: Re: Are tables of contents mandatory in novels? I've had several people ask me why my fiction story does not have a table of contents. I never really thought about it, seeing as plenty of fiction

@Kaufman555

Vote Up Vote Down

No. they are not. I personally find them quaint and assume the author is old when I see them.

I believe the idea of sections in fantasy has also percolated through the genre. Sometimes a fantasy novel will have three sections, which could be called 'beginning middle and end' but are usually given more descriptive names. Each section has its own set of chapters. I find these unnecessary, but structurally I understand why they are sometimes there. They help the reader understand that the book is going to take a new course now, and character voices, pacing, or other items may change.

(0)

Login to post a comment!