Are you searching for a new method to reach readers? Consider writing a reading group guide!

A reading group guide is a series of questions that accompanies the text of both fiction and nonfiction works and is intended to spark discussion and reflection among readers. Reading guides lend themselves well to marketing efforts that are targeted towards schools or book clubs for several reasons. Because of their size, these groups of readers order multiple copies of their title. Additionally, discussion of the title has potential to lead to word-of-mouth promotion by the group members.

Writing a reading guide gives you the opportunity to view your book from the perspective of a reader. Engage with your book as though you had never read it before, and consider the text from several different technical aspects, including style, perspective, theme or characterization, where applicable.

One of the most important aspects to consider is how your experiences and personal culture affected the writing of your book. Because no other reader will share your exact perspective, you'll want to ask questions in your guide that call on the reader to identify their own personalities within the book. A good reading group discussion draws out a range of human experiences without turning into a therapy session. The questions you write should make the reader think about how the book makes them feel, the insights gained from reading it and questions that the book might raise for them. These questions can focus around specific excerpts from your book or the work as a whole.

Many authors choose to include their discussion guides following the text of the book, but if your book is already in print, add the discussion group guide to your website and let potential readers know that it is available as a resource. There are several websites online that can help you identify book groups in your local area, including ReadersCircle.org, but also consider reaching out to schools and community organizations that might be relevant to your genre. For examples of effective reading group guides, visit www.ReadingGroupGuides.com and review guides for hundreds of books. Happy writing!

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As a Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) assessment Master Practioner, Suzanne Brue was thrilled to be one of the first in her field to document the connection between personality types and physical fitness patterns. Years of study and observation helped her shape her conclusions into eight fitness categories, each with two subcategories, and a brief quiz to effectively assess the personality types.

At first, Brue compiled her recommendations into a series of articles published in scholarly journals, but she eventually decided to put her findings into book format. She chose to self-publish the book, The 8 Colors of Fitness: Discover Your Color-Coded Fitness Personality and Create an Exercise Program You'll Never Quit!, in favor of traditional publishing in order to maintain licensing rights over the content.

To support her book marketing efforts, Suzanne invested in the services of a book publicist. Working together, they created pitches to engage print and news media aimed at driving readers to take her online quiz, discover their fitness colors and use The 8 Colors book to supplement their efforts. Following several favorable media appearances in The San Francisco Chronicle, the APTI Bulletin of Psychological Type, and The South Florida Sun Chronicle, among others, Brue and The 8 Colors of Fitness are being featured in a four page spread in the November issue of Experience Life Magazine, reaching over 800,000 Life Time Fitness members.

Additionally, the Vermont Association for Psychological Type International has invited her to host an 8 Colors workshop to educate health and wellness professionals on using the personality-based approach to fitness to become a more efficient coach. As the color-coded fitness philosophy catches on with personal trainers, physical therapists and MBTI users, Suzanne is riding a wave of self-publishing success. "It really is resonating with people, and it's exciting them about fitness!"