Featherstone 
How do you create a book index and do you need an index for your non-fiction book?
As a non-fiction book author and inhaler, I enjoy a great index. They markedly enhance the usability of printed books and show a real commitment by the author and publisher to professionalism. Most of the books I keep for the long term have them.
There are also some fiction books that include and warrant indexes…mostly these are BIG books or book series with multiple characters, settings, key objects, different timelines etc.
I chose to invest in indexes for four of my five titles. The only book which doesn’t have an index is my memoir Honey Farm Dreaming and that’s because it didn’t really warrant one as it was based on personal essays rather than research, and had easily navigable sections for information on bees, plants, organic balm and favourite farm recipes.
Most memoirs likely don’t need a book index, though ones that pull in extensive research and cover certain topics and themes in depth would benefit from one.
My other non-fiction books were deep dives into topics ranging from sustainability to farming to writing and publishing. Readers really needed and appreciated the usefulness of their indexes. Looking up the index of Look-It’s Your Book! recently I also noticed there was an index listing for book indexes! And of course there is because it’s an important subject for non-fiction authors to be across.
That’s why it was so enjoyable to discuss all things book index and indexing on the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast.
I didn’t even realise until speaking with Madeleine that some traditionally-published authors are now being asked to fund the creation of the index if they’d like one for their book, I thought that was a cost the publisher would 100% carry…but…not anymore!
In the podcast, the wonderful Madeleine Davis, professional book indexer and President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Indexers (ANZSI) shares so many great tips for indie authors as well as traditional authors and their publishers.
Madeleine and I explore:
- what book indexes are and do
- why a book index is important and what types of book they benefit the most
- how an author can best find an indexer to work on their book
- when is the best time and stage of book production to engage an indexer
- what it’s like to be a book indexer
- book indexing specialities
- how to become a book indexer or do your own book indexing
- if AI is having an effect on book indexing
- book indexing organisations around the globe
- And plenty more!
Such a fun discussion too when we explore the type of books Madeleine has indexed!
You can listen to the podcast about book indexes here and through your favourite podcast channel.