I prefer footnotes because you can see it right there. THe idea of consistently turning to another section of a book doing reading actually discourages me (and many, I suspect) from continui
I agree with Stephen - it has to do with marketing. Sometimes it is claimed that endnotes save space and therefore money, but I have never been convinced that this makes much difference. In terms of reading experience, a lot depends on whether the author wrote the book knowing that there would be end-notes. That is not always too bad. The worst books are those written to have footnotes which get turned into end-notes.
I had originally written my book with footnotes in mind. When I was told by the publisher that they really preferred endnotes (particularly because the format of the book was going to be so small and also because they wanted some crossover potential), I decided it was necessary to thoroughly rewrite the notes, bringing as much of the "interesting" material into the main text as feasible.
End endnotes: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=2326653430&ref=ts
ReplyDeleteI hate them. Long live footnotes.
ReplyDeleteThey don't like footnotes because they believe that a book won't have cross-over appeal with them.
ReplyDeleteI prefer footnotes because you can see it right there. THe idea of consistently turning to another section of a book doing reading actually discourages me (and many, I suspect) from continui
ReplyDeleteI agree with Stephen - it has to do with marketing. Sometimes it is claimed that endnotes save space and therefore money, but I have never been convinced that this makes much difference.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of reading experience, a lot depends on whether the author wrote the book knowing that there would be end-notes. That is not always too bad. The worst books are those written to have footnotes which get turned into end-notes.
My own experience jibes with Peter's observation.
ReplyDeleteI had originally written my book with footnotes in mind. When I was told by the publisher that they really preferred endnotes (particularly because the format of the book was going to be so small and also because they wanted some crossover potential), I decided it was necessary to thoroughly rewrite the notes, bringing as much of the "interesting" material into the main text as feasible.
If only every author had your foresight...
ReplyDeleteI hate endnotes: all that flipping backwards and forwards is most offputting!
ReplyDeleteEndnotes are of the devil.
ReplyDelete