Writing Craft Guide

How to Write a Preface for Your Book

A preface is the author's own introductory essay — explaining why the book was written, what it covers, how it came to exist, and sometimes what it is not. Prefaces are common in non-fiction and literary fiction, rarer in commercial genre fiction. A preface is not a summary and not a sales pitch — it is the author speaking directly to the reader before the book begins, establishing the relationship between author, subject, and audience.

Author only

Who writes the preface

Non-fiction mainly

The genre where prefaces are most useful

After the book is written

The ideal time to write it

Writing a preface that earns its place

What a preface is

A preface is the author's own introductory essay placed before the main text of the book. It explains why the book was written, what the author hopes it will accomplish, how it came to exist, and sometimes what it is not trying to do. A preface is a direct communication from author to reader before the story or argument begins — an honest account of the book's genesis and purpose. It is distinct from an introduction, which is typically part of the book's main argument, and from a foreword, which is always written by someone other than the author. The preface is the author's voice, unmediated.

When to include one (and when to skip it)

Include a preface when the book's context genuinely requires it: when readers need to understand why this book exists, what distinguishes it from similar books, or what the author's personal relationship to the subject is. Non-fiction books about personal experience, books emerging from years of research, books that challenge established thinking, and books that update or revise previous editions all have legitimate reasons for a preface. Skip the preface when the book speaks for itself from page one, when the author's intent is obvious from the title and cover, or when the preface would simply repeat what the back cover copy already says.

What to put in a preface

The origin of the book: what prompted you to write it, what question you needed to answer. The scope: what the book covers and, importantly, what it does not cover. Any relevant background the reader needs to interpret the book accurately — particularly in non-fiction where the author's professional or personal position affects the reader's trust. Any acknowledgment of bias or limitation that the author considers important enough to name upfront. What you should not put in a preface: a chapter-by-chapter summary of the book, extensive praise for the people who helped you (that belongs in the acknowledgments), or information that belongs in the main text.

Preface vs. introduction — the structural difference

The preface is front matter: it is outside the book's main structure. An introduction is often part of the book's main text, particularly in non-fiction, where it sets up the central argument and is expected to be read as Chapter 0 rather than as a prefatory note. The practical difference is that an introduction is counted in the book's page numbers and cited in the table of contents; a preface is typically on roman-numeral pages with the other front matter. If your opening material contains your central thesis, first case study, or main argument, it is an introduction. If it explains why you wrote the book, it is a preface.

Preface vs. foreword — the authorship difference

This is the simplest distinction in book front matter: a foreword is written by someone who is not the author; a preface is written by the author. Both appear before the main text. Both serve an introductory function. The foreword provides external credibility; the preface provides authorial transparency. A book can have both (foreword first, then preface) or either one alone. The most common confusion is authors labeling their own introductory essay a 'foreword' — which is technically wrong and can confuse readers who expect a foreword to be written by a third party.

Common preface mistakes

Thanking everyone in the preface instead of the acknowledgments section: readers expect thanks in acknowledgments, not in the preface. Summarizing the book chapter by chapter: readers will read the book; they do not need a roadmap in the preface. Writing the preface before finishing the draft and then publishing without updating it: the preface should reflect the book as it was actually written, not as it was planned. Apologizing in the preface for the book's limitations: one honest statement of scope is appropriate; repeated hedging undermines reader confidence before they have read a word of the main text.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does genre fiction need a preface?

Rarely. Commercial genre fiction — thrillers, romance, fantasy, crime — almost never includes a preface. Readers open genre novels to get into the story immediately, and front matter that delays chapter one reduces the reading experience rather than enhancing it. The exception is genre fiction with significant real-world research or historical context, where a brief author's note explaining what is real and what is invented is a genuine service to the reader. That note is sometimes labeled a preface, sometimes an author's note.

How long should a preface be?

Between 200 and 800 words for most books. A preface longer than 1,000 words risks becoming an essay that competes with the book itself rather than introducing it. Academic books and books with complex research histories can justify a longer preface — but only if every paragraph is doing essential contextual work. Read the preface aloud and ask whether each paragraph would be missed if it were cut. If the answer is no, cut it.

Does a preface appear before or after a foreword?

After. Standard book front matter runs: foreword (if there is one), then preface, then introduction (if there is a separate one), then the main text. The foreword is written by a third party and appears first because it introduces the book from outside. The preface is written by the author and appears next because it is the author's own introduction. Some publishers reverse this order, but foreword-before-preface is the convention most readers and trade professionals expect.

Should I write the preface first or last?

Last, almost always. Writing the preface before the book is finished means writing it without knowing what the book actually became — which themes emerged most strongly, what the research actually showed, what the author's relationship to the subject turned out to be. A preface written after finishing the manuscript is honest about what the book is. A preface written before is a plan for what the book might be, which often turns out to be inaccurate.

What do I do if my preface becomes too long?

First, diagnose why it is long. If it is long because you are summarizing the book's contents, cut the summary — that is what the book itself is for. If it is long because you are explaining the research process in detail, consider whether that material belongs in an appendix or acknowledgments section instead. If it is long because the book's origin story is genuinely complex and necessary context for the reader, you may have a chapter one rather than a preface — consider restructuring it as the book's actual opening.