Authors as Indexers

Should authors index their own books, or is the job best left to professional indexers? In this post, indexer and author David Green explores the pros and cons of self-indexing.

Are authors the best people to index their own work? Certainly, they know their subject matter inside out, and they understand the book’s structure and themes better than anyone else. They’re also likely to have a clear sense of their target audience, enabling them to craft an index that matches the needs of their intended readership. But while author-created indexes offer several advantages, they are rarely the best option.

Pitfalls of author-created indexes

The problem is that most authors lack training in indexing. They have little or no understanding of the basic principles and practices of good indexing. Topics such as taxonomy, cross-references, and methods of indication and emphasis may be alien to them. Without this foundation, even the most knowledgeable author will struggle to create a functional, reader-friendly index. Several issues tend to arise:

Different skill set. Indexing is an analytical, detail-oriented and methodical activity. The indexer Ruth Cross described it as an ‘odd blend of clerical detail, word manipulation, and intuitive decision making’. It may not be for everyone.

Lack of objectivity: Authors may be too close to the material to see it from a reader’s viewpoint. They may overlook key terms or concepts that readers would look for.

Underestimating the task. Authors may be pressed for time or focused on completing the manuscript. The index is often dismissed as an afterthought and a chore.

Exhaustion. At the end of a long book project, authors may be mentally drained and overwhelmed at the thought of producing an index.

Indexers or authors: Who should index?

But what if the author is also a qualified indexer, or an indexer turns their hand to writing? Who should do the indexing then?

For nearly fifteen years I’ve been indexing works on police history and true crime. Alongside this, I have published four book exploring historical murders in Hampshire.

Having indexed both my own books and those written by others, I would say there is surprisingly little difference between the two experiences. Indexing my own work proved to be no more difficult – and just as rewarding – as indexing someone else’s. The indexer’s task is the same regardless of whether the content is personally authored or externally commissioned – they must interpret the text objectively and provide access to it in a way that serves the reader. And I see no reason at all why authors shouldn’t index their own books, provided they have the right skills and temperament.

Indexing your own work: some challenges

That said, indexing your own book can present certain specific challenges:

Personal involvement. An author may become infatuated with relatively minor themes and details. When indexing, there may be a tendency to overemphasize these aspects at the expense of more important content elsewhere.

Indulgence can be a problem – an indexer working on their own book may feel entitled to bend conventions, insert humorous headings, elevate peripheral content to an unmerited level of prominence, and so on.

Bias. An indexer may be tempted to use headings and subheadings to push a certain viewpoint (i.e. their own agenda). Of course, if bias exists in the text, the index should reflect it. But the indexer should never use the index as a place to perpetuate or amplify those biases. An index should be a neutral navigation tool, not an extension or continuation of the author’s argument. Its role is to point readers to where opinions are expressed – not to editorialize or expand on them.

Indexer-authors need to be aware of these temptations and excesses, and take steps to avoid them. During the editing phase they should go through the index checking to make sure it provides balanced and relevant coverage. There is more information about indexing for authors on relevant Society of Indexers pages.

Another option

Of course, another option for the author (and the indexer-author) is to commission an index from a professional member of the Society of Indexers. This option ticks all the boxes, and it comes with a bonus. While your index is being crafted by skilled hands, you can take your first exploratory steps towards researching and writing your next book . . .

About

David Green ([email protected]) is a freelance indexer based in Hampshire. He is a Professional member of the SI. He indexes books in the areas of police history, true crime, popular music, and general biography. His most recent book is The Murder of Lily White (Hastings Press, 2025).

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash.