The APA format is widely used for short story collections. What does a typical cover page for an APA formatted short story look like? Let’s take a quick look.
Author Bio
The author bio is typically four to six sentences long. Although it can vary, it should contain enough information for the reader to know who the author is and a little about their background. For example:
“James Koozer is a successful business and technology journalist who has covered many major industry events and launches, including the 2016 Beijing Olympics and the 2014 Beijing Fortune Braincase Summit. He is also the author of two previous books, including the international best seller The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Business Management.”
You don’t have to have a perfect bio to make the cut, but you should try to finish each line with a compelling, interesting sentence. Remember: your bio will be read by humans, so make sure it’s written in a legible, easy-to-understand font. If you’re worried about your bio looking messy or chaotic, then break it up into several shorter paragraphs.
Introduction
The introduction should be no more than seven sentences and should provide the reader with a clear idea of what the story is about. Some writers like to think of the introduction as their ‘hook’, so make sure you use that language to describe the part.
A good intro for a short story should start with a compelling opening line that immediately draws the reader in. For example:
“There is something magical about being a writer.”
If you can get that hook straight away, then you’ll have the reader in your arms and fighting for more.
The introduction should also briefly describe the genre of the piece, what it’s about, and why the reader should care. For example:
“A strange and haunting fair is coming to the village — and its participants won’t be comfortable until they’ve confessed their sins.”
This could simply be “A Short Story” or it could be “A collection of Short Stories”, “A Horror Story”, etc. It’s important to keep the genre in mind when formulating your introduction.
As for the strange and haunting fair — that’s exactly what the introduction should do! You want to draw readers into your story and keep them interested.
Last but not least, the introduction should explain what items in the story will be important for the reader to keep in mind while they’re reading. This is called ‘establishing context’. For example:
“There is something strange going on in the village — and it has to do with the strange and haunting carnival-like event that will be held there.”
“The villagers fear the return of the ghost that plagued them the last time the carnival was held in the village. But among them, there is also a group that believes the ghost will bring good luck.”
“The headmaster of the local school has called for unity, as he feels that the village will be safest if they work together rather than against one another.”
With just a few short sentences, you can establish important context for the story or collection without overwhelming the reader with a lot of information. Remember: your readers don’t have mental_floss in the front pocket of their pants, so make sure everything is clear and easy to follow.
Title
The title should be short and easy to remember. It should also be relevant to the content of your story. In other words, if you’re writing about football, then your title should include the word ‘football’ or ‘sports’:
“From the Ashes to the Stars: My Journey from Hell to Happiness”
“What Makes a Baby Girl Cry? How One Novel’s Tragic Heroines Changed My Life”
“Why Does the Pope Appear in Dreams By the Name of Benedict? Psychic Asks”
Keep your title short and sweet, like the ones above. You should also consider using alliteration (when repeated words or phrases sound like they’re being said quickly or simultaneously) and assonance (when similar sounds are joined). For example, you could use “Roaring Megawatts of Power” for the title of your electric-field-loving epic or “A Madcap Scheme” for your young adult novel about a young woman who concocts a plan to win her boyfriend’s heart.
Sub-title
The sub-title is a short phrase that serves as an alternate title or genre for your story. If you’re using the APA format, then this is also the name of your collection, with the word ‘collection’ or ‘series’ preceding the name. For example, “A Collection of Short Stories” or “A Series of Unfortunate Events”. This is a common practice within the short story genre and is a great way to draw in new readers. Just be sure to keep the main title of your story for the cover. Remember: your readers don’t have mental_floss in the front pocket of their pants, so make sure everything is clear and easy to follow.
Copyright
The copyright should appear at the bottom of the page in a bold font. The year of publication should also be included (in brackets). Remember: you’re giving copyright to the publisher, so make sure you have the rights to do so!
The copyright page doesn’t need to be long. As a writer, you already have permission to use the content of your story, so all you need is a short note explaining where you got the idea for the story. A good idea would be to include the name of the workshop, creative writing class, or other groups or individuals where you learned the craft of writing. Many journals, magazines, and newspapers will allow you to retain some level of copyright protection even if you’ve sold the story to a publisher. This is most beneficial if you’re a freelance writer or work for a small publication.
Acknowledgments
The acknowledgments should acknowledge anyone who helped you in the creation of this work. Include the name of the editor who edited and/or proofread the work, along with the name of the publisher. If you received any support while writing this book (either material or otherwise), then you should include that in the acknowledgments as well. This is a good place to acknowledge any previous publication credits you might have as well, such as awards or fellowships. A good rule of thumb is to acknowledge everyone who contributed in some way, whether it’s through writing, technical assistance, or just being there to support you.
Table of Contents
The table of contents should appear at the beginning of the document. If you have an electronic version of the bookmarked by chapter, then this is a perfect place to include it. You can also create an ordered list of the major topics covered in your book.
An index would also be a useful addition to your table of contents. If you have more than 500 pages of material, then the table of contents will become a vital part of your bibliography. Make sure you enter all of your sources in the index as well so that you don’t lose track of any references while editing.
Introduction to Literature
If you’re teaching a class on the craft of writing or are conducting a series of workshops on the subject, then you might want to include an introduction to literature. This is especially useful for first-time visitors to your site who might show up for a class or workshop and not have any background in literature. In a similar fashion, if you’re ever asked to give a reading or talk at a community center or school, then you might want to start by saying something like:
“My name is __________ and I am a writer. I love to read and was inspired to write this story after reading about the dangerous ghost in the ‘zoo.’ I hope you enjoy it.”
Including a little something about literature in your introduction will make the reader feel that they’re getting something more than just a short story. It might also make them want to dig deeper into your work.