Julie Broad argues that nonfiction acknowledgments belong at the back of the book, not the front. Readers find them boring, and the first 5-7% of your book should hook people instead. If you must include them up front, add personality to make them worth reading.
I think the acknowledgments are an important part of a book. It's the author's opportunity to thank the many people who have helped them create the book and even helped them in their life or career that got them to the point of writing that book. Gratitude is important, and I am totally good with you writing your acknowledgements for your book, but I don't want you to make the mistake I made with my books. And the acknowledgement section. Stick around. If you're publishing a nonfiction book anytime soon and you're gonna write an acknowledgement section, this video is for you. Hey, I'm Julie the book broad, an award winning author and the founder of a fantastic company called Book Launchers. We're your fabulous professional self publishing team helping you write, publish, and sell nonfiction books that grow your business and make you money. Let's get right to this one. The acknowledgment section of your book is a cool part of the book for you, the author. For the reader, it's brutally boring. It's like those Oscar speeches that thank everyone that was on set and made this film possible. You just can't wait until someone else comes on stage and talks. Think about it. The best Oscar speeches tell a story. They make you laugh. Sometimes they have a call to action. But universally, the speeches that nobody talks about the day after, they were the ones that listed everybody they had to thank because they were as boring as dry toast. So besides the fact that you're acknowledging where you think the hundred people who made your book possible is boring, you know who really doesn't care that much? Your potential reader. So if your potential reader doesn't care and your actual reader doesn't really care, why would you put it at the beginning of your book? Remember, we're all about no boring books at Book Launchers. And that translates into always be thinking book marketing. That might be something for new swag. Always be thinking book marketing. Every detail of your book matters when it comes to book marketing. And the most important details are in the first 5 to 7% of your book. And if you throw in two pages that are like the most dull Oscar acceptance speech you've ever watched, do you think you're doing a good job of selling your book? The answer is no. If a reader loved your book, they might browse or skim your acknowledgment section. But that's after they've read your book. Before they read it. They don't care. And that part of your book certainly doesn't get anyone excited. About reading your book. So put it at the back. Put it after everything else. Unless there's a very strategic reason for including the acknowledgments at the front of your book, and I actually can't think of one right now. Put it at the back. Even though it's at the back, I still recommend you bring a little personality to it. Imagine it's your Oscar speech. What do you want to say? By the way? You don't have to thank the Academy or your publisher because you're indie, baby. I made the mistake of putting it at the front of my book and both of my books because I didn't know any better. But now you won't have the excuse. Like this tip. Smash that thumbs up button. Go ahead, try it. It feels so good. And then go on down to the comments and say, hello. I love it when you tell me what's up in your world and if you've got an idea for a future video. And when you comment the day a video is released, you're entered to win some fabulous noboringbooks swag. And we just might become YouTube besties. And you'll join the ranks with some of the most super cool, supportive and fun folks like Stone Castle Publications, Gene Hobbs, Jocelyn Carter, Studio 38 and Poetry from the Heart. Thank you for your shares, your comments, and your thumbs up. You are awesome. Big virtual hugs to you. Did you know there are at least 15 ways you could be repurposing your book? Once you're done, write one book and use it for so many different things. Check out that video right here. But if you've watched that one already, have you seen this one? All about book Dedications. Unlike acknowledgments, dedications do go at the front of your book, but they're still part of your book marketing. Check that out. Go ahead, I'm waiting. I can't wait to hang out with you some more. See you there.
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