• Contact
  • Account
    • Become an Affiliate
    • Sign Up for Deals

    • Login
Book Cave: Authors and Publisher promotional services and features
Book Cave
Authors & Publishers
Connecting the RIGHT readers with the RIGHT books
  • About
    • Book Cave Reviews
    • Who We Are
      • Mission
      • In the Works
      • Book Cave Logos
      • Meet the Ratings
    • Privacy Center
      • Privacy & Terms
      • Your Privacy Rights
    • Affiliate Program Agreement
    • Trademarks
  • Current Deals
    • Deals from Retailers
    • Book Cave Direct Deals
      • Exclusive Ebook Downloads
      • Free Group Deals
    • Giveaways
      • Win a Free Ereader!
      • Last Giveaway Winner
      • Past Winners
  • Readers
    • Sign Up
    • Rated Books Database
    • Rate a book I’ve read
    • Browse Author Pages
    • Reader FAQ
    • Reader Blog
    • Giveaways
      • Win a Free Ereader!
      • Last Giveaway Winner
      • Past Winners
  • Authors
    • How It Works
    • Our Services
      • Feature Your Book
      • Group Features
      • Subscriber Magnet Services
      • MBR Ratings
      • Create an Author Page
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Pricing
    • Submit a Book
    • Create Account
    • Become an Affiliate
    • Author Resources
      • Author Blog
      • Author FAQ
      • Promotion Tips
      • Cover Guide Calculator
  • Book Swag
  • Contact
  • Account
    • Become an Affiliate
    • Sign Up for Deals

    • Login
  • About
    • Book Cave Reviews
    • Who We Are
      • Mission
      • In the Works
      • Book Cave Logos
      • Meet the Ratings
    • Privacy Center
      • Privacy & Terms
      • Your Privacy Rights
    • Affiliate Program Agreement
    • Trademarks
  • Current Deals
    • Deals from Retailers
    • Book Cave Direct Deals
      • Exclusive Ebook Downloads
      • Free Group Deals
    • Giveaways
      • Win a Free Ereader!
      • Last Giveaway Winner
      • Past Winners
  • Readers
    • Sign Up
    • Rated Books Database
    • Rate a book I’ve read
    • Browse Author Pages
    • Reader FAQ
    • Reader Blog
    • Giveaways
      • Win a Free Ereader!
      • Last Giveaway Winner
      • Past Winners
  • Authors
    • How It Works
    • Our Services
      • Feature Your Book
      • Group Features
      • Subscriber Magnet Services
      • MBR Ratings
      • Create an Author Page
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Pricing
    • Submit a Book
    • Create Account
    • Become an Affiliate
    • Author Resources
      • Author Blog
      • Author FAQ
      • Promotion Tips
      • Cover Guide Calculator
  • Book Swag
Publishing Tips,Writing for Authors
18 Jan 2022 at 03:17 PM PST
Updated 1 year ago

How to Write a Book Dedication

By Catia Shattuck

Advertisement

JutohWe at Book Cave prefer Jutoh for ebook creation because it gives us more control than most other ebook software out there, while still maintaining a friendly interface.

Browse by topic

All Posts Tutorials Author Pages Technical Tips Writing for Authors Ebook Formatting Grammar & Punctuation Publishing Tips Author Website Promotion & Marketing Social Media Mailing Lists Cover Design

how to write a book dedication

I'm a book wyrm
We hope you enjoy reading this post!
If you’re like us and love to read, then click here to score tons of free and discounted ebooks.

A dedication is a way for authors to spotlight and give thanks to a person, or a group of people. The dedication page typically goes at the front of the book, after the title page, and is different from an acknowledgment (which is longer and is put at the end of the book).

Do you need to add a book dedication to your novel? Here are some tips and tricks to help you out.

Tips on How to Write a Book Dedication

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when writing a book dedication:

  1. Keep it short. If it’s longer that one paragraph (although they are typically only one or two sentences), consider creating an acknowledgement page to put that information in, and just writing a short dedication.
  2. Decide who to dedicate it to and mention them right away. Most dedications start with words like, “For [Name and Relationship], who…” But some are written more like a short letter; you have a lot of creative freedom!
  3. Choose how to address the person you’re dedicating to. Will you use first name only? First and last? Or just refer to them with your relationship to them and leave their name out?
  4. Check out examples. If you’re stuck, look at examples of dedications in your favorite books.

Who Do I Dedicate my Book to?

Not sure who to dedicate your book to? Here are a few people to think of:

  • a family member
  • a close friend
  • a person impacted by the book, or by another book in the series
  • a person who is featured in the book
  • the readers of the book
  • a supportive figure in your life

Did any of these people contribute to your book? Did they give you ideas? Did they help edit? Did they support you emotionally? Did they offer a lot of encouragement? Who stands out in your mind as someone who made that book possible? That person would be a great person to dedicate your book to.

