moderately short rant

if you ever decide to try your hand at writing a book, let me offer this advice:

do NOT use endnotes.

i repeat. do NOT use endnotes.

i have read a few books lately with endnotes, and there seems to be a developing trend for authors to put interesting tidbits of information in their endnotes that are basically useless read on their own void of their context within the respective paragraph and chapter, and endlessly frustrating when being read along with their respective paragraph and chapter (because of the constant flipping to the back of the book).

if it is that important to say that you need to put it in the book somewhere, put it in where it goes with the flow of reading. jeepers. i understand the function of endnotes for referencing and such, but so much of it now is an interesting side note or story that helps illustrate a point, or sometimes it seems to be a random thought that sprung to mind while writing about a certain topic. if it's relevant, put it in the book. if it's not, please just leave it out and let me read in peace! it's getting ridiculous.

use footnotes. something, anything else.