table of contents? -

Damien J. Nash Reading Flux by Mark. R. Faulkner

21 Sep 2012, 07:39 AM | Post: #1

Author

Posts: 1,027
Joined: Sep 2012

Thanked 38 times

What I Read

table of contents?

I started this thread http://www.kuforum.co.uk... for opinions regarding TOC in fiction ebooks. It was pointed out, quite rightly that readers thoughts on this are important too, if not more so.

So, in fiction ebooks, do you like to see a table of contents at the start,masses and why?

www.oldlondontown.com

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Jennie Lee Reading The Razor's Edge -- Somerset Maugham

21 Sep 2012, 07:49 AM | Post: #2

Aussie Kiwi

Posts: 866
Joined: Mar 2012

Thanked 13 times

What I Read

RE: table of contents?

There was sometimes a TOC with chapter headings in the old style hard copy books but I would never read them. When I read a book, I want very little information on what is to come and about a third of the back cover blurb is enough for me to make up my mind.

Consequently, as an author, I wouldn't put a TOC in a fiction novel. In my flash fiction anthology, yes, of course.

Smile

Jennie's Website

Breathe, Relax, Read.

Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Chitma Reading

21 Sep 2012, 07:50 AM | Post: #3

Veteran Member

Posts: 404
Joined: Jul 2011

Thanked 7 times

What I Read

RE: table of contents?

i already answered in your other thread but will summarise here...

TOC - not fussed
Chapter dots on the % progress bar - LOVE THEM Smile

Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Damien J. Nash Reading Flux by Mark. R. Faulkner

21 Sep 2012, 05:30 PM | Post: #4

Author

Posts: 1,027
Joined: Sep 2012

Thanked 38 times

What I Read

RE: table of contents?

(21 Sep 2012 07:50 AM)Chitma Wrote: i already answered in your other thread but will summarise here...

TOC - not fussed
Chapter dots on the % progress bar - LOVE THEM

Does anyone know how to add these chapter dots on the progress bar? I don't even know if my book contains them as I only have the Android app for my tab, which (annoyingly) does not have a progress bar at all, only a location number at the bottom Angry

www.oldlondontown.com

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

J.S.Egan Reading

21 Sep 2012, 06:13 PM | Post: #5

Just This Guy, You Know?

Posts: 459
Joined: Jun 2012

Thanked 5 times

What I Read

RE: table of contents?

There are actually TWO ToCs in a book - the "visual one" which you see when you click on Table Of Contents; and the "mechanical" one which is used by the reader, e.g. to do the dots. The latter is generally referred to as the "NCX" because it is driven by an "NCX" file, which is used in the mobi "compile" process. Most indie authors never touch this, because they upload an html document and leave Amazon to compile it, so there ends up being no NCX.

www.jsegan.co.uk

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Kristen Stone Reading Children of the Plantation by Faith Mortimer

27 Sep 2012, 11:30 AM | Post: #6

Writer and drinker of tea

Posts: 26
Joined: Sep 2012

Thanked 0 times

What I Read

RE: table of contents?

As a writer and reader I don't think fiction books need a table of contents these day. It is only relevant if the chapters have titles, and in my opinion that gives the story away. I never give my chapters a title in fiction - in fact I don't even like using the word 'Chapter' at the beginning of a new section, preferring just to split the work with a few ### or whatever. Wilbur Smith doesn't use the word Chapter in any of his books.
Giving chapters titles reminds me of reading Famous Five books - nothing wrong with that, they gave me the urge to write in the first place. But I never look at any TOC in a novel if there happens to be one.
If the book is non-fiction, that is a different matter. The reader may wish to go to a specific topic which the author is discussing. Then a TOC is very useful, and the links that take you to that precise location are brilliant.

Kristen Stone -author, editor and publisher
Very fond of new gadgets.
Kindle Smile

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Table of contents?

table of contents?

RE: table of contents?

RE: table of contents?

RE: table of contents?

RE: table of contents?

RE: table of contents?