Do I Need to Dedicate My Book?

No, you don’t! It’s typical, especially in traditionally published books, but not necessary. But people love to have books dedicated to them, so it’s a great way to thank someone or show appreciation. Plus, it looks professional.

Dedication Examples

Michelle Erickson in Hallows Gate:

For Korleen, who has shared so much with me—including the attack of a kamikaze mosquito eater. What did he think we were anyway?

Kiera Cass in The Selection:

Hi, Dad!
*waves*

Neil Gaiman in Anansi Boys:

You know how it is. You pick up a book, flip to the dedication, and find that, once again, the author has dedicated a book to someone else and not you.

Not this time.

Because we haven’t yet met/have only a glancing acquaintance/are just crazy about each other/haven’t seen each other in much too long/are in some way related/will never meet, but will, I trust, despite that, always think fondly of each other . . .

This one’s for you.

With you know what, and you probably know why.

Ann Warner in The Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club:

To Delores Warner—Sister-in-law, sister-in-heart, and Graphoanalyst extraordinaire

Rachel Branton in I Don’t Want to Eat Bugs:

To Lisbon, my inspiration, for always helping me dream up more fun ideas.

George R. R. Martin in A Song of Ice and Fire:

For Phyllis, who made me put the dragons in.

Leeanna Morgan in All of Me:

This book is dedicated to the man who worked in a shoe store in New York City twenty-five years ago.
Your random act of kindness helped a lost twenty-one-year-old find her hotel. I will be forever grateful to you.

Ken Warner in The Secret of Giza:

For Jeff, the best alpha reader an author could want.

Karen Kincy in Shadows of Asphodel:

To my beta readers, for championing a diamond in the rough.

Alexa Verde in Show Me a Mistaken Identity:

To Tandy, with love and gratitude for all your help and support.

Bridget E. Baker in Anchored:

For my brother Jesse

Oh, how I miss my anchor.

Every.

Single.

Day.

Nothing can make it right. Nothing can heal my heart. Nothing can replace you.

Heather Huffman in Body in the Books:

For JC.

You bring more sunshine into this world than you’ll ever know—and certainly into mine. Thank you for being my bookish partner-in-crime, for your unwavering support, and for your friendship.

C. S. Lewis in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe:

My dear Lucy,

I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a word you say, but I shall still be your affectionate Godfather,

C. S. LEWIS

Have you seen any great book dedications? Let us know in the comments below!

If you’d like to learn more about Book Cave promotions and receive more writing tips, please enter your email below and click the “Learn More” button to receive our author newsletter.

Copyright 2022 by Book Cave
Reuse notice: Non-commercial users, feel free to print out “How to Write a Book Dedication” for personal use or give to friends, share online, or make a meme of, as long as you attribute and link back to this post. Commercial users, you may share a link to this post or quote a short excerpt from it with attribution and a link to this site, but you may not use this post in its entirety. Thank you for caring about copyright.

Avatar for Catia Shattuck
Catia Shattuck

I am a copyeditor and a typesetter of print books, and have been editing and typesetting (using InDesign) for thirteen years. As the executive editor at Book Cave, I enjoy helping authors be successful, and I only get interrupted a little bit (ha!) by my cute, rambunctious two-year-old.


Share this authorpost

Keep Reading

a clock shows writing a novel in past tense

Writing a Novel in Past Tense: Tips for Writing in a Consistent Tense

Novels are often written in past tense, but writing in a consistent tense can be tricky. Here are some tips for writing a novel in past tense.

discount your ebook on Barnes & Noble

How to discount your ebook on Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble is one of the big ebook publishing sites. So if you’re planning a promotion, how do you discount your ebook on Barnes & Noble? Let’s take a look.

teaching creative writing

Are We Teaching Creative Writing Wrong?

Guest author Salandra Wolfe is convinced that far too often teachers and writing mentors are teaching in ways that are not only possibly wrong but that actively discourage budding authors. See her tips for inspiring the next generation of writers.

Hello fellow book lover! We hope you are enjoying this post.
If you want free, content-rated ebooks that you can download straight from your favorite retailer, just sign up for our free newsletter
Sign me up!

Leave a Reply

Cancel


Comments

    Receive free ebooks on Amazon Kindle from Book Cave
    Receive free ebooks on Apple Books from Book Cave
    Receive free ebooks on Google Play from Book Cave
    Receive free ebooks on Kobo from Book Cave
    Receive free ebooks on Nook from Book Cave
    Receive free ebooks on Smashwords from Book Cave
    Book Cave
    Book Cave Direct
    My Book Ratings
    MY BOOK RATINGS
    Connecting the RIGHT readers with the RIGHT books
    • Sitemap
    • Contact Us
    • Free ebooks
    © Book Cave - All the rights reserved!