An author’s note is a short message from the author to the reader that provides context or explains decisions made in writing the book. It’s placed at the front, following the dedication and before the prologue or introduction.
For general nonfiction, an author’s note can be used to
- Give background information
- Explain potentially confusing or controversial elements
- Warn readers about graphic content
- Explain how you chose sources
- Give a disclaimer regarding the reader’s use of the book’s content (in which case the note is often titled “Disclaimer”)
- Tell readers that you changed names and identifiable information to protect individuals’ identities
- Explain the inspiration or motivation for writing the book (similar to what some authors often include in the “book origin” section of the introduction)
- Thank or acknowledge certain individuals (if you choose not to have an Acknowledgments section)
Examples from general nonfiction:
A History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani
Author’s Note
Geographical Names
Writing a book which covers such a long period, I have had to make decisions about names. I have used the names of modern countries to indicate geographical regions, even when those names were not used in the past; it seems simpler to use the same names through the book, rather than change them from period to period. Thus “Algeria” is used for a certain region in North Africa, even though the name came into use only in modern centuries…
Spelling
Words or names which have a familiar English form are used in that form. For transliteration of other Arabic words or names I have used a simple system based upon that of the International Journal of Middle East Studies….
Dates
From early Islamic times, Muslims have dated events from the day of Muhammad’s emigration from Mecca to Madina in AD 622: this emigration is known in Arabic as the hijra, and the usual way of referring to Muslim years in European languages is by the use of the initials AH….
The Emotionary: A Dictionary of Words That Don’t Exist for Feelings That Do by Eden Sher
Dear Reader,
Feelings—I’ve had them all. Big ones and small ones and joyful ones and melancholy ones, all of which were urgent and intense, none for which I had words. When I was a little kid, the only way I knew to communicate was through explosive, nonverbal temper tantrums. But as I got older and screaming became an increasingly less acceptable way of conversing, I knew I had to figure out a way to translate the screaming into less alarming modes of communication.
So off I went on my journey to discover the elusive concept of “rationality.” I knew I would understand it eventually. I just needed time….
Everything shifted when I discovered writing. Writing—the most magical way to be productive with my neuroses, and the eventual cure for my dyscommunicatia. All it took was a bad breakup for me to reach the point of emotional intensity where if I didn’t do something constructive, it would destroy me. I saw two options: accept my destiny to be misunderstood and alone forever, or look my [word] phobia in its beady little eyes and rip its wig off. Obviously, I chose the latter, which finally allowed me to understand the root of my fear—what if I never found the right words to express the thoughts and feelings in my head? What if there WERE no words? What if I was never understood by anyone? This revelation quickly turned into a new obsession: any time I felt a feeling, I immediately and compulsively wrote down all the words I thought it felt like. THE EMOTIONARY was born! …
Misery loves company, so my goal with THE EMOTIONARY is to create the largest, most irrational, anxiety-ridden, miserable community of Big-Time Feelers the world has ever seen.
Or , at the very least, make you grateful you’re not me.
Sincerely,
Eden
One in a Billion: Finding Your Genius Talent by John Hittler
The No-Nonsense, No BS Disclaimer
We designed this genius talent discovery process to be done with other people for one simple reason: you can’t do it by yourself! We tried (and tried and tried), and it didn’t work because the process requires you to notice, identify, and examine your blind spots, and by definition, you can’t see your own blind spots; you need other people to point them out so you can proceed past them.
We’ve had some incredibly self-aware people attempt to work through the process on their own without any real success. One person even took a ninety-day sabbatical and worked on it thirty to forty hours a week, but he only became increasingly confused. After all that work, he ended up with numerous possibilities and no way to know for sure which was most accurate—kind of like having multiple personalities. You need to have someone who’s neutral say, “Let me ask you a few questions about that” or “What did you mean by _____?” Human beings are not capable of seeing past their blind spots. As my wife says, “Your only blind spot is thinking you have none.”
We also suggest working through this process with people you don’t know. When you team up with friends, family, and coworkers you know well, you’re biased by definition. You come to the process with preconceived notions about yourself and your partners, and this familiarity can actually hinder authentic discovery. That’s not to say you can’t find your genius talent when working with colleagues or friends, but from experience we know the quality of your statement will not be as high…
In memoir, an author’s note is more commonly used to explain
- How you collected information (e.g., using journals, interviews, etc.)
- Whether you changed names to protect privacy of individuals
- Whether some “characters” are composites of two or more people for creative purposes (or efficiency)
- And the fact that all events are true to the best of the your recollection
Examples from memoir:
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
To write this book, I relied upon my personal journals, researched facts when I could, consulted with several of the people who appear in the book, and called upon my own memory of these events and this time of my life. I have changed the names of most but not all of the individuals in this book, and in some cases, I also modified identifying details in order to preserve anonymity. There are no composite characters or events in this book. I occasionally omitted people and events, but only when that omission had no impact on either the veracity or the substance of the story.
Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne, PhD
The story you are about to read is true. Though I did my best to present the information as accurately as I remember it, some timelines have been condensed, some dialogue has been reconstructed, and some characters have been presented as composites. Certain names, dates, and details have been changed to protect the identities of the innocent (and the not so innocent).
The Accidental Executive: Finding Purpose in Public Service from GS-1 to the Senior Executive Service by William James
Writing this memoir has been a journey of reflection, discovery, and gratitude. It’s allowed me to revisit the pivotal moments, challenges, and triumphs that have shaped my life and career, and to share the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
This book is a testament to the power of public service and the profound impact it can have on individuals and communities. It’s a story of resolve, resilience, and the enduring belief in the possibility of making a difference in the world.
I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can inspire others to pursue their own paths of service, to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, and to never give up on their dreams.
I am deeply grateful to my family, friends, and colleagues who have supported me throughout my journey. Your encouragement, guidance, and friendship have been invaluable.
I also want to express my sincere appreciation to the men and women of the United States military and civil service. It has been an honor to serve alongside you and to witness your dedication, professionalism, and resolute commitment to our nation.
To write this book, I relied upon my civil service Official Personnel Folder, researched facts when I could, consulted with several of my colleagues, and called upon my own memory of these events and this time in my life. I chose to make this a “no names” memoir because I would not have been able to do service to the impact so many people had on my career. Many of the characters in this memoir are composite “mash-ups” of personalities of the people who influenced me. I occasionally omitted people and events, but only when that omission had no impact on the substance of the story.
Finally, to the readers of this book, thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope that my story will resonate with you and that you will find inspiration and encouragement within these pages.
So, do you need an author’s note? It’s really up to you. Most books don’t need an author’s note, just like they don’t need a foreword. If you do write one, try to keep it short and write in first person, as a direct message from you to your readers.
