, beta readers, book coaches, editors, literary agents, the publisher, and anyone else involved in the publication process. It’s also a lovely place to acknowledge special members of your writing community, as well as friends and family who support your book writing journey.

But why might you write these before you’re done the manuscript? The advice I received so many years ago was this. Writing your notes and acknowledgements, essentially the very last pages of your book, reminds you of the importance of the project, what you and others have invested in it, and how necessary it is to finish the book. Do I revise those pages when I reach the end? Of course. But something about writing them early reminds me of the worthiness of this work. It matters. To me and to others.

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Here are a few suggestions for preparing author’s notes and acknowledgments:

• Keep a list of all the articles and books you used in your research

• Refer to the documentaries or other mediums your used

• Maintain a list of websites about your topic

• Thank folks who provided you with information that informed your writing (such as interviewees)

• Include individuals in your writing community who supported you along the way

• Mention the beta readers who gave you feedback in early drafts

• Thank your book coach or editors

• Acknowledge your literary agent, if you have one

• Don’t forget to thank your publisher and team members

• Keep your language thoughtful, personal, and genuine

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Happy writing!