1
Historical novel note: The strike described in Chapters 9–11 occurred in 1912; I moved one meeting by two weeks to keep the fictional family’s timeline coherent.
8 Author Note Examples
Use these examples to study structure, specificity, tone, and variation. They are demonstrations—not claims about a real person or organization unless the example itself makes that explicit.
Before you copy
What to notice in the examples
A strong author note answers a genuine reader need without becoming a second preface: it is specific about what was changed or researched, transparent about important boundaries, and concise enough not to dilute the ending of the book.
- Reason for the note.
- Specific factual, historical, research, or creative context.
- Clear distinction between documented material and deliberate invention when relevant.
- Optional source or further-reading direction.
2
Memoir note: Dialogue is reconstructed from memory except where letters or recordings are specifically identified.
3
Science fiction note: The orbital mechanics follow current models where possible, but the propulsion system is invented.
4
Retelling note: This version combines two variants of the folktale and changes the setting from coastal to inland communities.
5
True-crime note: Some names have been changed for privacy; quoted court material comes from the public record.
6
Translation note: Original-language terms are retained where no English equivalent carries the same social meaning.
7
Essay collection note: Several pieces began as shorter publications and were substantially revised for this edition.
8
Children’s nonfiction note: Animal behavior examples were reviewed against the sources listed in the back matter.
Keep the underlying decision or pattern, then replace the subject, evidence, relationship, constraints, and tone with details that belong to your situation. If your final line still works after swapping only one noun, it may be too close to the example.