10 Tips to Write the Acknowledgment for Books (with funny examples)

When it comes to acknowledgments for books, many people think it’s simply a matter of thanking your family and friends for their support. But if you want to make a good impression with your book acknowledgments, there are a few tips you should keep in mind. In this blog post, we’ll give you 10 tips on how to write acknowledgment for books. So whether you’re just starting or you’ve been writing acknowledgments for years, be sure to read through our tips!

What is the acknowledgment in a book?

Acknowledgments give credit to people who have helped the author write the book. This section usually appears directly after the contents page at the beginning of a book, and it can often be found on its own page after the preface or foreword.

Authors write acknowledgments to express gratitude for the help they’ve received, and they may include both personal and professional relationships. The tone of voice used in acknowledgments should be heartfelt but not too formal; it should be clear that the author has enjoyed working with all those involved.

How to write the perfect acknowledgment for a book

Tip #1 – Be clear about who you’re thanking

When writing acknowledgments, you should always make sure that your reader knows exactly who you’re thinking. For example, saying ‘my family’ doesn’t specify which family members you want to thank; instead, say “I would like to thank my parents” or “I’d like to thank my grandmother.”

Tip #2 – Don’t thank yourself

Acknowledging yourself in any way can make your acknowledgments seem like you’re taking credit for the book, and thanking yourself will diminish the impact of all those people who deserve to be recognized.

If you truly feel that it’s necessary to thank yourself, try using a less direct approach. For example, saying “I couldn’t have done it without me” will let your readers know that you’re proud of your work, but it doesn’t come across as egotistical.

Tip #3 – Be specific about how people have helped you

If there’s a specific piece of advice or knowledge that someone has given you, mention it. Suppose there’s an especially kind gesture that someone made, reference that too. For example:

“For their wise advice and guidance throughout the writing process, I would like to thank my editors, Sally and Stephen.”

This author thanks his editors for their help during the writing process.

Tip #4 – Be careful about who you include

To avoid making your acknowledgments too personal, think carefully about including people in your acknowledgment who don’t need to be recognized. For example, if one of your teachers happens to come into the bookstore and see that they’re mentioned in your book’s acknowledgment, they may get embarrassed or uncomfortable. It should help you narrow down which types of people are appropriate to thank. Keep these tips in mind as you write your book’s acknowledgments and show all those involved with its publication how grateful you are!

Tip #5 – Keep it short and sweet

This is perhaps the most important tip on how to write an acknowledgment. Avoid long-winded gratitude, mentioning you’re grateful for each family member and pet. Keep it short and sweet by thanking your family for their support, especially if they’ve supported you through the writing process with babysitting or cooking!

At the same time, don’t just say ‘for everything’ because this won’t mean much to the readers. Be specific; show your gratitude towards them with clear examples of how they’ve helped you!

Tip #6: What should I avoid?

As well as keeping it short, you should also avoid rambling or using flowery language. Your ending will sound over-the-top and condescending if you’re too wordy; keep it crisp and direct to make an impact. Also, try not to take up pages with self-promotion (unless that’s the end goal). If you tell people what a great author you are or how successful your book is, no one will read past this point! Just come out with it in the beginning and keep it brief.

Tip #7 – End with a bang!

Once you’ve thanked those who helped you write the book, tell people how they can buy your book! This will entice them to purchase your novel at their nearest bookstore. For example:

“Thank you so much for reading my book. You can purchase your copy at your local bookstore or online today!”

A simple, direct way to end your acknowledgments.

Tip #8 – Be witty

Ending with a clever joke will help you stand out from the crowd, but avoid being too obscure or insider that no one gets it! An acknowledgment is an important stage in the book’s publication process. It deserves to be taken seriously without being dry, so opt for something straightforward instead of trying to be too funny.

Avoid getting political unless the content of your book relates directly to issues surrounding politics. Don’t make it too personal either; after all, other people involved deserve recognition as well!

Tip #9 – Show your enthusiasm!

If you’re grateful and excited to have the chance to write a book, let others know with an upbeat and friendly tone. For example:

“I cannot thank my family enough for their support during this process; I love you all very much!”

A simple yet effective way to show appreciation.

Tip #10 -Fill it with sincerity

Finally, make sure your acknowledgments are genuine and heartfelt. It’s important to show that you appreciate the people who helped you write your book. For example:

“To my amazing editor, thank you for believing in me and helping me turn this manuscript into the best it could be. You are an incredible friend, and I am so grateful.”

Funny Acknowledgments from popular books

Example #1: The Zahir by Paulo Coelho

Example #2: The Otherland series by Tad Willams

Example #3: Let’s pretend this never happened by Jenny Lawson

Example #4: Anansi-Boys by Neil-Gaiman

Where should the acknowledgment for books be placed?

Book acknowledgment is usually found at the beginning, before the preface or foreword, and it’s typically on its page after the contents page. If you’re unsure where to place it in your book, check with your publisher!

Who should be included in the book acknowledgment?

The people you choose to thank in your book’s acknowledgments will depend on the role they played. Some of the most common groups of people include our family, friends, editors, publishers, and mentors.

“I would like to thank my wonderful wife Helen for her endless support over the ten years it has taken me to write this book. I am also indebted to my parents for their encouragement throughout my education.”

This author acknowledges his wife for her support and his parents’ encouragement.

“To my son Theo, who bore with me while I wrote this book … To my family and friends, who have put up with me over the last year as I’ve been writing instead of socializing.”

This author thanks his child for putting up with him while he wrote the book and his family and friends for their support.

“I would like to thank my publishing agent, Karyn, who after all these years is still the best in the business.”

This author thanks his agent for her help over the years.

Who shouldn’t be included in the book acknowledgment?

When writing acknowledgments for books, it’s sometimes tempting to add famous people you know, even if they haven’t played a big role in your writing process. While some authors choose to thank celebrities or politicians, we recommend keeping it professional and sticking to the people who have helped you write the book. It’s also important not to misrepresent anyone’s contribution: adding someone to the acknowledgment for books just because they’re famous is not okay!

Final Words

Writing acknowledgments for books is an important process, especially since it’s your chance to thank all of the people who have made your book possible. Keep it simple, sweet, and unambiguous–and you’ll be fine!

If you want to learn more about writing books, check out our article on how to write a novel. It will walk you through the whole process of creating characters and plotting a rough outline that will help you draft your story in no time! If you’re struggling with any part of the writing process, let us know in the comments below.