2. Close friends 3. People impacted by the book or featured in it 4. The readers of the book 5. Inspirational or supportive figures in one’s life 6. People the author believes should be highlighted in some way DO YOU NEED TO DEDICATE YOUR BOOK? No. Most authors dedicate their books, but it is not required or mandatory. HOW TO DEDICATE YOUR BOOK 1. DECIDE WHO WILL BE THE FOCUS Think about the people to whom you want to dedicate this work. Who was the most important person? The seminal influence? The people you care the most about? Many people write their book dedication to a child or dedicate their book to a friend who has impacted their creative process. There’s no magic formula, and you don’t have to get everyone in there. This should be short and sweet, and there are no wrong answers. You are expressing a personal sentiment, so only you can decide. The worst thing you can do is get stuck on it. Either do it or don’t, and if you do decide to have one, don’t fret over it. Go with your gut. Anyone you leave out can be thanked in the Acknowledgments. 2. REMEMBER: EVERYONE WHO READS THE BOOK WILL SEE THIS As the dedication is at the beginning of a book, many of the read- ers will read it and be influenced by it. Think not just about the person or people named in the book dedication, but also about all of the readers who will pass by this page and be impacted. Make a conscious choice about what you want that impact to be (if any). 204 · ThE SCriBE METhOD