Right after I turned in the manuscript for LORD OF THE HUNT, I was asked by a bookseller if there was a discussion guide for reading groups available. If you know me, you know I immediately sat down and wrote one. Here? what I learned on the way.

Reading Guide Do's and Dont's

Do visit other authors on the web and read their guides for inspiration.

Do examine those reading guides for style.

Do create your own style.

Do look over the format of the reading guides.

For example, does the guide appear as a printable page on the web or is it in the format of a file to download?

Do separate your guide into sections for easy reading.

Do have a section - I'll call introduction - that presents your story to the reader.

This is a good place to talk about the book's theme or what inspired you to write the book. You could also use this space to tell any amusing anecdotes that might accompany the story. A little "insider"·information is great stuff for reading group leaders to use when they introduce your book to their group.

Do have a section that presents a summary of the plot.

Do include historical or political background if appropriate.

Do have a section of thought provoking questions on the story itself.

Ten is a reasonable number. Too many looks overwhelming to the reader, too few will make for a short discussion allowing the group to move on to another book.

Do craft your questions to pique interest in your other books.

Do include a section for your backlist.

Include ISBN's, purchasing information, and links to excerpts and reviews.

Do include a biography.

Do include incentives for reading groups to choose your book such as sending the group bookmarks, pens, etc.

Be sure you structure the mailing information so you're sure stuff is going to a legitimate group. Promotional materials are expensive. Go to http://www.annlawrence.com and click on the reading guide for LORD OF THE HUNT for an example.

Do include a section for novice reading group leaders.

Do include your e-mail address and your website URL.

Do include a copyright as well as guidelines/permission to reproduce your guide.

Do craft a variety of questions that range from those on the big picture·of your story (or theme) to those on the small details.

Do ask a friend who has NOT read your book to look over the questions and point out ones that are confusing.

Do ask a friend who HAS read your book to look over the questions and point out ones that are confusing.

Don't include large art files which slow downloading of your reading guide.

Don't ask questions you are not comfortable answering.

If you're invited to a discussion of your book, you want to have a good time, not feel as if you're being fried on a griddle.

Don't ask questions you can? answer.

Don't ask stupid questions.

If the chimps at the Philadelphia Zoo could answer your questions, you're not trying hard enough!

Don't ask questions that can be answered with one word.

Don't forget to ask questions that will pique the readers·interest in your other books.

Don't forget to tell the readers what you're working on next.

Don't forget to update your guides as time passes if information becomes outdated.

Another option is to offer web links instead of specifics for information that may go out of date. Remember, however, that if readers print out your guide, those links aren't useful. Even those who skim through a guide on the web often ignore links and therefore may miss important promotional information.

 

Musings on discussion questions

Questions fall into many categories. Here a just a few of them:

Questions of fact: When did Joe first notice Mary?

Questions of comparison and contrast: Who was more heroic, Joe or Bill?

Questions of opinion or speculation: If Joe had not acted like an idiot and torn Mary's antique wedding veil, how might the story have changed?

Questions that weigh pros and cons: What are the pros and cons of marrying an Alpha male?

Questions that poll the group's opinion: "What kind of heroine would best suit Bill if he had his own story?" Ask the group leader to send you the results of the poll.

 

Other stuff you might include in a reading guide . . .

Suggestions for further reading on special points of interest

A family tree or character roster

A list of your writing honors

A list of your workshop topics

A few review quotes

Last, but not least...

Ask reading group leaders to e-mail you with ideas they might have to improve your guide. One thing I found helpful was soliciting the advice of a great reading group. I asked them what they? like in a guide, and they offered many helpful suggestions I incorporated into my first effort.