Do you like learning tidbits about the stories you read? Things like  a character’s nervous tics, why that setting, the significance of a recurring color?  Some readers do, some don’t. Some only want the facts, sir, how they’re portrayed in the story proper, and no more, thanks.  Some think that superfluous info gives away too much, leaving readers little fodder to spin their own imaginings. Others feel that TMI flat out detracts from the artistry of canon creations.

For those who love to get behind-the-scenes of their favorite characters’ minds, motivations, feelings, and pasts, a great way to share information otherwise not plot-relevant is in Reader’s Guides. I create one for every major writing project, and readers seem to get a lot out of them.  They contain info like name meanings, inspirations for certain dynamics and settings, background information about characters, or the original bug up my ass that prompted putting pen to paper.

If you like digging into the back alleys of stories, check out my Reader’s Guides.  And authors, sharing such guides can open up dialogue with readers, and give book groups a starting place for discussing your book.  Also, scope out Literary Lagniappe, a site devoted to satisfying your curiosity about stories, plots, and characters, through exploring how they came into being. By tapping into “The Making Of,” character interviews, dossiers on characters, and digging around in the heads of overly imaginative authors, this site presents so insightful and fascinating info on great stories.  As well, prospective authors could gain some insight into character development, plot advancement, and the amount of research that goes into all of the above by checking out this site.

Do you read Reader’s Guides? What details did you learn about your favorite stories that endeared you more to them?