Writing Craft – Round 190
Writing Author Notes
When to include one, how to handle historical context and sensitive content, and how to connect with readers without turning your back matter into a memoir.
200–500
Ideal word count range
Back matter
Default placement
1 para
Usually enough for sensitive content
When to Include One
An author note is not mandatory, and its absence is never conspicuous. Include one when you have something specific to communicate that would genuinely serve the reader: a significant departure from historical fact, personal experience that shaped the story, the need to flag distressing content, or a recommendation for further reading. The test is simple: does the reader benefit from knowing this? If the honest answer is “it would benefit me more than the reader,” reconsider. Author notes that exist primarily to explain the author's choices – rather than to serve the reader's experience – tend to feel self-indulgent and sometimes undercut the work they follow.
Historical Notes
Historical fiction almost always benefits from a note that identifies where the author made deliberate departures from the record and why. Readers who care about history will respect your transparency; readers who do not care will skip the note without penalty. Be specific rather than vague: “I compressed the timeline of the siege from eight months to three” is useful. “I took some liberties with history for narrative purposes” tells the reader nothing. If your research led you to genuinely surprising or underreported historical material, share a few of those threads – this adds value and positions you as an author who did the work. End with a brief bibliography or reading list.
Personal Notes
A personal author note can be one of the most powerful tools for reader connection – when it earns that intimacy. The best personal notes are specific and concrete, not vague and sentimental: not “this book changed my life” but “I wrote the central scene in a hospital waiting room, and I did not know at the time whether it would end the way it did.” The risk of personal notes is oversharing: trauma disclosures that feel like a bid for sympathy, family details that belong in a therapy session, or a tone of self-congratulation that the story itself was supposed to earn. The note should feel like a handshake with the reader, not a confessional.
Addressing Sensitive Content
Fiction that engages honestly with trauma, addiction, abuse, violence, or suicidal ideation deserves author notes that acknowledge the content without softening or apologizing for it. The note should do three things: confirm that you were aware of the weight of the material, briefly explain the craft or ethical reasoning behind including it, and if appropriate, provide a resource (a helpline number, an organization, a reading list) for readers who may be affected. The tone should be matter-of-fact and compassionate, never defensive. A one-paragraph note is almost always sufficient. If you feel you need more than a page to justify the content, the content itself may need further examination.
Connecting Without Oversharing
The author note is a rare moment of direct communication with readers, and the temptation is to say everything you want them to know about the book, yourself, and the writing process. Resist it. Readers who finish a book they loved are in an elevated emotional state – they want connection, not information overload. The most effective notes are those that leave readers feeling they have briefly met the author as a person rather than a content producer. One or two specific, honest, human observations will do more than five paragraphs of process description. End by thanking the reader – briefly, without excessive earnestness.
Length, Tone, and Placement
Most author notes belong at the back of the book, after the final line. Front matter notes are appropriate only when the context changes how the book is read from the first page – for example, if the book is presented as a found document or an unreliable account, where the frame is part of the meaning. On length: 200–500 words covers most purposes. Historical notes with extensive research may run longer, but link to external resources rather than reproducing the bibliography inside the note. On tone: match the tone of the book. A darkly comedic novel followed by a solemn, formal author note creates dissonance. A quiet literary novel followed by a breezy casual note feels dismissive.
Finish your book with a note readers will remember
iWrity helps you draft, refine, and position every element of your book's front and back matter – including author notes that build lasting reader connection.
Start writing for freeRelated writing guides
Frequently asked questions
When should I include an author note in my book?
Include an author note when the book contains historical material you deliberately altered for narrative purposes, when personal experience informed the story and readers may benefit from knowing that, when the subject matter may be distressing to some readers, or when you want to point readers toward resources related to the book's themes. Do not include one simply because you feel obligated – a missing author note is never noticed; an unnecessary one always is.
What is the difference between a historical note and a personal note?
A historical note explains where you deviated from the factual record and why, and may direct readers to primary sources. It is an intellectual service to the reader. A personal note shares the emotional or experiential origin of the story. The two can overlap but serve different reader needs – a historical note satisfies curiosity; a personal note builds human connection. Write each for its specific purpose rather than blending them without intention.
How do I address sensitive content in an author note?
Acknowledge the content directly and briefly, explain why it was necessary to the story, and if appropriate, provide resources for readers who may need support. Do not over-explain or pre-emptively defend yourself – this reads as defensive. The note should be a compassionate gesture toward affected readers, not a legal disclaimer. A single paragraph is usually sufficient.
How long should an author note be?
Most author notes should run 200–500 words. A note shorter than 100 words can feel perfunctory; one longer than 800 words risks overshadowing the book itself or over-explaining decisions that the story should justify on its own. Historical novels with significant research may warrant longer notes, but even then, link to a bibliography rather than annotating every claim.
Where does the author note go in the book?
Author notes most commonly appear at the back of the book, after the story ends. This preserves the reading experience and avoids front-loading context that may be unnecessary for many readers. A note at the front should be reserved for cases where missing it would actively confuse readers – for example, a book told in an unreliable narrator format where knowing the narrative frame changes everything.
Every part of your book matters, including the note at the end
Join iWrity and write every element of your book with intention.
Create your free account