What Is a Title Page?

In the publishing industry, there’s a term that many indie authors don’t know: front matter. Front matter is basically the pages before the book’s first chapter, like the copyright page, the table of contents, and the all-important title page. Though it may seem a little boring, creating an effective title page is important for your book formatting and the overall look and structure of your novel or work of nonfiction, and it’s essential for successfully turning your manuscript into a professionally published book. 

Why title pages are necessary

Title pages are necessary because they set the tone for the rest of the work. This is one of the last times the author can get creative with the way the book is presented, so these pages sometimes incorporate an image or exciting fonts. After this, the text must speak for itself. 

A title page can seem deceptively simple, which may be why many authors forget about it until the last minute. However, this is one of the very first impressions your book will make on the reader, especially if you’re publishing an e-book. A hastily created title page can make your work look sloppy or even unprofessional—but a great title page can get the reader excited to dive into your book. 

Elements to include on a title page

The first step in creating a striking title page that’ll draw your readers in is to understand what goes into a good title page, as well as what to avoid. 

In most cases, you’ll need to include at least three pieces of information: 

• Your book’s title, including any subtitles 
• Name(s) of the author(s)
• The publishing company 

Some authors choose to leave their title page with just those three items. In fact, sometimes it’s best to include only the basic information so the page doesn’t overwhelm the reader. However, depending on your unique book and the team that helped you ready it for publishing, you might want to also include some additional info, such as: 

• Name(s) of the editor(s)
• Name(s) of the illustrator(s)
• Name(s) of the translator(s)
• The publication year 
• The number of the book in a series, if applicable 

Remember: an effective title page can set the reader up for a positive reading experience. So be selective about what information and imagery you put on this page, and get to know some additional dos and and don’ts of creating an effective title page. 

The dos and don’ts of title pages 

If you’re new to creating a title page, it might help the process if you have a few rules or best practices in mind. Here are a few guidelines you might want to follow to create an effective title page:

• Include only the necessary information. Not many people will read a page cluttered with too much text, and it can be a turnoff for your readers if your title page seems too busy. 
• Strategically use imagery. You want the page to stand out, so consider placing a ghosted image that relates to your book cover design behind the text to draw the reader’s eye or a small illustration that ties into your book’s theme. 
• Select the right font. Make your title stand out and look interesting without seeming like a mirror image of the book’s cover. 
• Don’t list all of your acknowledgments. Let people know who helped create the book (i.e., authors, illustrators, editors, and translators), but don’t get bogged down by mentioning everyone. Save your thank-you notes for the acknowledgments page. 

One of the best ways to determine what you want your title page to look like is to go to a bookstore or library and look inside the covers of some other books in your genre. This can help you get a feel for what’s common among other works and what you might like to see on your title page. 

We’ll help you let your title page do the talking

Your title page is more than just the name of your book—it introduces people to your masterpiece after they’ve chosen to open the cover. It provides crucial information about the people who contributed to the readying and publication of your book, so you want it to be both engaging and professional. It can be hard to strike that balance, though, and that’s where Elite Authors comes in!

We’re the experts in publishing hard copies and e-books, and we can help make your authorship dreams come true. Get started by customizing your publishing package today!