Columnists Of The World, Unite! You Have Nothing To Lose But Your Chains! Your Book Needs An Index – If You Don’t Mind, No Matter!

If you are a long-time columnist of a newspaper or writer of a magazine, you may have published a book out of your works or are planning to come out with one. But you did not think of coming out with an index – well, think again! That is, if you want to sell a great many more copies of your book. 
(“Book Index” from kindlepreneur.com, “How To” from tckpublishing.com)

Filipinos or not, columnists invariably do not invite their readers to think – just to believe what they are saying. The columnists automatically assume that the readers appreciate what they’re saying!

If you have published your book, or are planning to publish one based on your articles, The Editor In Chief that is in me advises that you include an exhaustive index at the back of your book – or as a separate, and free (and therefore attractive) offer.

Actually, your book Index is another platform to convince readers of your acumen or smarts about broad topics or field(s) of national interest – and buy your book!

As I write this, I am about to win, or lose, somebody’s “Yes” in going ahead to prepare an index for his book, the broad field of which is Economics. He is hesitant (undecided) or reluctant (undecided!) at the moment. No matter – if he decides “Thanks, but no, thanks!” I will forgive him, but he will be forsaking the golden opportunity to open a thousand – a million? – more readers of his book.

No classroom or digital lecturer will teach you this, but: “A book index is a sure sign that your book is rich in content, and a very helpful guide to explore such content topic by topic, subject by subject!”

Sonya Shelton says (“Index Vs. Table of Contents | Definition, Purpose & Differences,” (Study.com, study.com):  “The index is an alphabetical list of words, phrases, or topics mentioned in the book.” The Table of Contents lists only chapter titles and pages.

So? So I offered to generate an index to a book that is about Agriculture – my field, BSA major in Ag Edu, UP Los Baños, 1965 – and Economics (definitely not easy to comprehend!) If the author finally says “No, thanks!” I will understand; if he says, “Yes, Sir, go ahead!” then the literature on agriculture and economics will be so much the richer – and reachable by more readers.

Again, why a book index? To entice the reader to open the page/s where a certain topic or group of topics of personal interest is to be found.

(If the data/information is incomplete, s/he can go and explore the Internet – or ask the author.)

In fact, I am right now ready with 15 pages of index entries – and I’m only on page 49 of that book! Because an index is supposed to be a finger pointing exactly to the pages where the reader wants to go.

Now, if the author decides against my index to his book, “Thanks, but no thanks!”@517